The Culture Media & Sport Committee are conducting an inquiry into the future of British film and have called up industry luminiaries to shed light on the creative and commercial process that go into making a British movie.

The British Film Industry has had some triumphs recently but critics say more money and care needs to be invested to give it a sustainable future.

In Tuesday 29 May's session the committee heard from the Writers' Guild, PACT (the Producer's Alliance for Cinema & Television) and independent producers.

The different interest groups share a common view: that the British film industry punches above its weight in the world - take the fact that Brits have won Oscars in every year for the last 30 years.

Yet there is a gaping chasm between the British industry and the productivity and viability of our moviemaker cousins across the proverbial pond.

What it's worth

The US movie market share is a wapping 49% and reaped $29b in revenue in 2001. Compare that to the UK industry of just 7%, or approximately $4b in revenues (figures from PACT).

The Writers' Guild say there is more than enough talent out there but that screen writers don't get enough kudos.

And most producers concur that one of the chief problems is that the big Hollywood studios have a stranglehold on distribution - so they end up scooping all the long-term rewards.

You can see the discussion on BBC Parliament on Saturday 3 May at 1800 BST.