Chapter 6: Film and video

1
Chapter 6 Film and video
2
A brief history of film

• Edisons motion picture camera
• Patent pool
• Story films
• Feature films

3
The rise of stars and the studio system, 1919-1927

• Film studios
• Industrial production of films
• Teams of actors, writers, directors, technicians,
  equipment
• The star system
• Studios contracted stars for regular appearances
  and promotion

4
Revolutionary talking pictures

• Talkies emphasized dialog, singing, music
• Musicals
• The Jazz Singer, The Wizard of Oz
• Newsreels

5
The movie industry during the studio era

• Industry consolidation
• Merger wave
• Vertical integration
• Great depression reduced the number of
  independents
• US Governments 1948 anti-trust case against the
  studios

6
Film and TV, 1948-1960

• Television eroded box office receipts
• Young people continued to see movies
• Networks create made for TV programming

7
Film and TV, 1948-1960, continued

• Networks show studio movies
• Networks use Technicolor and other innovations

8
Studio changes and independent filmmakers

• Independent producers gained more power
• Star system faltered
• New directors transformed Hollywood genres
• Art films, independent film makers
• Export promotion

9
Films on cable and video further segmentation

• Rapid diffusion of VCRs
• VCRs and rented videotapes became new
  distribution channels
• Video rental store consolidation
• Made for cable movies
• Independent UHF TV stations

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Trends in film technology audio

• The Lumiére brothers and silent film
• 1927 talkie The Jazz Singer
• ATT Bell Labs engineering for synchronization

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Trends in film technology Video

• From 18 to 24frames per second
• Wider films
• Special effects
• Computer animation

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Trends in film technology Theaters

• 70 mm film
• Panoramic screens
• Surround sound
• Home movie theaters and DVD

13
Film genres

• Silent films
• Sound films

14
Industry organization

• 8 major studios, each producing 15-25 movies per
  year
• 53 million per film plus overhead
• Independent filmmakers
• Distribution windows
• Home video

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Film Windows
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Consolidation in film industry ownership

• Combination with TV networks
• Consolidation of studio ownership
• Foreign ownership
• Integration in international operations
• International trade in cultural goods

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Audiences for film

• TV, cable, or video the main audiences today
• But box office buzz can create marketing
  momentum

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Policy, social, and ethical issues

• Violence, sex, profanity, and film ratings
• Motion Picture Association of America
• Preponderance of rated R movies

19
Policy, social, and ethical issues, continued

• Vertical and horizontal integration
• Elimination of financial syndication rules
• Continuing mergers of TV and film companies
• Potential for abuse of market power

20
Policy, social, and ethical issues, continued

• Film piracy
• Film preservation