25 July 2010
Last updated at 12:12 ET

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called on the BBC to be more open about how much it pays its top stars.

Speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hunt said that the corporation should be clear about how it spends the public’s money.

Earlier this month the BBC Trust said details of star pay would be revealed in bands, but not individual salaries.

Mr Hunt said the public was “genuinely divided” over the issue and needed to make up their own minds.

“The difficulty here is that the public is genuinely divided – some people say ‘why should we pay huge salaries for stars on the BBC when we can see them on ITV?’,” he said.

“Other people say ‘look, one of the reasons I pay my licence fee is I want to see people like Brucie doing Strictly Come Dancing’.

“There is a genuine division there and I think the best way to resolve that is for the BBC to be open about the packages that it pays to celebrities.

“We have learned in government that transparency is the best way to solve a lot of these issues because you are saying to the public ‘look, you’re grown up, you make up your own mind’.”

Mr Hunt said he also wanted to meet BBC director general, Mark Thompson, to discuss the salaries the corporation pays its top executives.

He said while the BBC had made “some steps in the right direction” it needed to show it was on the “same planet as everyone else” when it came to pay for top executives.

The BBC recently announced it would reduce the pay of its top executives and slim down its senior management.

Mr Hunt said: “We will be having discussions over the future of the next licence fee settlement next year in which I will be talking to Mark and the BBC management in a lot of detail.

“I do want the BBC to demonstrate that when it comes to their management pay they are on the same planet as everyone else.

“Because of the economic inheritance that we are facing, government ministers have been careful with every single penny of taxpayers’ money and the BBC does need to show it is careful with every penny of licence fee payers’ money as well.”

Mr Hunt also said the way that the licence fee is collected may have to change to keep up with changes in technology.

He said while the government “accepts the principle of the licence fee… the way we collect it may have to be rethought”.

And he also signalled that the BBC should consider reducing its online activity.

“The web is a very good area where the BBC needs to have clearer red lines on what it will and won’t do.”

Executive pensions

Meanwhile, claims in the Sunday Express that Mr Thompson and the BBC’s executive directors stand to gain from a “secret pension pot” have been denied by the BBC.

The newspaper said a multi-million-pound so-called “slush fund” is for Mr Thompson and eight executive board members while BBC staff are being asked to accept a cap on the amount pensionable salaries of existing members can grow by to 1% a year.

But the BBC said the figures quoted form part of the remuneration for the executive board that is published annually in the BBC’s Annual Report & Accounts.

In a statement the BBC said: “In addition to the changes to the Pension Scheme that the BBC is proposing we are also reviewing all aspects of pension provision, including that for senior managers.

“We will announce these together with any other changes to the proposals after the consultation closes.”

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

21 July 2010
Last updated at 07:50 ET

Low budget independent films are facing a tough time financially amid the economic slowdown, the UK Film Council has said.

The number of feature films funded solely in the UK fell slightly from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.

Overall, budgets for independent films in 2009 also showed a slight drop.

However, it was a record year at the UK box office overall last year, with takings of £944m and the highest admissions since 2002 (173.5 million).

One of the main reasons for this growth was the emergence of 3D cinema. Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Ice Age III were the three most popular films.

The figures came as the Film Council launched its first fully-searchable website with comprehensive statistics.

“Overall it’s clear that British cinema has been weathering the global recession well,” said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward. He said the sectors of production, distribution and exhibition were “firing on all cylinders”.

But he said the marketplace for financing smaller, independently-produced British films was becoming increasingly tough.

This was partly as a result of the overall economic slowdown and partly down to “the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age”.

“Low budget independent production is a tough business – it always has been,” he said, noting that figures for the first half of 2010 showed a continuing pressure on smaller film production.

“I’m not saying this is a catastrophe, what I am saying there is something quite serious going on here,” Mr Woodward said.

“Around the world broadcasters are paying less for feature films, and there’s a slow erosion of the DVD market.

