POST-CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD What happened after the System had ended?

After the System? 1940s After WWII it became the trend to shoot on location, not in a studio.

After the System? 1950s Rise of teenage audience meant that films began to discuss youth issues. In particular, many films questioned traditional values and lifestyles. Notable films included Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

After the System? 1960s- Post- Classical Hollywood Larger proportion of young people in higher education. Studios were aiming films at this audience. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

After the System? 1970s onward. New Hollywood Artistic films receded in favour of big budget, all action blockbusters. Development of computer animation. Development of the high concept film.

After the System? In the 1980s the slasher and action genres were most popular. This was the decade when media conglomerates began to be reformed. In the 1990s sci-fi returned and dominated the blockbusters.

High Concept Films These were the key to Hollywood’s survival after the Studio System. Due to the new TV generation having high demands, producers found it difficult marketing films for TV.

High Concept Films Dillner and Eisner of the ABC network came up with the idea of creating 30 second trailers. For this to work the films would need to be based around really simple ideas. High Concept films were the result.

High Concept Films They eventually helped Hollywood to replace the artistic auteur films with films piloted by new directors who were kings of the box office. Lucas, Spielberg.

High Concept Films These are films that have: A narrative that can be summarised in a single phrase; An image or song that the potential audience associates with the film which allows the film to be advertised through the brand image or a music video; Pre-sold stars or subject matter; Character typing rather than character exposition; Merchandising tie-ins. Jaws “ the provocative poster art and Williams’ pulsating, foreboding theme conveyed the essence of the film…and worked their way into the rational subconscious.”

Post- Classical Hollywood Hollywood’s contribution to the cinematic Renaissance of the 1960s was minimal. Films that were part of this took their lead from European auteurs (directors in charge of the film process, whose individual artistic stamp is evident in their films).

Post- Classical Hollywood They showed an engagement with topical issues and controversial subject matter in an attempt to appeal to the new mature intelligence of youth and represented a “disintegration or displacement of classical narration and the Studio System as dominant norms.”

Post- Classical Hollywood Star persona was not important but it was necessary for audiences to identify with characters who could provide symbolic messages through the narrative. Films were categorised by: Introduction of aimless protagonists; Loosening of causal connections between narrative events; Foregrounding of stylistic devices; Political messages. Notable films included Bonnie and Clyde (1967) The Graduate (1967) and Easy Rider (1969)

Post- Classical to New Hollywood In the mid 1970s a new breed of young directors appeared who were known as the Movie Brats. They included Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese, Coppola and De Palma. These were directors who were cinema literate and used their knowledge of classical cinema to create allusion.

Post- Classical to New Hollywood Lucas and Spielberg began to make high concept films and blockbusters that were plot driven, increased pace, had a greater reliance on special effects and were attempting to target the young. Critics said, “new directors have the inability to say anything that has not already been said… the authentic expression of ideas that took place in the past is today replaced by quotation and allusion to that authentic expression.” Director as auteur began to be replaced by director as superstar.