Chapter One Understanding the Film
What is film? Film, or Am. and Aus. movie, is a series of moving pictures, usually shown in a cinema or on television and often telling a story. Film, or Am. and Aus. movie, is a series of moving pictures, usually shown in a cinema or on television and often telling a story. As one of the most influential mass media, it has struggled to achieve its proper place as a reputable art form. It merges all the other forms of art: literature, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, drama, and adopts the technical achievements in natural science and applied science like acoustics, optics electronics mechanics, and computer, etc. As one of the most influential mass media, it has struggled to achieve its proper place as a reputable art form. It merges all the other forms of art: literature, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, drama, and adopts the technical achievements in natural science and applied science like acoustics, optics electronics mechanics, and computer, etc.
What is film? Film is unlimited not only in its choice of subject matter but also in the scope of its approach to that material. Film is unlimited not only in its choice of subject matter but also in the scope of its approach to that material. The motion picture has progressed step by step from drawings, to photographs, to projected images, to sound, to color, to wide screen, to 3-D. The motion picture has progressed step by step from drawings, to photographs, to projected images, to sound, to color, to wide screen, to 3-D. people enjoy having wide selections of entertainment forms, yet film still has its artistic charm and appeals to people of different ages from all walks of life. people enjoy having wide selections of entertainment forms, yet film still has its artistic charm and appeals to people of different ages from all walks of life.
Film History The US was the first country to turn film into a popular form of entertainment and an important industry. The US was the first country to turn film into a popular form of entertainment and an important industry. The first full-length story film was The Train Robbery of The first full-length story film was The Train Robbery of D. W. Griffiths famous Birth of Nation (, 1915 ) was the first major feature film made in the US. D. W. Griffiths famous Birth of Nation (, 1915 ) was the first major feature film made in the US. The decade 1921~1931 was called the gold period of silent films The decade 1921~1931 was called the gold period of silent films
Film History Thanks to the innovations in technique, content, and structural forms, Hollywood's film making culminated for the first time during the 1930s and the 1940s, and many distinguished films came into being, such as Citizen Kane, Great Dictator, Waterloo Bridge, Gone with the Wind, Rebecca, Casablanca, etc. Thanks to the innovations in technique, content, and structural forms, Hollywood's film making culminated for the first time during the 1930s and the 1940s, and many distinguished films came into being, such as Citizen Kane, Great Dictator, Waterloo Bridge, Gone with the Wind, Rebecca, Casablanca, etc. In the 1950s American movies experienced an all time low. In the 1950s American movies experienced an all time low. In the 1960s Hollywood began to adjust herself to the competing situation by cooperating with television, producing motion pictures and other things for TV. In the 1960s Hollywood began to adjust herself to the competing situation by cooperating with television, producing motion pictures and other things for TV.
Film History From 1970s on, Hollywood combined the new technology of video tape and DVD with film- making, which helped keep it in the competition of cultural consumption. American film artists shot films, like Jaw, Star Wars, and Superman and won the box office and audience as well. From 1970s on, Hollywood combined the new technology of video tape and DVD with film- making, which helped keep it in the competition of cultural consumption. American film artists shot films, like Jaw, Star Wars, and Superman and won the box office and audience as well. Hollywood began to adapt herself to the demand of the buyer's market, for example, many a film has been shot to reflect the current issues of American society, since people started to meditate on tradition and materialism. Hollywood began to adapt herself to the demand of the buyer's market, for example, many a film has been shot to reflect the current issues of American society, since people started to meditate on tradition and materialism.
Film History These were ethical films: Wall Street, Philadelphia, Bridges of Madison County; film on political issues: JFK, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest; war-theme films: Born on the Fourth of July, Schindlers List, Saving Private Ryan; recreation of American image: Rookie, Patton, Forrest Gump. These were ethical films: Wall Street, Philadelphia, Bridges of Madison County; film on political issues: JFK, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest; war-theme films: Born on the Fourth of July, Schindlers List, Saving Private Ryan; recreation of American image: Rookie, Patton, Forrest Gump. The audience also enjoyed the visual and psychological stimulation from the science films like Star Wars, Alien ; horror film like Silence of the Lambs ; Scream The Omen, and disaster films like Twister, Volcano, Earthquake, etc. The audience also enjoyed the visual and psychological stimulation from the science films like Star Wars, Alien ; horror film like Silence of the Lambs ; Scream The Omen, and disaster films like Twister, Volcano, Earthquake, etc.
