'Inward industry engagement': Exploring production cultures in British film and television

Presence, Steve

Abstract

This paper stems from research undertaken as part of SiFTI (Success in the Film and Television Industries), a research project analysing the production cultures of several small-to-medium sized critically and commercially successful film and television companies across four European countries. The UK-component includes case-studies of companies including Icon Films (Sandhurst; Africa’s Giant Killers), Origin Pictures (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; Death Comes to Pemberley), Number 9 Films (Made in Dagenham; Great Expectations), RED Production (Happy Valley; Scott and Bailey), Rook Films (Kill List; A Field in England) and Warp Films (Dead Man’s Shoes; ‘71).

Drawing on original interviews conducted with senior company personnel, we will explore the extent to which these companies’ strategies for success and survival in contemporary, converging and transnational film and television industries depend significantly on a concept we are calling ‘inward industry engagement’.

Contrary to the emphasis on audience engagement that one might expect from companies which depend on audiences paying to view their work, many companies focus their efforts on engaging with other industry actors. From public broadcasters such as the BBC to multinational cable channels and media corporations such as The Discovery Channel and Studio Canal, the ability to create and sustain relationships with other industry players is a mode of behaviour on which these companies depend. This paper examines the causes and consequences of these behaviours and their relationship to the companies’ continued critical and commercial success.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Challenging Media Landscapes
• Start Date: Nov 16, 2015
• End Date: Nov 16, 2015
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: film, television, production cultures
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/839744
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Challenging Media Landscapes