British Cinema Research Task

Local Picture house: Greenwich Picture house


New Years Eve: USA


Hugo: USA


Puss In Boots 3D: USA


Las Acacias: Spain/Argentina


The Deep Blue Sea: UK/USA


We Need to Talk About Kevin: UK/USA


My Week with Marilyn: UK/US


Romantics Anonymous: France/Belgium


Another Earth: USA


Horrid Henry: UK

• 7/10 films listed at my local picture house are American produced films or partly American produced films.
• While on the other hand, only 1 fully produced British film is showing. However in total, 3 British films are showing which are American/British collaborations.
• Other productions include films from Spain, Argentina, France and Belgium.

Above: New Years Eve, the film in question.

Many of the American films set out to emphasise and encapsulate Western culture. An example of this is New Years Eve. From an overview of the trailer, it is clear what the film's ideological intentions lie. New Years Eve portrays middle class citizens of New York going about their daily lives on the run up to New Years Eve. It seems that many of the characters who feature in the film have high paying jobs and lead relatively simple lives, a portrayal of contemporary western culture and a capitalist society. This film mainly represents the main characters in a positive way and not highlighting any negative issues which feature in western society, perhaps because producers want to show western culture in a more positive and socially acceptable light.

Above: One of the "Big Six" American Production 
companies who dominate the film industry.

• From my research, it is clear that many more American films are produced and shown in cinemas than another film producing country. The main reason for American films dominating the cinema may be down to one fundamental issue. Profit. American films usually turn over greater profits than smaller independent films produced by other countries such a Britain and France. Cinema chains may be reluctant to screen smaller films by these countries as they usually attract small audiences and therefore produce less profit. Whilst on the other hand, American films usually attract large audiences and therefore create a larger profit through cinema tickets and through catering.
• I believe that American films are more widely received with audiences as they conform to various set stereotypes which exist in society and therefore people are more able to relate to the content which is featured within their products and choose to view it rather than watching independent content.
• British films have many obstacles to overcome to compete with larger institutions however advertising a film to a British audience may be much harder than it was in the past. With the media flooded with American film releases and Internet sites such as YouTube constantly screening advertisements for US films, it may be hard to try and connect with a British audience through the swarm of American film advertisements. 
• I believe that international film companies may encounter issues when trying to reach out to British audiences, particularly if the film  another language, e.g French, many British people may be reluctant to view the film, even if it is subtitled. 
• American audiences favour the stereotypically British film such as Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. The advantages of these rom-com films is that they add a twist to British culture and portray our society in a different positive manner. This allows American audiences to gather different opinions and views on British society and many to turn previously negative associations with Britain into Positive ones.