The period between the 1920's until the 1950's is known as the golden age of Hollywood.
The film industry was practically controlled by five studios that were known as "The big five". These were MGM, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, RKO Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
Alongside "The Big Five" were "The Little Three". These studios had less power or influence but enough to be a success. They were; Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures and United Artists.
A big reason for the success of Hollywood was the studio system of the time. The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America was founded in 1922. This trade body was established by the big five as a support system so they could help each other and also to establish good public relations. This co-operation between major studios led to a monopoly on the film industry.
They also made it so they could flood international market with American film, but they opposed foreign film in America.
They also had powers such as block booking which was where the studios would be allowed to sell a years worth of films to theatre chains. That years worth of films would have a mixture of A rated movies and B rated movies that the theatres had to buy in a package deal. The only theatres not subject to this rule were the theatres owned by the Studio's themselves. In 1948, a supreme court case known as United States vs. Paramount Pictures outlawed the practise of block booking and made the studios sell their theatre chains.
The introduction of sound into film caused huge moral panic from the population. The Hays code was then set up as the first attempt at censorship. Created by Will H. Hays, the code's main principles was all films should not present crime or uncivilized behavior in a positive light. The main issues that the Hays code took offence to were that of sex and crime. It was supposed make sure the films upheld the institution of marriage and portray adultery as being bad. Interracial relationships were also not to be portrayed in a positive or encouraging way.
These ideals were extended not only to film, but also to the stars of the film. During the golden age of Hollywood, the stars were owned by the studios, although they could be rented out to other studios. They were also bound by contract. This ment that actors were expected to act under a contract that had morality clauses in it, forbidding them from behaving badly even when offscreen. The studio's manufactured an image around each star that they expected them to live by in all public settings.
Actors were frustrated with the lack of choice they had within their careers and disliked the contracts and the way they were under the control of the studios.
The Hollywood films had clearly structured narratives with a linear chain of events and obvious cause and effect outcomes. They featured a comprehensive resolution at the end. Within the film, the goals were typically psychologically motivated rather than socially.
The editing itself was made to appear as invisible as possible to avoid drawing attention to itself. The establishing shot tended to be a long shot, also using a long shot to show transitions between locations.
The 180 degree rule and the 30 degree rule began to be put to use and were rarely broken.
During this time many of the widely known and established editing techniques were cemented into the idea of successful filmmaking.
The film industry was practically controlled by five studios that were known as "The big five". These were MGM, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, RKO Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
Alongside "The Big Five" were "The Little Three". These studios had less power or influence but enough to be a success. They were; Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures and United Artists.
A big reason for the success of Hollywood was the studio system of the time. The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America was founded in 1922. This trade body was established by the big five as a support system so they could help each other and also to establish good public relations. This co-operation between major studios led to a monopoly on the film industry.
They also made it so they could flood international market with American film, but they opposed foreign film in America.
They also had powers such as block booking which was where the studios would be allowed to sell a years worth of films to theatre chains. That years worth of films would have a mixture of A rated movies and B rated movies that the theatres had to buy in a package deal. The only theatres not subject to this rule were the theatres owned by the Studio's themselves. In 1948, a supreme court case known as United States vs. Paramount Pictures outlawed the practise of block booking and made the studios sell their theatre chains.
The introduction of sound into film caused huge moral panic from the population. The Hays code was then set up as the first attempt at censorship. Created by Will H. Hays, the code's main principles was all films should not present crime or uncivilized behavior in a positive light. The main issues that the Hays code took offence to were that of sex and crime. It was supposed make sure the films upheld the institution of marriage and portray adultery as being bad. Interracial relationships were also not to be portrayed in a positive or encouraging way.
These ideals were extended not only to film, but also to the stars of the film. During the golden age of Hollywood, the stars were owned by the studios, although they could be rented out to other studios. They were also bound by contract. This ment that actors were expected to act under a contract that had morality clauses in it, forbidding them from behaving badly even when offscreen. The studio's manufactured an image around each star that they expected them to live by in all public settings.
Actors were frustrated with the lack of choice they had within their careers and disliked the contracts and the way they were under the control of the studios.
The Hollywood films had clearly structured narratives with a linear chain of events and obvious cause and effect outcomes. They featured a comprehensive resolution at the end. Within the film, the goals were typically psychologically motivated rather than socially.
The editing itself was made to appear as invisible as possible to avoid drawing attention to itself. The establishing shot tended to be a long shot, also using a long shot to show transitions between locations.
The 180 degree rule and the 30 degree rule began to be put to use and were rarely broken.
During this time many of the widely known and established editing techniques were cemented into the idea of successful filmmaking.
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