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09/08/2010
'High Noon' For Eastwood Over Film Council
There's a 'shoot-out' looming over the future of the UK body that funds movie making.
The iconic tough-guy star Clint Eastwood is squaring up to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt whose stinging rebuke over the US actor and director's support for the soon-to-be axed UK Film Council looks increasingly like a high-noon scenario.
The Hollywood star is the latest celebrity to speak out against the decision to axe the quango, which funds and promotes British films.
He has written to Chancellor George Osborne saying the Council had provided crucial support when he made his latest film, Hereafter.
"I cannot stress how important the Film Council is to me," added the Dirty Harry actor.
But, in mid August, the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was coming dangerously close to fulfilling Eastwood's infamous "Make My Day" line from the movie Dirty Harry with an attack on the US film industry when he slammed UK filmmakers for selling movie rights too early to US studios.
"The result is that when we have a hit, the profits do not go back to the film-maker where they could be used to finance the next production," the Cabinet Minister raged.
Despite top directors such as Clint Eastwood and actors from Bill Nighy to Emily Blunt and Liam Neeson condemning the plan to scrap the Film Council, he insists his move would "focus resources on supporting frontline film-makers rather than expensive bureaucracy".
He also claimed that it was unacceptable to have "no fewer than eight" of its top executives earning more than £100,000.
However, this may have proved to be an 'own goal' as two of those high-paid senior managers had left their jobs before he lambasted the organisation.
Shadow Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said: "Hunt's focus on salaries is a smokescreen for his damaging and chaotic decision to axe the Film Council, which has been rightly condemned across the industry."
The six remaining executives on more than £100,000 are: John Woodward, the Chief Executive Officer, Alan Bushell, Chief Operating Officer, Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution, Will Evans, Head of Business Affairs - a lawyer who manages film contracts - and Colin Brown, the British Film Commissioner.
Brown is the Film Council's direct line to US studios that bring big-budget films such as The Dark Knight to Britain.
Also one of those included is believed to be Tanya Seghatchian, who runs the Film Fund, which invests £15 million a year into new British movies.
It also emerged that Ms Seghatchian, previously head of the Film Council's development fund, took a 25% salary cut to take up her new post, which was created in May.
Her previous career included a pivotal role developing and producing the Harry Potter films.
(BMcC/KMcA)
The iconic tough-guy star Clint Eastwood is squaring up to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt whose stinging rebuke over the US actor and director's support for the soon-to-be axed UK Film Council looks increasingly like a high-noon scenario.
The Hollywood star is the latest celebrity to speak out against the decision to axe the quango, which funds and promotes British films.
He has written to Chancellor George Osborne saying the Council had provided crucial support when he made his latest film, Hereafter.
"I cannot stress how important the Film Council is to me," added the Dirty Harry actor.
But, in mid August, the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt was coming dangerously close to fulfilling Eastwood's infamous "Make My Day" line from the movie Dirty Harry with an attack on the US film industry when he slammed UK filmmakers for selling movie rights too early to US studios.
"The result is that when we have a hit, the profits do not go back to the film-maker where they could be used to finance the next production," the Cabinet Minister raged.
Despite top directors such as Clint Eastwood and actors from Bill Nighy to Emily Blunt and Liam Neeson condemning the plan to scrap the Film Council, he insists his move would "focus resources on supporting frontline film-makers rather than expensive bureaucracy".
He also claimed that it was unacceptable to have "no fewer than eight" of its top executives earning more than £100,000.
However, this may have proved to be an 'own goal' as two of those high-paid senior managers had left their jobs before he lambasted the organisation.
Shadow Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said: "Hunt's focus on salaries is a smokescreen for his damaging and chaotic decision to axe the Film Council, which has been rightly condemned across the industry."
The six remaining executives on more than £100,000 are: John Woodward, the Chief Executive Officer, Alan Bushell, Chief Operating Officer, Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution, Will Evans, Head of Business Affairs - a lawyer who manages film contracts - and Colin Brown, the British Film Commissioner.
Brown is the Film Council's direct line to US studios that bring big-budget films such as The Dark Knight to Britain.
Also one of those included is believed to be Tanya Seghatchian, who runs the Film Fund, which invests £15 million a year into new British movies.
It also emerged that Ms Seghatchian, previously head of the Film Council's development fund, took a 25% salary cut to take up her new post, which was created in May.
Her previous career included a pivotal role developing and producing the Harry Potter films.
(BMcC/KMcA)
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13 October 2003
Lottery-backed UK films net £125m in receipts
National Lottery investments in the UK film industry has generated box office takings of over £125 million, new figures released today have revealed. Overall, £13 million of Lottery funding invested by the UK Film Council has generated £125.
Lottery-backed UK films net £125m in receipts
National Lottery investments in the UK film industry has generated box office takings of over £125 million, new figures released today have revealed. Overall, £13 million of Lottery funding invested by the UK Film Council has generated £125.
12 January 2012
UK Film Urged To Go Mainstream
Comments made by Britain’s Prime Minister, that urged the UK film industry to become more "mainstream" ahead of a review on the UK’s film policy next Monday, have been met with criticism.
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28 November 2003
Film Council study finds post-production sector generates £1.4b for UK economy
British film industry creative and technical expertise has helped to generate £1.39 billion and 15,000 jobs in the UK economy, a major new report published by the Film Council has revealed.
Film Council study finds post-production sector generates £1.4b for UK economy
British film industry creative and technical expertise has helped to generate £1.39 billion and 15,000 jobs in the UK economy, a major new report published by the Film Council has revealed.
23 April 2004
Blueprint unveiled for film-friendly London
London’s new film and media agency, Film London, has unveiled a variety of measures aimed at making the Capital more film-friendly.
Blueprint unveiled for film-friendly London
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