Download - J412/512 The U.S. Film Industry
J412/512 The U.S. Film Industry
OCTOBER 1, 2013
Today’s Class Syllabus & Assignments Introduction to Studying Film as Industry Key Themes of Class How to Define “The US Film Industry”
(**Mini conference with Portland)
Introduction toStudying Film as Industry
Film as…
Art
Text
Ideology
Studying the Film/Media Industry:5 Levels of (Critical) Analysis1.National and int’l political economy and policy2.Specific industrial contexts3.Particular organizations (studios, production companies, networks)
4.Individual productions (film or TV series)5.Individual agents (body of work by director, writer or producer)
Lotz, “Industry-Level Studies and Gitlin’s Prime Time,” p. 26-29
Historically speaking: Anthropological Approach
Hortense Powdermaker Leo Rosten
Political Economy of Film Industry
Studying film as an industry that manufactures and markets commodities◦ What do these commodities signify?
Analyzing the political, social and cultural implications of the process of filmmaking
Cultural Studies of Film Industry
How do media producers make culture? What are the hierarchies in which they work? How do people work together?
What are their everyday experiences?
Key: “Look at the ways in which culture both constitutes and reflects the relationships of power” (Mayer et al., p. 2)
Commodities Products and services that are sold in markets
Are media/film commoditiesdifferent from other commodities?
Purpose of Films?**Depends on the kind of film…
Information? Entertainment? Public service? Make money?
Influence?
Key Themes of the Class
Key Themes of Class What is the film industry? What are its components? What is Hollywood? Where is Hollywood? How has the film industry changed? How has it stayed the same?
What impacts the film industry economically, politically, culturally, etc.?
How does the U.S. film industry impact other media, other countries?
Some Key Terms Convergence
Synergy
Commercialization
Runaway production
Diversification
Vertical / horizontal integration
Globalization
How do we define “the U.S. film industry”?
What is Included? Hollywood movies? Made for TV movies? Foreign films? Independent films? Avant garde / experimental films? YouTube? Amateur videos for personal use? Porn films? Other forms?
What is “Industry”? North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): hierarchically categorizes various economic sectors
Motion Picture and Video Production defined by NAICS:◦ “This industry comprises establishments primarily
engaged in producing, or producing and distributing motion pictures, videos, television programs, or television commercials” (NAICS, 2008)
51 Information (economic sector) 512 Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
(subsector) 5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries (industry group) 51211 Motion Picture and Video Production (NAICS industry) 512110 Motion Picture and Video Production (national industry)
Animated cartoon production
Animated cartoon production and distribution
Commercials, television, production
Film studios producing films
Films, motion picture production
Films, motion picture production and distribution
Instructional video production
Motion picture and video production
Motion picture and video production and distribution
(etc.)
“Industry” at Regional Level “The film and video industry is defined as all of the film and video production done by groups, firms, and self-employed individuals in Oregon for entertainment, news, advertising, and educational programming. This includes production spending and filming in Oregon by non-resident firms and individuals” (ECONorthwest, 2008, p. 4).
Working in the Film Industry:Increased Cross-Pollination
Film
TV
Comm-ercialsInternet
What is Hollywood?Where is Hollywood?
Locations of Film Industryin Early 1900s
New York
Vitagraph Company of AmericaEdison Kinetoscope Parlor
Fort Lee, NJ
Moving Pictures Studios West
“Cliffhanger”
Short Film: “Hollywood East”
Motion Picture Set, 1912
Hollywood
Thursday’s ClassHISTORICAL CONTEXT OF FILM INDUSTRY