The State of European Cinema : A New Dose of Reality

A critical review of the current state of European cinema, based on two years of research and interviews with more than 100 film professionals. The book includes: ten case studies of European films such as “Trainspotting” and “Breaking the Waves”; an analysis of Europe's public subsidy funds, co-production trends and cinema distribution systems; a case study on the state of British cinema; information on screenplay development and training; and information on Europe's top entertainment corporations, including a case study on Polygram Filmed Entertainment. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Dedication Acknowledgements Foreword 1 Back to the Future: the New State of Play The summer of supposed strategy The GATT negotiations An agreement to disagree The GATT fudge The guarantee fund debate The Guarantee gap Open arms across the Atlantic US companies working with European talent Finding a future audience Notes 2 Strategies for Development The idea problem Developing in pictures The European theory The practical advice The treatment catch The French approach The French future Policies towards development The ACE approach Training the writers The new development organization Putting theory into practice Notes 3 Training for the Future The union background The UK education trap The German approach The freelance problem The French situation The Irish situation Selecting courses The film school approach Teaching producers? The UK situation On-the-job training The European dimension Additional support The future of training Notes 4 Casting and Stars Star-struck? The television system The 'Nouvelle Vague' legacy The tabloid'truths' The ambivalence barrier The business of casting The seller's viewpoint The British-Hollywood axis The French system Casting careers What can be done? Notes 5 Europe's Corporate Players The Hollywood heritage Approaching risk European barriers THE STUDIOS The British situation Europe's production houses The Barrandov experience The Babelsberg disappointment THE 'MAJOR' INDUSTRIALISTS Cautious Bertelsmann Grupo PRISA's rising star The Canal Plus phenomenon The Chargeurs group The CiBy 2000 boutique Pulling together the fragments Notes Case Study: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment PolyGram's selected film acquisitions since 1990 Other production interests Distribution interests (to 1997) The method of entry The PolyGram green-light system Notes 6 Co-production and Co-financing Strategies The increase in co-productions Jigsaw puzzles The additional costs of co-production The new trend towards co-development New models for partners The multilateral approach A single European market? New partnerships with North America Miramax's unique role Silence on language Notes Case Study: Eurimages A rapid growth The problem areas Spreading the finance Recoupment questions Distribution of Eurimages films Notes 7 Support Mechanisms Across Europe Illusions of subsidy support A heated subject The different approaches What kinds of films are we making? The Spanish upswing The German scenario Berlin-Brandenburg Filmboard What is wrong with Germany? The new UK film world The Irish rejuvenation The French tax system The problem with tax breaks MEDIA IPs new wave Critics of MEDIA II The great debate Notes 8 Feeding the Distribution Pipelines Implications of dominancy Business or culture? The tough end of the business The UK problem A changing landscape The French approach The EFDO dead-end The German standpoint The MEDIA II row MEDIA distribution's critics The juggernaut approach Notes 9 The New Way Forward: The Effect and Role of New Technology Europe's information revolution The copyright problem How quickly will distribution outlets change? The technological snail: Video-On-Demand Household demographics How big will the cake be? The producer's quandary The start of niche and B-movie channels The effects on producers The production challenge Europe's Top 20 Audiovisual Companies Notes Case Studies Trainspotting Farinelli Rob Roy Tales of a Hard City The Name of the Rose Breaking the Waves Guiltrip Antonia's Line Circle of Friends The Flower of My Secret Appendices Bibliography Index "The State of European Cinema offers a critical review of the state of the industry at the close of the twentieth century. Finney spent two years researching and carrying out interviews with more than a hundred top film professionals. His findings offer dynamic and fresh perspectives on Europe's film industry and include a detailed analysis of Europe's public subsidy funds, co-production trends and cinema distribution systems, as well as practical information on screenplay development and training and an examination of Europe's declining film-star system."-- Provided by publisher