3 SECTION B (25 mark )
Answer one question from this section.
Either, 3.
Look at the two extract below and then an wer the que tion which follow .
Extract I: Statistics shmvin o hO\-1 box office figures in Britain have changed since the height of the Hollywood Studio System.
Year
Total Audience (to nearest million)
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
1396 ffi. 501 ffi. 193 m. 101 ffi. 97 ffi. 143 m.
% change in size of box office from ten years before
- 64% -610/£ - 480/£ -40/£ +46% (Source: BFI Website)
Extract 2: A view of the characteristics of the ne\-1 Hollywood 'blockbuster' film 'The blockbuster, in contrast to the small-scale independent feature, is aimed at the popular audience in general rather than at any particular section of the viewing population. It addresses this audience by means of a mix of genres - often combining action-adventure with comedy, romance, science fiction and the like. Many critics argue that by comparison with old Hollywood, new He jwood films are not structured in terms of narrative based on cause and effect and on characters who are motivated and develop, but in terms of loosely linked action sequences often built around spectacular stunts, stars and special effects'.
(Adapted from Warren Buck/and: A Close Encounter with 'Raiders of the Lost Ark') Use the above material a a starting point to an wer this question: How far do you think that the up-turn in box office figures in Britain in the last 10 years is the result of new Hollywood's focus on the blockbuster film?
Or, There ha been an on-going debate on the problem of the Briti h Film Indu try. In 1999 the Film Council suggested that the weakne es of the industry included the following:
4.
An insufficient number of vertically integrated companies operating across development, production and dis!ribution. A failure to attract significant money from the financial markets. A well developed appetite amongst audiences and exhibitors for US films. UK distributors who do not give priority to British films. Lack of investment in script development, resulting in too many poor quality films being made. A continuing loss of British talent to Hollywood. A failure to take advantage of the full social and cultural diversity of the UK.
Using the material above and your own knowledge of the British Film Industry and its products, what do you consider to be the most significant factors holding back the development of financially successful and distinctive British films? (OOj"
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