Limitations: Restrictions, Creative Destruction and The Death of The British Film Industry

Great Britain. Occasionally one reminisces of the word Great before Britain. For me I put aside the imperial domination, naval supremacy or the best pies this side of Austria. For me, it has to be film. 

America may have always had the best representation of the mainstream industry, bare in mind I speak of film success in terms of mainstream and not artistic merit. Britain has tried to compromise over the years, rather than rival. With franchises like Harry Potter and James Bond we have held captive the audiences of the world; we can do it. 

The question is will Britain forever remain a fringe country, offering brief success with flagship franchises every decade or so? I dream of a more stable, structure studio represented format to British film making. Not that I wish the country’s artistic independent scene to disappear; but as a quote by Steve Martin say’s “I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you’re an idiot.” 

I love large audiences. As a hopeful film maker myself, I’d want millions of people to watch it. Not because I want to be rich, not because I want to be adored; simply because I make films to entertain people. To escape to another world and be made to laugh, to cry, to judge and confuse is a fascinating and worthwhile job. You have to bare in mind a lot of independent film makers like Richard Linklater start off as independent film makers not because they want to be considered artists, no, because they want to make big Hollywood films but have no prestige. 

Do you think British cinema simply makes do and hopes to get by on credit of artistic value? Or do you believe we’re a country with potential, struggling to be recognized?