British Cinema

To succeed in this section of the Key Media Concepts exam you need to develop a case study on a particular studio or production company. This institution must be located in a contemporary film industry and it must produce and/or distribute films to the UK. The focus will be on how this institution relates to:

• Production: making films• Distribution: promoting films and getting them into cinemas and

out on DVD/UMD, as well as any spin offs/related media products• Consumption: people paying at the cinema, renting or buying

DVDs/UMDs and downloading and purchasing related products.

What does it mean to be British?

What things do we associate with Britain?Put things under the following headings:Food and DrinkSportsCulture (TV, Film, Music etc)Beliefs, Values and AttitudesLandmarksLanguage / Phrases

What makes a film British?

What do you expect from a British film?

Defining British Film

The British Film Institute divides films into the following categories:

• Category A: films made with British money, personnel and resources

• Category B: films co-funded with money from Britain and from foreign investment, but the majority of finance, cultural content & personnel are British

Defining British Film

• Category C: films with mostly foreign (but non-USA) investment and a small British input, either financially or creatively

• Category D: films made in the UK with (usually) British cultural content, but financed fully or partly by American companies

• Category E: American films with some British involvement

How many British films can you think of?

British film has always had its ups and downs

Unfortunately, the British film industry has never been capable of generating worldwide commercial success on its own.

This is partly down to the major power, success and control of…

The basic fact is that the British cinema market is too small for the British film industry to successfully produce Hollywood-style blockbusters over a sustained period

UK Film Industry

Hollywood