Die Another Day helps boost flagging British film industry

15-Jan-2003 • Die Another Day

Reuters are reporting that figures released on Tuesday have shown "Die Another Day" helped boost investment in the British film industry to more than half a billion pounds last year.

The British-based Film Council said the UK had provided the location for or been involved in the production of 115 films, including several blockbusters, in 2002, attracting $910 million of investment.

"In a highly competitive world this study shows that the UK continues to reap benefits from advantages including superb writers, directors, and actors," Film Commissioner Steve Norris said in a statement.

"The UK continues to be recognized by international film makers as one of the best places in the world to make a film."

The figures - the most comprehensive ever compiled - include inward investment from overseas, domestic productions and co-productions filmed both in the UK and abroad.

An overall comparative figure is not available since it is the first time investment from co-productions filmed overseas has been calculated, the Film Council said.

Total spending on British film production - excluding co-productions abroad - rose 22 million pounds from 2001 to 433.09 million pounds last year, and was more than four times the 1992 level.

Inward investment from international filmmakers locating their productions in Britain also rose, up 16 percent to 267.84 million pounds.

However, spending on UK productions fell from 180.12 million pounds in 2001 to 165.25 million pounds in 2002 and inward investment productions were down from 38 to 30 last year.

Norris warned that while the overall figures - based on financial information from film producers - were encouraging there was no room for complacency.

International blockbusters located in Britain included "Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life," starring Angelina Jolie, "Die Another Day" and "Neverland," starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet.

Domestic productions included James Bond spoof "Johnny English," starring Rowan Atkinson and John Malkovich and "Love Actually," starring Hugh Grant.

Thanks to Umpire for the alert.