British PM tells filmmakers to make more Harry Potter films

LONDON, UK - With growing domestic demand for high budget films and more box office revenue to be made for studios its no wonder the British Prime Minster is touting blockbusters like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the future of UK cinema.

Earlier this year the UK Film Council was axed creating a hole in the UK Film Industry with no organisation left to appropriate film financing to indie and feature filmmakers. The action dealt a major blow, particularly to young people without a direction on where to take their short films. As the recession bites, young people are feeling more and more alienated by a new budget government

Despite the axing of the council, UK filmmakers will get the same lottery funding than before, but through a different organisation, however there is no clear indication what will happen next.

Answering questions from MPs, David Cameron suggested that the success of Harry Potter and blockbuster films will benefit the future of UK filmmaking.

David Cameron: "I think one of the keys to Warner's success in your constituency is the Harry Potter film franchise which they have been making," said Cameron. "There is a great tip and key for film-makers here. That is, we have got to make films that people want to watch and films which will benefit beyond themselves as they will also encourage people to come and visit our country." - Guardian.co.uk

Harry Potter legacy

Warner Bros, the studio that produced the Harry Potter franchise recently bought Leavesden film studios and plans to invest around $100 million to upgrade the facilities, which could bring a massive boost to local filmmaking long after the expansion is complete.

As the UK becomes a strong overseas market for American films, the strengthening of Hollwoood-UK productions could mark a new decade of blockbuster films made for British audiences and American alike, shot in the UK.

Find out more about Harry Potter here