“The film industry has not managed yet to properly monetise the online space. Revenues are drifting away from DVD and TV, but they are not being replaced by online sales at the moment.”

The UK Film Council report showed that independent UK films were at their most popular in 2009 – both in the UK and global markets – since records began.

Helped by the success of Slumdog Millionaire, indie films took 8.2% of the UK and 2.3% of the global market share.

The report also showed that British film talent – including actors, writers, directors and crew – continued to shine on the international stage. Some 14% of all major awards won around the world between 2001-2009 were won by British films and talent.

“Film really matters to people, it’s an integral part of people’s leisure time,” said Mr Woodward.

19 July 2010
Last updated at 04:18 ET

Christopher Nolan’s Inception has topped the North American box office taking $60.4m (£39.5m) on its opening weekend, according to studio estimates.

The thriller, about thieves who steal secrets from dreams, knocked animated 3D film Despicable Me off the top spot.

It was Leonardo DiCaprio’s best opening weekend, beating $41.1m (£26.9m) taken for Shutter Island in February. It is already being tipped for Oscar glory.

Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice opened at three with $17.4m (£11.4m).

Inception stars DiCaprio, 35, as the leader of a team that breaks into people’s dreams.

Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros, said: “We let all of the sequels and popcorn films come out and get the summer rolling, then we come in here with this original concept.

“We’re in a good place to run now for the rest of the summer.”

Speaking to the BBC News website, DiCaprio said the film did not rely on the “regurgitated plot structures” of usual summer blockbusters.

“It’s nice to see films like this and other films which come out that take a gamble a little bit, and don’t underestimate their audience, and challenge them.”

Andrew Garfield won a TV Bafta for his role in gritty drama Boy A

British actor Andrew Garfield is to play comic book superhero Spider-Man in the next outing of the film series, it has been announced.

The 26-year-old, raised in the UK but born in California, will begin work on the new movie in December.

His previous credits include last year’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus alongside the late Heath Ledger.

Former Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi departed the franchise after making three films.

‘Rare combination’

The new instalment, to be shot in 3D, will focus on the formative years of Peter Parker, the unremarkable youth who – after being bitten by a radioactive spider, is transformed into the superhero.

The movie has yet to be named.

Marc Webb, who will direct Garfield in the film, said of the new star: “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents.

“He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Garfield starred in an episode of Doctor Who set in 1930’s New York

Spider-Man producer Avi Arad added: “We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Garfield, who was revealed to the press as the new Spider-Man in Cancun, Mexico, has a wealth of British TV roles to his credit.

He won the best actor Bafta in 2008 for his role in hard-hitting Channel 4 drama Boy A.

Brought up in Surrey, his other credits include Doctor Who, Sugar Rush and Channel 4’s Red Riding trilogy.

Andrew Garfield won a TV Bafta for his role in gritty drama Boy A

British actor Andrew Garfield is to play comic book superhero Spider-Man in the next outing of the film series, it has been announced.

The 26-year-old, raised in the UK but born in California, will begin work on the new movie in December.

His previous credits include last year’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus alongside the late Heath Ledger.

Former Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi departed the franchise after making three films.

‘Rare combination’

The new instalment, to be shot in 3D, will focus on the formative years of Peter Parker, the unremarkable youth who – after being bitten by a radioactive spider, is transformed into the superhero.

The movie has yet to be named.

Marc Webb, who will direct Garfield in the film, said of the new star: “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents.

“He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Garfield starred in an episode of Doctor Who set in 1930’s New York

Spider-Man producer Avi Arad added: “We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Garfield, who was revealed to the press as the new Spider-Man in Cancun, Mexico, has a wealth of British TV roles to his credit.

He won the best actor Bafta in 2008 for his role in hard-hitting Channel 4 drama Boy A.

Brought up in Surrey, his other credits include Doctor Who, Sugar Rush and Channel 4’s Red Riding trilogy.