CinemaCreating a masterpiece

1895 – Kinetoscope developed by Edison Free oneself from time and space

◦ Forms of Technology Telegraph Photography Telephone

1905 – Edison develops system to project on a larger space◦ Development of the movie theatre

Where does film begin?

Social phenomenon 1903 - Edward Porter introduces American film

◦ Life of an American Fireman◦ The Great Train Robbery

Early films showed news clips

Where does film begin? (cont.)

The Great Train Robbery

D.W. Griffith film Set during and after The Civil War “The Birth of a Nation is as revered as it is

reviled” Pioneered many film techniques

◦ Deep focus, jump-cut, close-up White actors painted faces black Film criticized for being racist First successful feature length film

Birth of a Nation (1915)

Birth of a Nation

Birth of a Nation

Studios take over around 1925 Major studios from 1925-1948

◦ Fox – classic, rural, social realism, controversy◦ Warner Bros. – controversy, realism (gangster)◦ Paramount – sophisticated, big movies◦ Loew’s MGM – mainstream, avoid controversy◦ RKO – weird, more shadowy,

Minor Studios◦ Columbia◦ Universal◦ United Artists

Studio System

Studios in California / HQ in New York◦ Cheap labor – good location

Vertical Integration◦ Control of all aspects of the film

Production – 40-60 movies a year Oligopoly – a few businesses running the industry

Distribution Exhibition – 70% of box office take goes back to

studio Top five studios owned 1/6 of theatres Block booking – take what you get Blind bidding – take what you haven’t seen

Studio System (cont.)

Television begins in 1948 Film now has to contend with TV Technology advances

◦ Cinerama – 3 projectors to fill a screen◦ Cinemascope – different lens to squeeze picture◦ 3D – big again today◦ Technicolor – brilliant colors, vibrant, gawdy

NBC begins color TV in 1958 Join television Sale of film to television Drive in films

Television

Fox – Marvin Davis – Newscorp Paramount – Gulf & Western – Viacom Warner – Kinney Corp – Time Warner MGM – Kirk Kerkorkian – MGM/UA RKO – R.I.P. Columbia – Coca Cola – Sony Universal – MCA – Universal MCA – NBC/GE United Artists - Transamerica

Studios sell off

Films needed to be regulated for audiences Went into effect on July 1, 1934 Directors have to work around code Joseph Breen – serves as code overseer

◦ Given power – his rulings could only be challenged by studio executives

◦ Allowed producers to work around the code◦ Commission for Freedom of the Press

Believes that while some restrictions are necessary, the code prevents artistic freedom

◦ 1960 ends the code with Hitchcock’s Psycho

Production Code of Ethics

Psycho (1960)

Janet Leigh

1968 – new rating system introduced MPAA – Motion Picture Association of America Original - G, M, R, X Now – G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17

◦ PG-13 introduced in 1983 in response to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Rating system different from the code in that it puts the pressure on the audience

Rating system has never been clearly defined◦ Gory films can get an R rating while some of them

should be NC-17

A new rating system

How do you believe film affects society today?

How have you seen films change since you were a child?

What kinds of films sell today? Are there still controversial films today?

What recent films have stirred up controversy?

Discussion Questions