Kim Howells was appointed last month instead of Patricia Hewitt, who many thought should be given the post, after Chris Smith was sacked rather unceremoniously. His major gripe was the volume of costume dramas and "heritage" films the UK industry produces due to the likelihood of Film Council funding.
Howell's dismissed the most of recent successful British films, such as The Full Monty as cliché ridden, despite having amassed some quarter of a billion at the box office world wide, and that top UK production company Working Title's mammoth hits Four Weddings and Notting Hill weren't worth much either.
In an article with the Independent newspaper last week he criticised the Americanisation of the industry whilst urging local filmmakers to follow their Hollywood's cousins' example. After a trip to the home of cinema the minister admitted that he "was hugely impressed with the way their writers forgot about their egos and just wrote, rewrote, rewrote and rewrote again until it was right. What I admired was the factory idea. An industrial process, if you like." He then questioned, "When are we going to have, for example, the first film about the foot-and-mouth crisis?"
Netribution is keen to hear what filmmakers and producers think of the new minister's remarks. To publish your opinion please email: hmmm@netribution.co.uk
This week... Cinemas Admit record Year >>> Euro adds to UK's film woes >>> Britfilm Investment Sinks 10% in 2001 >>> (Stewart) Till We Meet Again >>> Jean-Marie's Mess >>> Snow White & The 7 Sequels >>> Brian Cox in Good Spirit >>> And also... >>>
Kim Howells was appointed last month instead of Patricia Hewitt, who many thought should be given the post, after Chris Smith was sacked rather unceremoniously. His major gripe was the volume of costume dramas and "heritage" films the UK industry produces due to the likelihood of Film Council funding.