The Dynamics of Mass Communication Joseph R. Dominick Seventh Edition

Part 3 The Electronic Media

Chapter 9 Motion Pictures

History of the Motion Picture Motion pictures and TV “work” because of two quirks of the human perceptual system: the phi phenomenon persistence of vision

Edison and Early Experiments Using a sprocket-feed device in 1889, Edison and his assistant Dickson invent the first practical movie camera and viewing device, a single-viewer system they call the Kinetescope. Like radio, movie profits were first expected though sale of hardware, not the software. In 1896 Edison realized his error and developed a mass projection device he calls the Vitascope.

The Nickelodeons Movie interest surges when they “tell a story.” First movies are filmed with a stationery camera, much like watching a stage production. The Great Train Robbery is the first film to use roving camera angles and film editing techniques. New seat theaters, called Nickelodeons, meet rising demand for story-based films, charging 5 cents admission.

Early Films and Birth of the MPPC Early film experiments (Queen Elizabeth and Birth of a Nation), indicate that audiences are willing to pay premium prices for longer, better films. In 1910s, top film firms form the Motion Picture Patents Company to stop competitors; the move backfires as independent producers move to Hollywood. The MPPC is dead by 1917.

The Star System Producers learn that the public identifies with recognizable “star” actors; studios capitalize on the draw power of stars (Charlie Chaplin, Lillian Gish, Mary Pickford). Early stars join to form United Artists Studio. Public demands more comfortable and elaborate theaters in order to sit through longer films

Consolidation and Growth Film makers work to insure high profits by taking over all three divisions of the industry: Production Distribution Exhibition The “Block Booking” system helps insure a steady market for film makers

Roaring 20s Debuts Film Sound The Jazz Singer, the first film with sound, opens in1927 and the silent film era ends almost overnight. Hollywood’s lifestyle excesses tempt government censorship; industry avoids that by forming MPPDA. Film’s now costlier due to move to make bigger, better films, rising salaries and sound. Depression era cuts profits; industry counters with introduction of double features and Technicolor.

The Studio Years Height of film studios: MGM, RKO, Universal, Warner Bros., 20 th Century Fox, Paramount, UA, and Columbia. Back lots expand; musicals, comedy genres strong; film stars groomed; “golden film” era: Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, and Citizen Kane. In 1948, courts order studios to stop block booking and monopoly practices; industry reacts by dropping theater exhibition control.

Hollywood Reacts to TV Believing that TV would hurt profits, the film industry tries to protect itself with several measures: Studios refuse to advertise films on TV. Films are not permitted to run on TV. Film stars forbidden to appear on TV shows. New film novelties introduced 3-D Cinerama and Cinemascope “Spectacle” films adult themes (then unsuitable for early TV)

Film in the 1960s and 1970s Hollywood finally sees mutual advantages in teaming with television industry; the number of made-for-TV films and made-in-Hollywood TV series increase sharply. The power of major studios erodes quickly with rise of independent producers and “free agent” actors. Industry introduces film rating system (G, GP, R, X), which switches content regulation burden to audiences.

1970s Film Industry Trends film revenues and budgets increase debut of blockbuster films small-budget films can be big hits, investments market research increases as film tool close ties with TV continue rating system adds PG-13, X replaces NC-17

Contemporary Film Trends.attendance levels out; ticket prices, profits higher.Pay Per View, video/DVD rentals eclipse box office as a film’s primary revenue source.more theater “screens” than ever, newer ones boast stadium seating and digital sound.7 firms dominate industry: Sony, Disney, Warner Brothers, Fox, MGM, Universal, and Paramount

Motion Pictures in the Digital Age Though still in its infancy, digital film technology promises to make significant industry-wide changes, among them: Production: films will soon be shot, edited digitally Distribution: multiple film copy costs disappear, and electronic distribution methods replace physical Exhibition: expensive new projectors will be needed

Netplexes and Film Napsterization Films on the Internet? Technically possible, but in the near future people won’t have bandwidth power to make it practical. “Sharing” films, Napster-like? Doubtful. Time consuming, little money savings, hard-disk storage limitations, big legal hurdles.

DEFINING FEATURES OF MOTION PICTURES  high production, marketing and distribution costs  dominated by big conglomerates  most expensive mass medium on a per-title basis  film has strong “art form” aesthetic dimension  going to movies is still a “social experience”

ORGANIZATIONAL BREAKDOWN OF THE FILM INDUSTRY  Production  Distribution  Exhibition

FILM INDUSTRY OWNERSHIP As of 2000, the top seven studios and owners were:  Walt Disney Company (Touchstone and Buena Vista)  AOL/Time Warner (Warner Brothers)  Paramount (Viacom)  Sony (Sony Pictures Entertainment)  Vivendi-Universal (French owned)  News Corporation (20 th Century Fox)  MGM/UA (MGM and United Artists)

TYPICAL STUDIO DEPARTMENTS Though differences exist between one studio and another, a typical studio would have three departments: Distribution Distribution Film production division Film production division TV production division TV production division PRODUCING MOTION PICTURES

The three distinct phrases in the process are: Preproduction Preproduction Production Production Postproduction Postproduction The Movie Making Process

ECONOMICS A typical film revenue breakdown might look something like this: DVD/cassette sales 28 % Domestic box office 22 Cable22 Foreign box office20 Broadcast TV 4 Other 4

Financing Films Money to finance a film can come in four ways: direct loan from distributor pickup limited partnership joint venture agreement

Dealing with the Exhibitors Distributors and exhibitors must agree on the terms under which a film showing will occur. Three common types of financial agreements are: split percentage sliding scale deal Concession sale stands can also bring in up to 90 percent of a theater’s total profit

Promoting the Film Opening The first three days of a film’s opening are crucial; if it does not do well then, it generally never will. Some of the more common ways of promoting films include: pre-opening media promotion and advertising blitz trailers (film clips from movie) in theater’s “Coming Attractions” heavy Internet exposure using trailers and sound scores

Feedback Films can generate feedback in three common ways: Box Office figures monitored by Variety magazine Market Research using “focus group” audiences Film Audiences though final audiences are rarely used

Cable and Video: The Hollywood Revenue Connection Film sales and rentals have leveled off, though they accounted for $20 billion in 2000 (sales $12B, rentals $8B). 6 million people rent films daily; 12 million go to the theater. DVD sales and rentals will reach parity with videos in Pay-Per-View market up (30 million homes now have PPV). Producers also get revenue from premium cable channels such as HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax.

Motion Pictures End of Chapter 9 Motion Pictures