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Lionsgate chief Zygi Kamasa: 'Why can’t Britain be the new Hollywood?' Lionsgate chief Zygi Kamasa: 'Why can’t Britain be the new Hollywood?'
(35 minutes later)
One of the leading figures in the British film industry has called on the television broadcasters ITV and BSkyB to take a proactive role in the production of independent UK-based movies.One of the leading figures in the British film industry has called on the television broadcasters ITV and BSkyB to take a proactive role in the production of independent UK-based movies.
Zygi Kamasa, chief executive of the British arm of Lionsgate, the California-based entertainment company, said the most profitable commercial broadcasters should do more to address a shortfall in UK films. “The BBC and Channel 4 support film – I don’t see why ITV and Sky could not emulate that. This has been raised with them over the last 10 years. The broadcasters should do more to support British film,” he said.Zygi Kamasa, chief executive of the British arm of Lionsgate, the California-based entertainment company, said the most profitable commercial broadcasters should do more to address a shortfall in UK films. “The BBC and Channel 4 support film – I don’t see why ITV and Sky could not emulate that. This has been raised with them over the last 10 years. The broadcasters should do more to support British film,” he said.
“ITV has never had the same remit as the BBC or Channel 4, while Sky has invested in TV production but doesn’t do direct investment in British feature films. That is something that can be dramatically improved.”“ITV has never had the same remit as the BBC or Channel 4, while Sky has invested in TV production but doesn’t do direct investment in British feature films. That is something that can be dramatically improved.”
Mr Kamasa described the tax credit system for British film production as a “huge boost” and claimed there was “an opportunity” for broadcasters to meet an unfulfilled demand for films set in the UK. “We do market research of up to 2,000 people and they all say we are under-served – there are not enough British movies on TV, DVD or in cinema. It’s remarkable how patriotic the audiences are. They want to see films about them.”Mr Kamasa described the tax credit system for British film production as a “huge boost” and claimed there was “an opportunity” for broadcasters to meet an unfulfilled demand for films set in the UK. “We do market research of up to 2,000 people and they all say we are under-served – there are not enough British movies on TV, DVD or in cinema. It’s remarkable how patriotic the audiences are. They want to see films about them.”
Lionsgate, which generates annual global revenues of $2bn (£1.2bn), last month relocated its international sales operations from California to the UK in recognition of London’s growing importance as a global film hub.Lionsgate, which generates annual global revenues of $2bn (£1.2bn), last month relocated its international sales operations from California to the UK in recognition of London’s growing importance as a global film hub.
Mr Kamasa said Lionsgate had been influential in persuading producers of three new major film productions to make the movies in the UK rather than the US. The sequel to Now You See Me, the thriller starring Woody Harrelson and Morgan Freeman, will be filmed in London with a $100m budget. Meanwhile, London Has Fallen is a $100m upcoming follow-up to the action thriller  Olympus Has Fallen and will also star Freeman, alongside Gerald Butler. It is due to be shown in October 2015. Zygi Kamasa (right) is the chief executive of Lionsgate UK (Getty Images) Mr Kamasa said Lionsgate had been influential in persuading producers of three new major film productions to make the movies in the UK rather than the US. The sequel to Now You See Me, the thriller starring Woody Harrelson and Morgan Freeman, will be filmed in London with a $100m budget. Meanwhile, London Has Fallen is a $100m upcoming follow-up to the action thriller  Olympus Has Fallen and will also star Freeman, alongside Gerald Butler. It is due to be shown in October 2015.
“London is arguably the best city in the world [for film making], with an amazing tax credit system,” said Mr Kamasa. “We have some of the best crew, the best cameramen and facilities. They looked at Rome and Paris but, with no disrespect to the Italian and French film industries, they don’t have the crews that we have got.”“London is arguably the best city in the world [for film making], with an amazing tax credit system,” said Mr Kamasa. “We have some of the best crew, the best cameramen and facilities. They looked at Rome and Paris but, with no disrespect to the Italian and French film industries, they don’t have the crews that we have got.”
