The British film industry: blog tasks

 The British film industry: blog tasks 

Factsheet #132: British Film

Use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #132 on British Film. You can find it online here - you'll need to log in using your Greenford Google login. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) Write a one-sentence definition of what makes a film British.

A British film can be defined as one that is either made in Britain, involves British talent, is funded within Britain, or focuses on British culture and themes.

2) What is the difference between a Hollywood production context and production context of a British film?

Hollywood films have extensive budgets, heavy advertising and a reliance on celebrity or star cast/crew members. Independent films have a smaller budget and rely more on spreading via word of mouth.

3) When did the James Bond franchise start?

James Bond started in 1962.

4) In terms of film censorship and graphic content, what began to change in British film in the 1970s and 1980s?

In the 1970s, graphic content saw a significant rise however it had been somewhat limited since only a few people were able to record and create content. In the 1980s however “video nastys” had been become prevalent, with more people having access to filmmaking and graphic content made its way to british media

5) What groups are often represented in British film? Give examples of films these groups feature in.

In British Media, marginalised groups are often portrayed in gritty reality TV. For example the British working class, minorities and immigrants 

6) What does the Factsheet suggest might be the audience appeal of British film?

British films highlight social themes while being relatable and touching on key topics in modern British society

Factsheet #100: British film industry

To complete our introduction to the British film industry, we need a little more background to the industries context.

Find Media Factsheet #100 on the British film industry. You can find it on the same link as above. Read the whole of the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?

The cultural tst is used to determine if a film counts as British. This depend on the area the film is shot, nationality of the cast/crew and what key British themes are highlighted.

2) Complete the task on the Factsheet - choose three of the films listed and research them to work out what they score on the cultural test: The Sweeney (2012), Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Skyfall.

The Sweeney (2012): Scores points for British director, actors, setting, and production hubs.

• The King’s Speech: Scores highly for British context, characters, and creators, plus British funding.

• Skyfall: Scores for British setting, cast, and production while being part-funded in the UK

3) What is the main problem for the British film industry?

struggles with funding and keeping profits due to relying on external distributors, Hollywood dominates the scene while the British industry cannot keep up. 

4) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?

Good creative talent, good production quality and some globally appreciated hits 

5) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?

British film makers can either rely on collaborations with Americans or instead make niche low budget films.

If they decide to make niche films, the production cost would be much lower however the profits would be even lower therefore filmmakers may feel pressured to move to American stuios

6) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?

supporting low budget niche british films would preserve cultural integrity and reinvest into the industry.