Why did filmmakers and producers move to Hollywood?

They moves to Hollywood due to the easy access to a variety of different terrain that can be films, it’s reliable sunny clear weather that can be used year round for shooting.

Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the silent era

Stars: Clara Bow (New York, USA), Mary Pickford (Toronto, Canada)

Directors: Charlie Chaplin(London, England), D.W Griffith (Kentucky, USA)

Pictures: The Gold Rush, The general

In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory, production line or the premier league?

Actos may be working for one company but if they are not performing their contract could be cut no matter their star status, actors had little control over their career as they could be loaned similarly to football players now.

When and what was the first “talking picture”

The jazz singer, it came out on October 6th 1927

Why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers working in the film industry?

Some voices may have been unsuitable and their acting abilities decreasing as they had been performing silently and do not have the talent when using their voice, as well as not understanding the technology of recording sound.

What was happening in America and the world during this time?

WW1 had just ended (in 1918) so many countries were recovering, The American economy crashed after the wall-street crash leading to the great depression in 1929.

The Hollywood studio system, the golden age of Hollywood

1930-1947

What were the big 5 studios and what were they known for?

MGM: Made high budget musicals, comedies and melodramas as well as book to screen adaptations, using big stars. For example, “the Wizard of Oz”

Warner Bros: Branded themselves as the “studio of the working class” and made low budget melodramas, movies set during the Great Depression and gangster movies such as The Public Enemy

Paramount: Known as the most European studio as many filmmakers came from Germany or the UK. They gave more freedom to filmmakers and made “The sign of the cross”

Fox: Had a director named John Ford who won back to back oscars for best director and film, for “How green is my valley” and “The grapes of wrath”

RKO: Created many musicals and films spanning many genres including comedy or action. RKO was also responsible for one of the most influential films of all time “Citizen Kane”

Censorship: HAYs Code

The HAYs code was implemented and written up in 1930, this was seen as a set of rules for what could and couldn’t be included in the films such as forbidding the use of racial slurs, profanity, obscenity and the showing of sexual assault. In addition, the code also limited the use of nudity, criminality and graphic violence. For example, a kiss on screen could not last longer than 7 metres of film, and one actor had to have a foot on the floor in order to prevent showings of a sexual nature.

Classical Hollywood style

What is meant by the invisible style of storytelling?

Refers to conceal artistic choices to give films a natural story to give audiences, this can be done through lighting and camera work to make films more immersive.

What does continuity mean?

When the sequence of shots are edited together to be fluid and unified most commonly, in chronological order.

1900-1930

1 – why did film makers and producters move to hollywood?

to avoid Thomas Edison’s film laws

2 – two actors and directors/producers from the silent era:

actors: Charlie Chaplin – known for The Kid, Modern Times and his character of The Tramp

King Baggot – known for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Ivanhoe and he was also a director for movies such as Tumbleweeds and The Home Maker.

directors:

Buster Keaton – known for The General, Seven Chances and was also an actor.

Sergei Eisenstein – known for Battleship Potemkin, Alexander Nevsky and Strike.

pictures: The general and battleship Potemkin

3 – in what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production lines? or football teams?

the main roles of the film making process where split up into many different roles so multiple projects could be being made at the same time. if actors where not doing well, they could have their contract cut short

4- When and what was the first ‘talking picture’?

the jazz singer – 1927

5 – why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers in the film industry?

their voices (funny or thick accent)

6 – what was happening at the time in America?

world war one 1914, wall street crash 1929, great depression 1929

The golden age of Hollywood 1930-47:

1 – what where the big 5 studios and what movies did they made

MGM – Wizard of Oz

Paramount – Shanghai Express

RKO – Bringing up Baby

20th Century FOX – How Green Was My Valley

Warner Brothers – Footlight Parade

2 – Vertical Integration: where one company would own every aspect of the film’s production (the making, advertising, distribution and exhibition)

Block booking: ensuring that seats will be filled (the act of owning the theaters as well as the movies themselves)

3- why and when did the original studio system collapse?

1948 – united states versus Paramount Pictures.

this case argued that by owning all aspects of production, it was ruining competition.

4- what was happened in america at the time

the great depression/wall street crash

5- what genres where popular at the time? and why would people go to the movies in this time period?

musicals, westerns and gangster movies. people would go as a form of escapism, because of how bad their lives where outside of the movies.

Classical Hollywood Style

Invisible Style of Storytelling- making the editing style of the movie not noticeable by the audience to keep them immersed in the movie. focused on the Plot and Character development, it is told Chronologically.

Continuity Editing- blending multiple camera shots together to create a consistent and cohesive narrative.

Classic Noir is a style of filmmaking of crime/detective thriller films shot in black and white with a clear use of shadowing, these types of films often create a mood of menace, fatality and suspense backed with a powerful soundtrack. These films were most common between the 1940s to the 1950s.

The Maltese falcon (1941) John Huston

Neo Noirs is, like film noir a style of filmmaking but also included a wider variety of subgenres such as westerns, and science fiction elements to create tech-noirs. These were made after the 1970s. They adapt the visual style and themes of classic noirs but for a more contemporary audience.

Drive (2011) Nicholas Winding Refn