Week 6: Film: past and future

Introduction

You have almost reached the end of this exploration of the film industry. Bharat now introduces the final week of material on this course, and begins to wrap up.

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Transcript: Video 1 Bharat sums up the course

BHARAT NALLURI

Over the last few weeks, we have followed the journey a film has to make from the original idea through its development, production, and distribution. This week, our final week, we can review some of what we have learned. There's an extended assessment test at the end of the week, but we also want to think about the industry as a whole. We'll take a look back in time and think about what the future holds. We'll take a look into an archive that is full of film history. We'll learn that in many ways the industry hasn't changed much. It's still a risky but glamorous business that can still attract financiers, but at the same time make them very nervous.

 We have an insight into how film productions have been overseen by financiers for many, many years. Some argue that the film industry is on the cusp of change. As we've learned, the film value chain is, like with other creative industries, under pressure to change. The contributors you've come to know over the course discuss what the future holds for independent feature films.

End transcript: Video 1 Bharat sums up the course

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Video 1 Bharat sums up the course

This course has examined how films are developed. You have considered where film ideas come from and how to secure the necessary rights to turn an idea – whatever the source – into a screenplay.

You've learned how the development process works as the financial package is put together, and how films are exploited in the market through the system of windows that still persists today. In Week 3 you looked at marketing strategies for film and the economics of the box office. You learned about the various sources of funding for film, from commercial industry and public sector sources. Finally, you examined the process of film production itself. You familiarised yourself with the roles and responsibilities of those involved, and the basic principles of scheduling and the production budget.

Throughout the course these learning points have been supported by explanations from the case study film, Spooks: The Greater Good. Each week, the team behind its making has shared their experience of the development, production and distribution of their film.

This week, it's time take a step back. At the end of the week, there is a chance for you to consolidate your knowledge by taking a test covering material from throughout the course. But first, you’re going to examine the importance of the completion guarantee, and from there you’ll take a look back into the production archives of the very first Bond movie, Dr. No. After that, with the help of the course contributors, you’ll be asked to think about what the future holds for the independent feature film business.