The Guardian Article Notes

Notes On The Guardian:

Due to audience fragmentation, helped created by modern streaming sites such as Netflix and demand, as well as the desire of 'Mega-Budget' shows and movies on a constant conveyor belt of content, the low - mid budget  film industry has taken a massive hit in their audiences interests.

Domestic UK films such as Train Spotting and Oscar-winning The Lobster, have plummeted in popularity since their realise, making less grossing, despite their high praise. In comparison to high budget franchises, they build so much euphoria before realise do to their brand or characters consumers have fallen in awe of over several movies, limiting the demand for low budget movies further. The British Film institute (BFI)say that the majority of low budget films are funded by European Producers. 

Netflix's The Crown

For example, with societies current Super Hero Movie Epidemic, Marvel have this cult like fandom that will watch anything and everything they produce. From the Guardians article they use the example of Hollywood's Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Alien: Covenant, still remaining "Rocksteady". The article refers to Hollywood taking the majority of its budget and using it for 'pretty much for franchises and superhero stuff,” says David Hancock' which couldn't be more true, explaining this Marvel VS DC bandwagon.

The US box office illustrates the consequence of souly funding what is guaranteed to make a profit. Major studios such as Marvel take more than 90% of the box office, leaving around 9% for low budget films to sort after.

BBC's The Bodyguard.

However even big budget companies are at risk due to rise of streaming sites in the consumerism hierarchy that are the film and TV industries. The Guardian quotes that Netflix's The Crown costed £100m in production. With Netflix and Sky nearing the 100's in the amount of original productions their producing.. This rise only aids on audience fragmentation further, shaking the way consumers view TV and movies. Despite their rise in popularity, broadcasters like ITV and the BBC have back lashed, creating shows that have the nation question every episode. The article refers to Broadchurch, but a more recent example is the BBC's Bodyguard, having such high praise and even having news channels like Good Morning Britain creating entire segments dedicated to fan theories over the show. Show such as The Bodyguard have been able to by pass audience fragmentation as consumers are so petrified of spoilers, they will tune in at 9 o'clock every Sunday to watch the show in real time. However the cost of making shows to battle Netflix and Amazon Prime has doubled on both ends of the spectrum, meaning TV dramas have a similar budget to movies.

BBC iplayer Killing Eve

With this increase in budget, the dubbed 'glossy dramas' often have high end directors and producers. People who have worked on film and franchises and made fortunes, such as the producers of the Harry Potter movies, have now began to make TV dramas due to  'glossy' TV dramas often having a budget of 1 million per episode. 

Smaller budget production are being wiped out by the competition and broadcasters and battling to be on the same playing field as Netflix and Prime. In the future things could take a very dark turn, where TV dramas become so intense and sought after, that it becomes the only thing broadcasters want to create for hopes of an easy profit, meaning the shows lacking budget or have less interest with consumers, will deplete until all that's left is the fear of spoilers forcing every consumer to tune in or binge watch an entire series.

With smaller budgets and less following on social media, pre production will be a lot harder for low budget films and TV shows, especially if they don't have have a conglomerate like Disney or a beloved organisation like Netflix funding them. Finding good quality but affordable actors, props, equipment and locations is becoming increasingly harder with all these high budget typhoons of entertainment consistently churning out content, meaning small budget productions would be lucky to make a break even on their film, let alone a profit. 

information from:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/may/31/hollywood-and-tv-put-the-squeeze-on-uks-low-budget-film-makers