- Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?
A lot of film makers moved to Hollywood as there was a lot of real estate being sold, perfect for movie sets and studios to be built.
2. Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the ‘Silent Era’.
directors: Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Curtiz
stars: Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne
pictures: City Lights, Battleship Potekim
3. In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the ‘Premier League’?
In the early 1900s, actors and actresses did not have much liberty at all. This meant that if they got into any trouble or public drama, directors and film producers would often fire them but also make sure that they will not be working in the film industry again meaning that their career was ruined. Actors would often also be sold and signed with different producers all the time depending on what genre and type of films were being created at the time.
4. When was the first “talking picture”?
The first “talking picture” (film where an actor/actress spoke audibly for the audience to hear) was ‘The Jazz Singer’. This film was originally presented as a “talkie” (although it only had limited sound sequences) and it premiered on October 6th 1927.
5. Why did the end of the Silent Era cause problems for some producers working in the film industry?
Some actors or actresses were just not good enough for the job anymore. For example, their voice would not sound good as it would be too high or even too low therefore not matching their face and their acting. In some cases, the actors would not understand the new technology evolving around them such as different cameras or microphones, further causing problems during filming.
6. What was happening in America (and around the world) as this time?
The film movements of ‘Classical Hollywood’ as well as French impressionism, German expressionism as well as the German montage began during this period. America then came to its economic demise as ‘The Great Depression’ hit, leading millions of people to lose their jobs and livelihoods, ultimately leading to them also losing their money due to the economic ‘Wall Street Crash’. This was a major stock market crash in the United States which began in 1929 with a sharp decline in prices on the ‘New York Stock Exchange’.