Film History A young generation of directors were inclined to create profound themes, lifelike depictions, natural casting and to try out new technology. The 1997s 270-million-dollar-cost Titanic, which won 11 academic awards, was directed by James Cameron and satisfied the audience's demand for psychological comprehension and sensual stimulation. A young generation of directors were inclined to create profound themes, lifelike depictions, natural casting and to try out new technology. The 1997s 270-million-dollar-cost Titanic, which won 11 academic awards, was directed by James Cameron and satisfied the audience's demand for psychological comprehension and sensual stimulation. Another factor cannot be ignored, the acting excellence of the actors and actresses, especially those modern types such as Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas, etc. Another factor cannot be ignored, the acting excellence of the actors and actresses, especially those modern types such as Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas, etc.
Movie Awards 1.Oscar Prize: Oscar is a name of the annual awards, in the form of small statuettes, that have been given by the American Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1927 for more than 30 categories involving every stage of film making during the year. It is the most influential movie prize for those who contribute a great deal to film art.
Why is it called Oscar? In 1931, when a secretary said the figure looked like her uncle Oscar, it got this nickname. In 1931, when a secretary said the figure looked like her uncle Oscar, it got this nickname. Hollywood has another legend about how it got the nickname. It said that Betty Davis coined the term when she took a good look at the statuette and remarked how much the back side looked like her first husband, Herman Oscar Nelson. Hollywood has another legend about how it got the nickname. It said that Betty Davis coined the term when she took a good look at the statuette and remarked how much the back side looked like her first husband, Herman Oscar Nelson.
Countries from all over the world value the Academy Awards, so that every film artist from near and far assemble in Hollywood to celebrate the award ceremony. Undoubtedly it promoted the advancement and innovation of film art, the film artists enthusiasm and diligence, the exchange and cooperation of all the countries. The Oscar has also elevated Hollywood to a more special position in the world of film making. Countries from all over the world value the Academy Awards, so that every film artist from near and far assemble in Hollywood to celebrate the award ceremony. Undoubtedly it promoted the advancement and innovation of film art, the film artists enthusiasm and diligence, the exchange and cooperation of all the countries. The Oscar has also elevated Hollywood to a more special position in the world of film making. Oscar Prize
2.Palme d Or (Gold Palm): The Cannes International Film Festival opened on September 20,1946 in France after receiving the approval of the provisional government. 18 countries were represented on the first Festival, and all the delegates were automatically jury members. The Cannes Festival awards every year Palme d Or to the best film of the competition. The Palme d Or is the most attractive and prestigious award of the Festival. Movie Awards
3.The Golden Globe Award: It began from The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards its Golden Globes to honor achievements in film and television during the calendar year. The HFPA currently presents awards in the following motion picture categories: Picture (Drama and Musical or Comedy), Actor (Drama and Musical or Comedy), Actress (Drama and Musical or Comedy), Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Director, Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song, Foreign Film and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Movie Awards
Hollywood Hollywood is the center of the United States motion picture and television industries. It situates in the northwest of Los Angeles, California. Hollywood is the center of the United States motion picture and television industries. It situates in the northwest of Los Angeles, California.
Hollywood Today Hollywood is not only the center of the motion picture industry, but also of the television, film and recording industries of America. Today Hollywood is not only the center of the motion picture industry, but also of the television, film and recording industries of America. Most of the famous motion pictures corporations of those days, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia and Warner Brothers are still very much in business. Most of the famous motion pictures corporations of those days, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia and Warner Brothers are still very much in business. Now Hollywood is no longer the heart of the world's motion picture industry. Still, about 80% of all American TV entertainment comes from Hollywood. Now Hollywood is no longer the heart of the world's motion picture industry. Still, about 80% of all American TV entertainment comes from Hollywood.
Ratings System The rating system of rating motion pictures was introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America on Oct. 7, 1968, and went into effect on Nov. 1. There are four categories of ratings: G indicates the film is for general audiences of all ages. PG means parental guidance suggested. This is a film which clearly needs to be examined about by parents before they let their younger children attend. Parents are warned against sending their children to PG-rated movies unseen.
R means children under 17s are restricted and require accompanying parent or guardian. This is an adult film in some of its aspects and treatment so for as language, violence, or nudity, sexuality or other content is concerned. X means no one under 17 can be admitted. This is an adult film and no children are allowed to attend. It should be noted, however, that X does not necessarily mean obscene or pornographic in terms of sex or violence.
Genre of Films Musicals Ethical Films Crime Films Detective Films Love Films
Genre of Films Disaster Films History Films Suspense Thrillers War Films Sci-Fi Films Animated Cartoon