Film Flashcards
Number One Quote
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”
They used the word damn
Movies and us
Dream factories, not dependent on advertising and our relationship is different than with other media
Movie
no rules, no precedents, no expectations, medium built by entrepreneurs, not elites
But first, photography
daguerrotype
-images etched on metal plates
Calotype
Translucent paper (negative) fro which we can make photo prints
What is the idea of movies?
a series of still photos in sequence and illusion of movement
Edison invents the kinetoscope
films is run through a machine, not projected
phonograph music plays–maybe
The Lumiere Brothers
film as novelty, reality scenes, first documentaries, more than one person can watch
Early films
novelty, few minutes long, one subject, once camera angle and no editing
Narrative Films
movies tell stories, engage imagination, create new realities
Georges Melies
Movies as stories, sequential shots, special effects, movies as fantasy
ex: trip to the moon
Edwin S. Porter
movies as narrative, first movies to use editing(montage), mobile camera, first western movie
Nickelodeon
democracy theater
D.W Griffith
epic stories, costly production, large casts, costumes, lighting, emotion, suspense, passion and controversial topics and big business
Changing the lens
Emmett J. Scott and Lincoln’s Dream
Nobel and George Johnson and Oscar Mucheaux
Oscar Micheaux
First African-American to produce a feature film and to produce a talking picture and focused on race and racial injustice
From Novelty to Industry
immigration to the U.S, migration to cites, politcal unrest, war in Europe and creativity/innovation
Movies as a business
it’s always sunny in California, international distribution and hollywood dominates
The Studio System
Elaborate Films, Big-name stars, control of movie industry
Silents film era
film as entertainment, cross language barriers, focus on the stars, not the stories
Impact of the talkies
New genres (musicals), acting quality, production-complicated, expensive and studios dominate
The great escape
depression in the 1930’s, movie as escape (screwball comedies, music, gagster, horror films, feature documentaries and social messages
Scandals
New media, new co cencerns
The Hay Code
no films that would lower moral standards, no brutal killings, no how-to depictions of crime, fire arms limited to the “essentials”
What went at the end of the movies?
“motion picture has moral obligations”
Rules with the Hay Code
no profanity, only married couples in the bedroom, no making fun of public officials/religious leaders, no illegal drugs or alcohol and they respect the flag
What can’t they show because of the Hays Code?
lustful kissing, no inter-racial relationships, no nudity or childbirth
The Push Back
First Amendment, defying the censors which you will not see on TV
Movies and WWII
Office of War Information, morale boosters and educational films
McCarthyism
Communists out of Hollywood
the “red” scare
The Impact of TV
Controversial issues, sexual topics, violence, target under 30s, color, 3-D, sound, special effects, a rating system
What makes a movie a blockbuster?
New technologies,
new audiences,
new demands
Top 10 movie songs of all time
- The Sound of Music
- Stayin’ Alive
- The Way We Were
- When You Wish Upon a Star
- Mrs. Robinson
- White Christmas
- Moon River
- Singin’ in the Rain
- As Time Goes By
- Somewhere over the Rainbow
Rating System
G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17
Fast forward today
It’s all about you(th)
You’re 20 percent of the population
You buy 30 percent of the tickets
it all about $$$$
Why is today not good for movies?
Ticket prices up, sales flat Sequels Commercials, trailers, (finally) movies Too many bad movies Rude audiences At-home entertainment You spend more downloading than going to theaters, buying, or renting
what are the industry componets
Production, Distribution, Exhibition
Production
Making the movie, Film to digital, Special effects are expected
Distribution
Supplying movies (Theaters, DVDs, networks, cable, satellite), Advertising, promotion, Platform rollout
Exhibition
Studios own half the theaters, 7 chains control 80 percent of sales, Profits from concessions
What type of studios are there?
Major, Corporate independents, Make money for corporate parents, Independents
Major studios?
(Disney, Fox, Universal)
Corporate independents?
(Specialty, niche movies)
What are some audience trends?
51 percent women, 49 percent men, Most under 50, White, Hispanic movie attendance increasing, Most go to spend time with family and friends
Trends
Conglomerates, Blockbusters only and Profit vs. Art
Foreign markets
Account for 70 percent of ticket sales, Only 20 percent of U.S. films make a profit at home
Concept films
Entire movie plot is one line
ex: fast and furious
Testing Movies:
Audience research
Excess Hollywood
Franchise films, Sequels, remakes, Adaptations
Movies turn into other things?
Adaptations of games, TV shows, comic books
Franchise films
Movies produced with intent of producing more movies
