Sir, The film industry is global, extremely competitive and a high- cost business. Few films today are “made” by one country (“Film Council’s very British coup to ‘steal’ Hollywood blockbusters”, July 22). The Harry Potter film has American finance, but is driven by a British producer, based on British books, made here with a British cast and crew, and using UK studio facilities, special effects, editing etc.

The definition of Britishness is no more generous today than it has been previously — in fact it’s tighter. Lawrence of Arabia, regarded as quintessentially British, was funded by Columbia Pictures and produced by the US legend Sam Spiegel.

We also have to create an environment that encourages financiers to make their films in the UK. The UK stands to gain a huge amount from having films made here: they create thousands of jobs and bring millions of pounds into the UK economy as well as substantial knock-on benefits for tourism and the UK’s international profile. We must not lose out on that.

British talent makes a massive contribution to films like this and shouldn’t be written off simply because the money is American.

We should be proud of the reach of British talent and the enormous contribution it makes to the UK’s standing all over the world — rather than knocking it.

Colin Brown
British Film Commissioner

Explore Letters

• Feedback