THE BUSINESS OF FILM THE OPEN UNIVERSITY AG

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0:01
BHARAT NALLURI: It's easy to forget that filmmaking is a money making business, as well as being
part of our cultural lives. If it doesn't make money, it won't survive. It's as simple as that. This course
is about the business of film, and how films make money. I'm Bharat Nalluri I'm going to be your host
for this course, the Business of Film. Over the six weeks, it will give you a handy overview of the
process and an understanding of who does what. It will introduce you to key terms and concepts
and crucially explain how the whole house of cards that is film finance is put together.

0:36
Along the way, you'll meet some of the key individuals involved from the UK film industry. You'll also
get the chance to meet some of the people involved in the making of the feature

0:45
film, Spooks: The Greater Good, released in the UK in May 2015. They will give you an exclusive
insight into how an independent feature film is put together from beginning to end. The examples
and individual's you will meet are British. The principles apply wherever you are in the world, and you
will have plenty of opportunity to jump in and join the discussion. Feel free to share your experience
or impressions on the business of film in your country. Keep an eye out for the links and other
information provided throughout the course.

1:18
You may not be in film, but that doesn't mean that some of the business concepts and ideas you will
come across don't apply to you in your business or field of activity.

Film-making as a business
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The film business aims to make money, just like any other business.
However, as a cultural aspect of our lives it is also an important part
of the creative sector.

The usual norms and expectations of a business are sometimes tempered

by other considerations. Throughout the course we will highlight
particular areas of business learning relevant to film and the creative
sector as a whole, and provide pathways to further information and
study.

In the video you hear from Bharat Nalluri. Bharat was Director of our case
study film Spooks: the Greater Good. He will meet you at the beginning
of each week and will take you through the different elements of the
course. You’ll also be meeting a number of key players in the UK film
industry – from the very beginning of the film-making process through to
the end product and its distribution and sales.

The lead educator on this course is Hilary Collins. The course was co-
written by Richard Miller and Gerard O’Malley.

Hilary is a strategic design academic with research interests in the

economic and cultural role of the creative industries. She teaches Open
University courses in strategy and design thinking.

Richard is a creative industries consultant with Available Light Advisory

and Professor of Film and Creative Economy at the University of
Hertfordshire. In the 1990s he produced American independent films out
of New York.

Gerard O’Malley is a consultant working in digital strategy and

development in the arts and film. He is also the founder and director of
The Film Network.

We encourage you to take part in the comments and in the discussions,

by asking questions and engaging in conversation.

To understand the film business it is important to understand some key

business concepts and perspectives within the film industry. How is value
created in the world of film? What are the different stages of a film’s life
cycle? How are films paid for? Who is involved in the film production
process?

What do you think? Share your thoughts with other learners in the
comments. If someone has asked a question that you too would like
answered, be sure to ‘like’ it. This will help our mentors to answer your
questions more quickly.

Mark each step as complete as you make your way through the course.
You can see your progress on this course at any time, by selecting the
progress icon at the top of the course. This page will carry on updating
as you progress through the course.

Take our short survey

We would love to know what you think of the course and how you plan to
use it. We’re really interested in hearing from you whether you plan to
study every week, dip in and out or jump straight into the discussions!
Your feedback is anonymous but will be of massive value to us in
improving what we deliver. Please take this pre-course survey.

© Still in video: from Spooks: The Greater Good, courtesy Shine Pictures

© Activity image: Will Jackson CC by 2.0

© The Open University (2015)

Note: any external links in this course will take you to third-party websites, which may ask for your
personal details. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

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