the british film resource
    

 
the british film resourceThe Renaissance of the 1980s
the british film resourceAuthor:Matt Pearson 
 
 
Introduction Introduction
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher as Inspiration Thatcher as Inspiration
Audiences Audiences
The International Market The International Market
Cultural Identity Crisis Cultural Identity Crisis
Us and Them Us and Them
A Sense of Perspective A Sense of Perspective
Industrial Renaissance Industrial Renaissance
Artistic Renaissance Artistic Renaissance
Towards a Healthy Industry Towards a Healthy Industry
Conclusion Conclusion
 
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Towards a Healthy Industry
Nineteen-eighty-five was declared British Film Year, which seemed ironic coming at a time when production was at an all-time low, the cinemas were 90 per cent Hollywood dominated and there was a huge exodus of British talent to America. But 1985 did see the start of an improving trend, if it hadn't, by now there wouldn't be a British film industry to be writing about. As David Puttnam says in Take 10, Chariots of Fire took the British film industry 'a long way from zero'.

During the 1980's the gradual increase wasn't marked enough to deserve the term 'renaissance', it is only into the 90's that British film has been in danger of being seen as 'healthy'. National Heritage statistics claim that 'between 1990 and 1994, the UK was one of only four countries among the top 20 film making nations to show an increase in the number of films produced' (in the same period France had a drop of 21% and the US dropped 12%). The 90's have also seen a friendlier government attitude towards film and the recommendations of the Middleton Report, if implemented, promise a more stable British film industry.

 
Conclusion