British Film Industry

[Kev Owens]

Dog Soldiers was shot in Luxembourg- for the look of locations but mainly because the costs were lower (similar to Lord of the Rings being shot in New Zealand and Matrix in Australia.)

28 Days Later was okay in my opinion and could of been better. Not received too well here though was it- but apparently the Americans really love it. To its credit I would separate 28 Days from the films I've been talking about. It was funded by the lottery fund, the British film council, Canal (french) and Fox.

[ac_01]

SoulJacker, I totally agree. It's a multi-layered problem that starts at the roots and works its way up.

Firstly, screenwriters. I'm a fledgin hopeful. I haven't met many screenwriters but from what I can tell they all want to write for television. This sickens me. The very few talented ones are stuck, limited to a format that encourages lazy writing. Turn on your tv and you'll see the same hackneyed, melodramatic, episodic trite. Who's Phil going out with this week? Who gives a **** ?

I hear the filmcouncil throws money ou to film projects. And apparently a decent number get made. Where are they? That's what I want to know. Apparently no one wants to see them... therefore they don't get distributed. No end product. There are few sources of encouragement for filmakers... and even fewer end product.

[ac_01]

speaking of fox:

Fox Comes To Britain
Production deal to boost British movies
05/09/2003

Something that could possibly be filed under the heading 'boring but important', Fox Searchlight has signed on for a five-year partnership with DNA films, a move that will create a major British film company. Now wait a minute. Before you slump into a drooling catatonic stupor, bear in mind that this could spell big things for the British film industry so bear with us.

Searchlight has taken a 50% share in the company, bringing $25 million to a comparable sum DNA has sourced from lottery funding. But the deal brings more to our shores than simple cash. Fox Searchlight's partnership lends Fox's worldwide distribution to a major British production company, meaning more people will see our films, which brings in more money, which means more British films will end up being made. The plan is to produce top quality British movies with budgets up to $15 million and will be a much needed shot in the arm for our nation's film industry.

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[emjen]

If you thought british films were 'pathetic', look at the Dutch film industry.

The only films that get made are either book adaptions, or really popular teenage shows-adaptions.

There has been one good dutch film this year, Van God Los, based on actual events instead of a book or a louzy television show.

The actors are the ones who act in those popular TV shows as well...

Oh well. I think Europe's going to get better. There always was this thing with American films vs European films. Europe had this thing for creating excellent stories, untouched by the commercial minds. Sadly, this has changed, and the Asian market is now taking over the place Europe once had. But like all things, this is a circel, and I believe it will go back. Europe just has to stop making American films. But that's difficult, because they keep funding us.

[miker]

the Dutch film industry is thriving. it's just too liberal for most ;-)