The third film, Criminal, a $45m action thriller starring Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner, was originally set in New York. “There was an opportunity here with the great crew we have in the UK and to take advantage of the tax credit, and we said: ‘Why not bring the story to London with the CIA operatives working out of the US embassy?’ ”The third film, Criminal, a $45m action thriller starring Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner, was originally set in New York. “There was an opportunity here with the great crew we have in the UK and to take advantage of the tax credit, and we said: ‘Why not bring the story to London with the CIA operatives working out of the US embassy?’ ”
Lionsgate is funding eight UK independent films, including A Little Chaos, starring Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman and due for release early next year. Mr Kamasa said such projects were being funded through profits made from more mainstream films such as The Expendables 3, which Lionsgate made with the Israeli-born film producer Avi Lerner and which is expected to make $250m worldwide.Lionsgate is funding eight UK independent films, including A Little Chaos, starring Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman and due for release early next year. Mr Kamasa said such projects were being funded through profits made from more mainstream films such as The Expendables 3, which Lionsgate made with the Israeli-born film producer Avi Lerner and which is expected to make $250m worldwide.
The third film, Criminal, a $45m action thriller starring Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner, was originally set in New York (Getty Images)
The company is also currently involved in making a television drama called The Royals, which stars Liz Hurley as a queen with two teenage children. It’s the first scripted drama for the American cable network E!, which is owned by NBC Universal. The show is being filmed at studios in East London and Mr Kamasa said he was hopeful that Lionsgate UK would be involved in “five, six or seven” projects of similar scale next year.The company is also currently involved in making a television drama called The Royals, which stars Liz Hurley as a queen with two teenage children. It’s the first scripted drama for the American cable network E!, which is owned by NBC Universal. The show is being filmed at studios in East London and Mr Kamasa said he was hopeful that Lionsgate UK would be involved in “five, six or seven” projects of similar scale next year.
Mr Kamasa was co-founder of the distribution company Redbus Film, later acquired by Lionsgate, and has a long list of executive production credits on films including Bend It Like Beckham and Filth.Mr Kamasa was co-founder of the distribution company Redbus Film, later acquired by Lionsgate, and has a long list of executive production credits on films including Bend It Like Beckham and Filth.
However, his pleas to the broadcasters do not yet seem to be finding a receptive audience. Film is a big part of BSkyB’s strategy and it offers customers over 800 movies at any time. It has deals with the six big Hollywood studios, producing rights revenues that flow into the British film business. A spokesperson said: “Sky is a major supporter of the creative industries, investing a record £600m in home-grown content this year. We’ve had a great reaction to our quality British drama and comedy, and we’ve chosen to focus on doing more in these areas.”However, his pleas to the broadcasters do not yet seem to be finding a receptive audience. Film is a big part of BSkyB’s strategy and it offers customers over 800 movies at any time. It has deals with the six big Hollywood studios, producing rights revenues that flow into the British film business. A spokesperson said: “Sky is a major supporter of the creative industries, investing a record £600m in home-grown content this year. We’ve had a great reaction to our quality British drama and comedy, and we’ve chosen to focus on doing more in these areas.”
ITV said its “strategic focus is on television production, both in the UK and internationally, and we have no current plans to branch out into film”. Last year, though, it acquired Big Talk, which has a film production arm and made Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.ITV said its “strategic focus is on television production, both in the UK and internationally, and we have no current plans to branch out into film”. Last year, though, it acquired Big Talk, which has a film production arm and made Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.
Zygi Kamasa is the chief executive of Lionsgate UK, one of the leading independent distributors in the UK.Zygi Kamasa is the chief executive of Lionsgate UK, one of the leading independent distributors in the UK.
He began his film career in 1993 as the founder and managing director of Scorpio Productions, based at Pinewood Studios.  In 1998 he co-founded the independent company Redbus Film Distribution.He began his film career in 1993 as the founder and managing director of Scorpio Productions, based at Pinewood Studios.  In 1998 he co-founded the independent company Redbus Film Distribution.
Through Redbus to Lionsgate UK, Mr Kamasa has overseen the investment, production and distribution for more than 350 films and has had in excess of 150 top 10 box-office hits in the UK, including The  Hurt Locker. Most recently, he has made investing in UK projects a key part of his strategy, starting with Lasse Hallstrom’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and Great Expectations with Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter. Through Redbus to Lionsgate UK, Mr Kamasa has overseen the investment, production and distribution for more than 350 films and has had in excess of 150 top 10 box-office hits in the UK, including The  Hurt Locker. Most recently, he has made investing in UK projects a key part of his strategy, starting with Lasse Hallstrom’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and Great Expectations with Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter.