Hang on, what the hell is the Film Council? A quango of luvvies given tax payers cash to hand out to fims THEY want to see developed?
Might explain why the UK film industry is so weak. Maybe if the UK started making fims people wanted to see, you know, went a bit more "Block Buster" and used real UK talent, then the UK would'nt need hand outs from government to make films...
It always amazes me when I watch DVD extras, just how much of HollywooRAB special effect work/cgi/sets get done over here, or by British artists/set designers, costumers, that have gone to work over there. Yet the UK has nerver really produced any blockbuster SciFi type movies even thugh it oozes the talent that makes it possible for Hollywood.
Stop making the 15th clone of LockStock, make something people want to see, and the money will take care of itself. Look at Avatar, there is money in them there blockbuster hills.