Movies: Mass Producing Entertainment

This chapter introduces the roots of the film industry, starting from 1870s & 1880s,
two people were working on the problem of capturing and portraying motion. The
first was Étienne-Jules Marey. This causes a line timer for the start of the industry.
1894: Thomas Edison opens first kinetoscope parlor. Lumiere brothers invent
portable movie camera & projector. Early 1900s: Nickelodeon theaters become
popular. The first time telling a story was in 1903 when Edwin S. Porter directs The
Great Train Robbery. Contains 12 separate scenes shots in a variety of locations
that tells a realistic story Established basic film storytelling conventions.

Later the studio system began to view film as a mass-produced art form, and
studios began to control all levels of production (vertical integration). So, the talent
began to work under exclusive contract with the studios. At this time also began the
development of sound films. The next years the World War II were a difficult time
for the movie industry. The studios power was diminished by the Supreme Court's
rulings in the antitrust case, and some politicians had an overwhelming fear that
Hollywood and its movies might be playing a role in spreading communism. Then
the Blacklist 1947: House Un-American Activities Committee holds hearing on
communist influences in Hollywood. Hollywood Ten resisted testifying were jailed
and backlisted 1953, as many as 324 were blacklisted, including many prominent
screenwriters.

Movies React to Television

Movie audiences peak in 1946 – 80 million tickets sold per week. By 1953, ticket
sales drop to 46 million per week. First round of 3-D movies, larger format theaters
Growing popularity of color Growth of multiplex theaters.

The Blockbuster Era 1975: Jaws creates the summer blockbuster

Succession of big-budget films with very wide release2015/16: Star Wars: The Force
Awakens has biggest box office to date.1939: Gone with The Wind sold the most
tickets.1990s: Home video becomes as important as theatrical release.

Digital Production & Projection

1977: Star Wars brings computer-controlled cameras to movie making.2004: Sky
Captain and the World of Tomorrow becomes first major film to have all-digital
sets.2007: 300 shows movie with digital sets can be successful. Late 2009/10: Digital
and 3-D digital projection grow in popularity. IMAX screenings become premium
revenue source. Film screenings growing in popularity again.
What Makes a Movie Profitable?
Make a movie with: A small budget. A clear target audience. Modest box office
expectations. Makes a great return on investment—think Bridesmaids, Paranormal
Activity series, and Slumdog Millionaire.

Popularity of Bollywood Films

World’s biggest source of movies Big musical numbers cross-language barriers
Having influence on western films Known as masala or spice movies.

Diversity In the Movies

2016 – All Oscar acting nominees are white. #OscarSoWhite hashtag highlighted
lack of diversity. Academy tends to be older, white, and male. Problem of
‘whitewashing’

Movies & Censorship 1920s: Birth of the Production Code (Hays Code).
Attempting to avoid government-imposed rules Strict rules on sex, profanity, and
violence.

Failure of Code Movies reflected the changing social values of the post WW II
America. By the early 1960s many movies released without code approval1968:
MPAA launching movie rating system, still in use today with some modifications.

Movies and the Long Tail

Online promotion Netflix and other online-based distribution systems Availability of
small, obscure films in every market, not just cities Streaming services such as Hulu
and Netflix have given small independent films greater distribution.