An Emissary to Hollywood

After a generation of spurts and starts, the British film industry is firing on all cylinders. A backlash against Hollywood blockbusters has contributed to successful runs of modestly budgeted British movies such as "Sense and Sensibility," "Trainspotting" and "The Full Monty." Although British talent has always enjoyed Oscar recognition, recent commercial successes have got the new Labor government thinking of ways to expand its movie-making machinery.

Spearheading this effort is an energetic film enthusiast and member of Parliament, Chris Smith, who joined Prime Minister Tony Blair's cabinet as minister of culture, media and sports.

Though his portfolio includes everything from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Internet, Smith has focused on the popular arts--British films and music in particular. He's taking a multi-function approach, from attempting to beef up investment and infrastructure to engaging in trade missions extolling the artistry of British filmmakers and the economy of producing films in Britain.

Smith, who manages to mix formality and hipness, visited L.A. last weekend. In a conversation at the home of the British consul general, he talked about the relationship between Britain and Hollywood, the role for government in supporting the arts and the general renaissance in British cultural expression.

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Question: Right now only about 10% of film screens in Britain are showing British-made films. You've stated that you want to double that number. How's that idea playing here in Hollywood?

Answer: The reception to the idea here has actually been very constructive. I think it's in the interest of the big American film companies to evaluate how British films are now playing to British audiences. I'm not interested in limits or quotas--that's counterproductive. But look at films like "Bean" or "The Full Monty." These are films that are attracting big audiences. I think my interest, which is to see more and better British movies, and Hollywood's, which is to make money, run hand in hand.

Q: And yet, while British films are having quite a success these days, the British are still not avid movie-goers.

A: Yes, but we are seeing growing numbers of people going to the cinema. Ten years ago the number was down to about 50 million a year. Now it's 130 [million] or 140 million. There are more screens being built, and more good movies coming on those screens, so I see the numbers continuing to go up.