UK’s AI plans pose ‘existential menace’ to movie studios, warns Bridget Jones producer
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The boss of British movie studio Working Title has warned that UK authorities plans to weaken copyright legal guidelines to appease AI builders are an “existential menace” to the nation’s inventive industries.
“We’ve been making movies there for 40 years [and] it’s gone from a cottage trade to a really severe contributor to GDP,” stated Eric Fellner, who has co-chaired the group behind the Bridget Jones franchise for the reason that early Nineties.
“The inventive industries are actually one of the vital essential elements of the UK economic system,” he instructed the Monetary Instances. “In the event that they’re going to present away the IP to the tech corporations, that’s going to make an enormous dent in our future potential to function and our future potential to generate income right here within the UK.”
Ministers are consulting on plans to require artists, authors and corporations to “choose out” of permitting their work for use to coach AI packages. The proposals have been criticised by 1000’s of British musicians and artists, together with Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, The Conflict and Hans Zimmer.
Movie-making has develop into a serious supply of financial development for the UK, with a system of beneficiant tax credit attracting Hollywood studios to make their blockbuster motion pictures at websites resembling Leavesden, Pinewood and Shepperton.
Movie and high-end tv manufacturing spending within the UK was £5.6bn in 2024, in accordance with the BFI, a rise of just about a 3rd on 2023 and forward of 2019 pre-Covid manufacturing spending.
Working Title is greatest recognized for a few of its romcoms with Richard Curtis resembling Notting Hill, 4 Weddings and a Funeral, and Love Truly, but additionally has an enormous portfolio of extra severe dramas resembling Senna, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and most not too long ago Substance.
The fourth Bridget Jones movie, which opened this month, was set to be the biggest within the firm’s historical past, Fellner stated, predicting that it could surpass the final file for the group of £48mn.
“Each single territory has opened larger than any of the opposite three Bridget movies,” he added. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy achieved the highest-ever opening for a romantic comedy within the UK, in addition to the highest-ever opening for a Working Title movie.
Followers have flocked to its heat and luxury at a time when the information is commonly bleak, whereas critics say that the film has performed right into a development for authenticity widespread with the youthful generations. He added: “How does a crowd of youngsters get pleasure from a narrative about individuals of their 50s battling grief and making an attempt up to now?”
In the meantime, older generations bear in mind the primary film — and the recognition of the unique, taboo-busting e-book — that means a nostalgic night time out with an outdated buddy.
Fellner stated that audiences had been “pleasantly stunned by the truth that the script is absolutely good . . . the story is much more significant and emotional than I feel anyone anticipated”.
The franchise had been uncommon in seeing the actress who performed the half age with the character within the movies, he stated.
“Usually individuals are inclined to recast,” he added, however “we love the character and are actually happy with the truth that it’s very uncommon {that a} character will get tales instructed over 20 years, and the actress ages with the character”.
He stated that too usually with sequels “the creativity turns into drained. It is rather, very laborious to maintain being authentic in a world the place you’ve already instructed three tales”.
