Comments for Best For Film

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by Greek Accountant

Greek Accountant — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:26:01 +0000

You say:

1) That the contribution of the UK Film Industry to the economy has increased by 50% since 2000 when the Film Council was formed. But in the five years prior to 2000, before the UKFC was formed, it increased by over 300%. So what? These figures tell us nothing at all about the UKFC’s activities.

2) That the UKFC’s “investments garner an average profit of 400%”. No they don’t. Tthey make a loss. The UKFC has never made this claim. For the facts, see the UKFC Annual Report and Accounts.

3) That the UKFC “manages all this” on a budget of £15 million a year. No they don’t. The level of income from all sources to the UKFC for 2008/2009, the most recent figures available, was £72.2 million. Their grant-in-aid from the Government alone was worth over £30 million. Again, see the UKFC Annual Report.

I make these points not because I think the UKFC should be abolished – indeed, I’ve already signed the online petition against its closure – but because we lose credibility with Government if we can’t get our facts right, and the campaign is doomed to failure.

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by John Underwood

John Underwood — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:15:09 +0000

Great article, Aman – thanks for reposting the petition as well! The more publicity we can get the better.

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by SPE

SPE — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:49:01 +0000

Had to comment as M. Hyde’s snide comments on not being wiling to sign the petition because of the Olympics. It just make no sense. I suggest that M. Hyde reads things through again, sees that the Olympics are merely a comparison. If you care about film, M. Hyde, which you say you do – please sign the petition. Or, as you put it so eloquently yourself – shove it!

Comment on Mugabe and the White African by Christian Allard

Christian Allard — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:33:13 +0000

Regarding the screening of “Mugabe and the White African”, I doubt very much if viewers would still sympathise with the family involved after watching them online.
Mike Campbell and Ben Freeth show their real colours in their own series on youtube particularly the “interview” of Mike Campbell where he tells it like he sees it “if they want to eat they need to have white farmers”:

Zimbabwe White farmers (Pt 4&5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbfhrr2NyH4

The land was grabbed by Mike Campbell, a South African army captain, who came to Zimbabwe from South Africa in 1974, in the middle of the guerrilla war against the black majority, just four years before the infamous white supremacist Ian Smith unilaterally yielded to international pressure to end white minority rule. Original Rhodesian white farmers have now all left or have complied with the land reform, Mike Campbell won’t.

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by Aman Anand

Aman Anand — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:51:20 +0000

Many thanks for this excellent piece and the petition.

I have just written a lengthy piece on the same subject that incorporates part of what you say here. If you get a chance, please take a look at it:

http://filmabinitio.blogspot.com/2010/07/news-review-death-of-british-cinema-uk.html

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by n.hodgson

n.hodgson — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:57:07 +0000

in fact, the petition itself:

“We, the undersigned, believe the UK Film Council to be a vital cultural resource and call upon Jeremy Hunt to rescind his department’s decision to close it.”

If you agree with that statement, you should sign the petition. End of.

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by n.hodgson

n.hodgson — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:55:31 +0000

There is nothing on the petition or on the website that says we shouldn’t be funding the Olympics, and it certainly doesn’t seem that the end goal is to affect Olympic funding. It’s simply being used as a comparison, to show the relatively small amount of money that the Film Council takes to fund when looking at a much bigger picture. I don’t think this is about not funding the Olympics, and for that to be your reason for not signing is to me utterly baffling. It would be a massiveshame to let the UK Film Council die purely because of a gripe over something uttery irrelevent, but if that is your position on the matter than so be it.

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by M. Hyde

M. Hyde — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:06:26 +0000

Why can’t your software handle paragraphs?

Comment on Save the UK Film Council! by M. Hyde

M. Hyde — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:05:44 +0000

I see that this page, in common with the petition page, is terribly bitter about the cost of the Olympics. I fully support the UK Film Council and hope for its survival. I cannot, however, sign a petition that acts against something else I support: The London Olympics.

Why do you feel the need to limit your support in this way? It is really frustrating for one who, as I, attends the cinema at least three times a week, not to be able to support your campaign because you seem to have, frankly rather pathetically, decided that another cause must be attacked.

If you ever decide to drop this devisive nonsense, I will happily campaign on your behalf. Until then, shove it.

Comment on Rihanna to star in Battleships: The Movie by Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:42:41 +0000

This makes my brain want to cry.