The British Film Business

A fascinating read both for the general reader on film and also those with a serious interest in the subject of the film industry and film–making For the past 80 years the British film industry has struggled to compete with Hollywood. The early control of distribution by American companies in London and the lack of investment in domestic production gave Hollywood a commercial advantage that persists to this day. Successive British governments have introduced measures to protect the industry from overseas competition and stimulate British production, all with little long–term success. This book traces the history of the British film business from the days of the early pioneers, through its near collapse in the immediate post–war era to the current age of digitally enhanced blockbusters. The authors chart the successes and failures and show how Government intervention has often failed to assist the industry. They provide comment on recent developments and suggest how these could help British film making talent reach the wider audience that it frequently deserves. Bill Baillieu is a non–practising barrister with twenty years corporate finance and licensing experience in the development and funding of creative and growth businesses. His career began in the venture capital industry in the City of London, and he now specialises in the management, exploitation and valuation of intellectual property rights ranging from copyright portfolios to patented technology. John Goodchild is an experienced investment analyst and currently an associate with the London stockbrokers Walker Crips Weddle Beck plc. He has been fascinated by the British cinema since childhood when he first heard his aunta s recollections of life as a wardrobe assistant at Gainsborough Studios in the 1930s. He is also joint editor of Professional Investor where Bill Baillieua s articles on the industry were the starting point for The British Film Business

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