Section B: Institutions: Film

A Brief History of Film

One compulsory question to be answered by candidates based upon a case study of a specific media industry, Film. Through specific case studies of the centres choice, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate understanding of contemporary institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange/exhibition at a local, national or international level as well as British audiences reception and consumption. There should also be some emphasis on the students own experiences of being audiences of a particular medium.

Early Cinema 1893-1903

1826 - Photography 1870s - Faster exposure - 1/25th second 1888 - First camera to use flexible film strip, Etienne-Jules Marey 1889 - Kodak introduced celluloid 1880s - Maltese cross gear mechanism to create intermittent motion, used by Marey 1893 - WKL Dickson (Thomas A Edisons asst) developed a camera that made short 35mm films 1895 - Louis and Auguste Lumiere gave one of first public showings of motion pictures projected onto a screen. 1896 - Georges Melies discovered possibilities of simple special effects and used elaborate sets Pathe Feres (French Phonograph Company) established production and distribution branches in many countries. From 1901-1910, largest film concern in the world. WW1 restricted free flow of films and Hollywood emerged as dominant industrial force.

Classical Hollywood Cinema 19081927

Edison patents violation suits American Mutoscope & Biograph different 1908 formed Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) Edison and Biograph only patent owners; licensed other members to make, distribute and exhibit films Numerous independent companies established Declared monopoly in 1915 1910 - film companies began to move permanently to California for the climate and terrain Structure a few large studios with individual artists under contract and a peripheral group of small, independent producers Factory system each production under control of producer 1910s and 20s many studios formed:Famous names joined Jesse L Lasky to form distribution wing Paramount, MGM (Metro, Goldwyn, Mayer), Fox Film Corporation and 20th Century (joined in 1935), Warner Bros, Universal

1903 The Great Train Robbery prototype for classical American film. Clear linearity of time, space and logic. 1908 DW Griffith director trademark medium long or medium shot. 1910 on Thomas H Ince (producer and director) Unit System. Single producer overseeing several films at once. 1909 basic continuity principles. Standardised style by 1920s. Awkward shots covered by inserting a dialogue title. 1919 DW Griffith, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charles Chaplin formed United Artists (distribution corporation).

Alternative movements in other countries

Silent 1919-1926 German Expressionism 1918-1930 French Impressionism and Surrealism 1924-1930 Soviet Montage
Sound 1942-1951 Italian Neorealism 1959-1964 French New Wave

The Classical Hollywood Cinema after the coming of sound

Warner Bros expansion 1927 the Jazz Singer first talkie By 1930s, wired for sound MGM prestige studio huge numbers of stars and technicians under long term contracts, lavish spending on settings, costumes and special effects Warner Bros relatively small studio less expensive genre films Universal imaginative film making atmospheric horror RKO musicals 1930s colour film stocks. Technicolor used until early 70s By 1930s trend towards deep focus

The New Hollywood and Independent Filmmaking

1960s failed movies, TV networks not bidding, movie attendance figures flattening out Counter-culture flavoured films Easy Rider (1969) Immense hits by young directors Coppola, Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese Movie brats film schools (NYU, USC, UCLA) rather than studio system Traditional genres with autobiographical colouring New Hollywood films based on old Hollywood Admirers also of European tradition 1980s new directors James Cameron, Tim Burton, Robert Zemeckis Resurgence of mainstream film through directors from abroad and women filmmakers. Independent directors shifting into mainstream, but some also remaining independent.