Letters: How to help British film
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Michael Williams-Jones Sir: For Mary Braid ("Film distributors `deny choice' ", 16 December) to accuse the distribution companies of being the "parasites of the film industry" is not at all helpful.
In spite of the clean bill of health given following an exhaustive investigation on the part of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the distribution and exhibition practices in the UK, the whingeing and whining continues. The film industry in Britain as it approaches the new year is probably more united than at any time in recent memory behind the one issue that can be helpful in stimulating a more vibrant domestic production - namely, the quest for an imaginative, aggressive programme of fiscal incentives designed to attract risk capital into film and television production.
The example of Ireland should be examined closely for, by recognising the value of film and television, it has primed the production pump by providing meaningful fiscal and tax incentives which, in turn, have created a significant number of new jobs.
The time has come to stop blaming everybody and to start competing aggressively. What is needed is for the Government to play its role in providing the necessary incentives and first-year write-offs that recognise the huge risk involved in development
- and good old-fashioned entrepreneurship and showmanship. The evidence from around the world is that people are returning to the habit of going to the cinema and Britain should be well-positioned to feed that demand.
Yours sincerely, MICHAEL WILLIAMS-JONES President and Chief Executive Officer United International Pictures London, W6
16 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments