So apparently I am both an Oscar nominated director and Sir Michael Grade agrees with my views on the British Film Industry. All beamed out to millions of viewers this morning on Sky News. Very entertaining! I did the interview yesterday literally at a moments notice (to be clear, I was in fact Oscars shortlisted for Gone Fishing).
It was a reminder of just how fast broadcast TV turns around stories, and how much in need of stories they find themselves every single day. During the interview I pitched hard for story about the Guerilla Film maker books and the upcoming London Screenwriters Festival – and it looks like they liked the story too!
So, all fingers are crossed that in a month or so we will have a GREAT piece on Sky News. And if you missed it last year, here is a link to the Sky Movies Show about the Cheltenham Sceenwriters Festival where I was the opening keynote speaker.
Onwards and upwards!
Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author
www.livingspirit.com
mail@livingspirit.com
So, recognition at last!
Alas Chris you may soon be the only show in town. Not that you are not a great show and we need more truly indie productions of quality, but the big Hollywood financed movie in Britain may be on its last legs for logistical reasons: no sound stages. This is the real glue which has held the so-called but non-existent UK film industry together.
http://www.savethebritishfilmindustry.com/2010/08/007-james-bond-is-richard-bernstein-of-crystal-amber-as-he-rides-to-pinewood-studios-rescue/
It has held the South-East Film Industry together even in the leanest years such as early 90s. If we lose the sound stages we lose the real magnet for Hollywood finance which would just leave Elstree 6 sound stages, 4 at Ealing, Raindance and you. Nothing wrong with that list but it is nice to have it all.Unless the Culture Secretary and The Chair of The Parliamentary Select Committee wake up to the folly of having 34 of the main 44 sound stages in the UK owned by a plc and on prime land which every developer wants, then the game is up. Over 80% of Elstree (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) was sold to developers. Only the UK has not built sound stages in the last ten years…another reason to axe UKFC. France has 9 new ones opening in Paris, South Africa, Germany, Canada, Malaysia (2012), China, India have built sound stages chasing Hollywood work. But not The UK. We need to build 200 in the next five years on cheap/free ex-industrial land around The UK. This can corner Hollywood finance and give indies like you the odd few days to up the quality of your product. Look forward to you on Sky.
http://www.savethebritishfilmindustry.com/
Chris, Just to tidy up the UKFC debate which now seems closed after The Times exposed they had indeed hired a top PR company, the petition petered out and the August 28 march in London to oppose UKFC axing did not draw 100 people. The Chris Atkins piece in The Guardian and the Matthew Vaughn intervention just added to the UKFC demise
http://www.savethebritishfilmindustry.com/2010/08/the-pakistani-cricket-team-cheating-and-match-fixing-the-uk-film-council-100-axed-and-x-men-director-matthew-vaughn-so-nearly-gets-it-right/
There are now like Matthew Vaughn many people putting forward proposals to Government. The debate is under way. Jonathan Gems (writer of ‘White Mischief’ has had a good bash as has Robin Jacob. Here’s to a Golden Age of film making.
http://www.savethebritishfilmindustry.com/2010/08/now-dragons-den-are-calling-for-the-uk-film-council-to-be-axed/