As the BFI launch a five year plan to boost the British film industry, I intend to examine what exactly the BFI plan to do, whether it has been done before and if it can work as expected. I will also be looking at whether or not there are alternative ways for indie and first time feature filmmakers to acquire film funding and to get their baby on the big screen as they always dreamed. Through this series of articles related to film funding, I shall also be looking at crowd funding and its recent serge amongst indie filmmakers and what exactly is the best way to get ahead as a first time feature filmmaker.
The BFIs Big Flipping Ideas
This week the BFI have indeed announced that they shall be launching a five-year plan for the British film industry and investing around £285 million of Lottery money aimed at boosting film production, audience choice and education. A big flipping idea it appears, but is it all its cracked up to be? These promises and pledges have been thrown around by a variety of institutes, committees and councils over the last 30 years and still the British film industry seems to rely on a few big hitters to bring in money, continues to pump out a load of historical drama and a few diverse stories, but there never seems to be as many British films as there could be. Many are straight to DVD or receive a minimal release despite their qualities and diversity. So where has the money promised before been going and where will this go? The announcement and promise sounds brilliant. Well done to the BFI, but they are by their own admission just taking the reigns since abolition of the UK Film Council, whos job it was previously to spend lottery money on films. BFI Director Amanda Nevill boasts that, the average market share for British films in cinemas has been about 6%. Last year it was 13%, which is most definitely an achievement and film revenues should have definitely increased in the UK as a result. Which begs the question, if British films are making more money why does the lottery have to spend money on more films? Wheres all the money that was made last year been gone?