MA Year 2

A History of the American Film Industry

Questions for the exam

List and briefly discuss the reasons Edison and the other important players in the early film business
decided to form the Motion Picture patents Company.

List and briefly discuss the main reasons and factors that made the Independents prevail in the
competition with the Trust.

List and briefly discuss some of the more important characteristics of the Studio Era taking into
consideration the tree-arm structure of the film industry: Production, Distribution, Exhibition.

List and briefly discuss the most important reasons that brought about the decline of the Studio
System after 1946.