With the recent release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, I thought I’d have a little look at the place the wizarding franchise has in the British film industry.
It was recently announced by Warner Bros. that they had bought Leavesden Studios, where much of the Potter films were shot. Not only will this protect over a thousand jobs at the studios, but it will bring a significant amount of money into our film industry, not least the whopping £100 million that they are spending on refurbing the studios. The success of the Potter franchise demonstrated to Warner that it was possible to make largescale blockbusters in Britain and what’s more that it was cheaper to do so here than in the US.
This is an immediate, tangible effect on the British Film industry, but how has the franchise influenced the face of that industry? Britain has a long held tradition of making period dramas, both on TV and in film. Often a characteristic of these films is the idea of postcard Britain, an image of Britain that is nostalgic, romanticised and sellable to the rest of the world. In Harry Potter, we see a new postcard Britain.
Aesthetically, we see a vast lakes, huge mountains and grand old buildings. We see this scenery through all the seasons, and it is shown at it’s best. This is something shared with the period dramas, but Harry Potter’s image of Britain is not just limited to the pretty scenery. More urban set peices are also exploited; the london underground, the millenium bridge, King’s Cross station, representing an altogether more modern image of Britain whilst still being nostalgic.
In fact, much of what makes period dramas postcard Britain films can be seen in Harry Potter films, right down to the great and the good of British acting gracing the sets. The important difference is the addition of the action and setting the films in the present day, producing an image of Britain that is altogether more exciting, entertaining and accessible.
We have already seen numerous childrens fantasies immitate the franchise, though few are particularly British. It will be interesting to see if there will be a lasting affect on the British film industry. Perhaps we will begin to produce more mainstream blockbusters and in turn bring more money to our shores. Which can only be a good thing for British films of all budgets and genres.
the 180 degree rule 