Ken Loach in pretentious tosser shocker!

[keaton]

The UK Film Council did support

Man On Wire
In The Loop
Adulthood
This is England
Touching the Void
Happy-go-lluck

 

[The Large One]

I think this ignores the fact that many of these films were backed by ( at least some) people that wanted a return on their money. Many of these films would have cost peanuts to make and therefore needed relatively samll audiences to break even, so despite not being blockbusters would have provided a return for the backers.

Indeed. Most of them were supported by BBC Films or Film Four. Both of these are commercial funds.

Fair points, but my original contention stands. Cameron has said the UK should concentrate on 'blockbusters'. Why?

It's not such a big leap from what he actually said to inferring that he only wants films made that make money, and as has been proven time and again, doing so is quite often done as the cost of artistic merit.

My other point is - who is he to tell directors what films to make? Who is he to make a judgement call on what it is 'people want to see'?

 

[keaton]

I don't get this knocking of Ken Loach. As far I can see, he does make films that people want to watch; Wind that Shakes the Barley took $23 worldwide, Looking for Eric took $11m (and that must have cost peanuts to make). Surely profitable films like these are exactly the sort of thing that the public sector should be funding - we'll get some return on them.

QUOTE]

No we need to follow's Cameron's brilliant plan. Just make films based on the biggest selling children's book of all time. There must be loads of those. Oh!

 

[sten_super]

Fair points, but my original contention stands. Cameron has said the UK should concentrate on 'blockbusters'. Why?

His quote was "films people want to watch". He's not going after low budget films, or successful films. It's the films that are made in clear knowledge that the budget is in excess of the likely revenues that seem to be the target.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

The UK Film Council did support

Man On Wire
In The Loop
Adulthood
This is England
Touching the Void
Happy-go-lluck

Have not seen adulthood but all the others are films I would recomend seeing, not a car chase or special effect in sight and all captivating viewing.

 

[e77]

In any art form you need the pioneers to innovate, which goes on to feed the mainstream in time.

In music hip-hop and electronica were seen as fads in their time and are both now firmly in the mainstream.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Fair points, but my original contention stands. Cameron has said the UK should concentrate on 'blockbusters'. Why?

It's not such a big leap from what he actually said to inferring that he only wants films made that make money, and as has been proven time and again, doing so is quite often done as the cost of artistic merit.

My other point is - who is he to tell directors what films to make? Who is he to make a judgement call on what it is 'people want to see'?

"It's not such a big leap" - So you're going to imagine that he said it and then crucify him for it??

If you read the context of the question is was about how the UK Government supports film-makers (they currently get a pretty generous tax break), so I would say he has every right to express an opinion. Directors are of course welcome to ignore this as I suspect many will.

 

[e77]

A lot of the problem for independent cinema in this country is distribution. Skeletons and The Scouting Book For Boys were both great films but I had to wait for them to appear on DVD to see them.

 

[The Large One]

"It's not such a big leap" - So you're going to imagine that he said it and then crucify him for it??

Well, you might want to take your hero's comment at face value. But, for me, this is a politician talking, and therefore virtually any opinion he (or any other politician) offers is going to be a loaded one.

I'm simply inferring from his comment that he only wants British films to be made that make money, and I don't think that's such a wild inference to make.

 

[User removed 4]

I'm simply inferring from his comment that he only wants British films to be made that make money,

In our present financial state this is what should happen.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Could someone tell me the next big film in pre production that will make money, I may have to invest if its that easy.

 

[User removed 4]

Could someone tell me the next big film in pre production that will make money, I may have to invest if its that easy.

Just use a process of elimination, i could probably look up a few that wont.

 

[Castello]

Lets be honest about this, if Cameron, and by extension the bushy's of this world, had their way, this country would be populated by brain dead automatons who didnt think for themselves, didnt argue, didnt hold an opposing view and just automatically followed the vote Tory signs to the polling stations. This of course would be after working a 12 hour day for a sack of spuds.

If anyone thinks i'm being over the top here, there was a very good 3 part documentary called "The Trap" by Adam Curtis shown on the ultra leftist BBC in 2007, which explained how the post war social policy by parties of both sides in britain and america had been based on the concept of creating a docile an drugged up electorate, that would do what they were told and stop thinking for themselves.

Does anyone truly think politicians wouldnt love this.

 

[Albumen]

The Film Council definitely wasn't perfect and needed reviewing but I wouldn't trust the Tories to make me a decent sandwich let alone have them dictate what films should be made.

 

[bhaexpress]

It's a bit ironic when you think how many Hollywood blockbusters are actually made in UK studios.

 

[gripper stebson]

I am currently writing a feature script that is supposed to go into production next year for around £600,000... and it's pretty mainstream (funny though I hope!)

I know everyone involved expects to make a bit back. I only get paid if it goes into production... and not alot then.

Having just got involved in this business the thing that amazes me is that you can get this sort of funding with a poster and a star attached... no script needed.

I saw a poster for a film called 'Cockneys Versus Zombies' with a picture of Danny Dyer on it. That is all they were using to raise funds.

Incredible really.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Cameron is like a Roman emperor who wants to keep the plebs amused by giving us bread and circuses.

Not good enough. We demand cake and pornographic ice spectaculars. And art films.

 

[The Large One]

I saw a poster for a film called 'Cockneys Versus Zombies' with a picture of Danny Dyer on the front.

Which side was Dyer on?

 

[gripper stebson]

Which side was Dyer on?

He was definitely a Cock!

 

[Goodfella]

We have just sold out a complete 2 week run of 'ANOTHER YEAR' and about to start its 3rd week with over 3500 people through the door so far ...dont tell me the british film industry is dead or that ken loach does not make great films.