the Complications

of the Film Industry

through Organization Communication

The Complexity Of The

Film Industry

Organizational Communication is full of “Complexities”that

surround us in our daily lives, most of which involve industries and the

way they communicate with each other and the people that run them, work

at them, and communicate individually through them.

While there are limitless organizations all creative in their own individual way, the film industry

has been something i’ve been wanting to talk about in terms of global communication. In the

twenty first century, with advanced technology and faster ways to communicate there has been a

couple complications that have been discussed recently, they are: globalization, terrorism,

climate change and changing demographics. Throughout the slideshow i’ll be relating them to

the film industry (since that is my career path and my primary focus) and to Katherine Miller’s

book Organizational Communication.

The complications of

globalization in the film

industry

Outsourcing is part of what happens to the film industry on a global scale, it’s cheaper to produce, film, and score movies out of the United States and as Hollywood, Bollywood, and Europe progress they also turn to globalization, which can cause major problems for jobs opportunites, pay, as well as communication.

A good example of this is organizations in Hollywood, which in recent years has had a very serious problem with outsourcing community jobs to other countries. VARIETY CHELSEA GUGLIELMINO/GETTY IMAGES

The outsourcing of film

scores in Los Angeles

“The movement has led to practices such as outsourcing in which businesses move manufacturing

and services to countries where labor is cheap” (Miller 3).

As Los Angeles musicians fight organizations LionsGate Entertainment, Disney, Universal Studios,

and Warner Bros for outsourcing jobs and leading them jobless, the film industry increases their

savings. The scoring helped musicians keep jobs and support themselves and without film scoring,

jobs and money have diminished in Los Angeles, which leads to a question a person might ask. Does

globalization always lead to only complications? No. There are many ways that globalization helps

the rest of the international film industry, but with increasing globalization, comes more increasing

complexities and problems. (Richard, “Musicians implore Hollywood to stop scoring films overseas”).

Benefits of globalization

While there are various benefits of globalization in the film industry some of the main benefits are:

● Increasing revenue for the film industry as a whole globally through different foreign and non-foreign industries.

● Allowing the spread of culture through organizations by different diversities.

● Increasing the flow of foreign films and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build new Art industries through expanded globalization.

Wrap Up On Globalization

While there is great benefits of globalization that furthers organizations and creates better

opportunities for the industry, there are still problems that will arise from increased

globalization. Katherine Miller states,

“It becomes clear from all sides of the debate that our new world involves complex

interconnections between businesses, make it difficult to fully understand the

ramifications of both globalizations systems and the proposed means of making

organizations “work” effectively” (Miller 3).

The complications of

terrorism in the film

industry

After the twin tower attacks in September 11, 2001 America and Europe stepped up their security and protocols for Organizations. It was never a problem before the attack, but it’s been recently a heightened complication and is full of complex problems both politically, culturally, and in a sense individually. Over the past three years there has been acts of Terrorism all over the world, some of which have lacked the security and protocols needed for such a threat. The film industry has had a major problem with terrorist threat after a mass shooting in a Cinemark theater in Summer of 2012, and with that said, security has intensified and strategies have been placed on executives, managers, and employees.

CNN Aurora Theater Massacre Picture

Heightening of security in

the film industry Cannes

Film Festival 2016

Just recently the paris attacks have led the film industry to tighten up on security procedures and teach managers and employees on how to react to a terrorist threat, whether it be actual organized terrorists, or a massacre with one lone shooter. Five hundred, yes FIVE HUNDRED personnel were hired to secure and protect this year's 2016 Cannes Film Festival which has attracted over 200,000 attendees.

Cannes’s mayor says the heightened security is in place owing to the reality of a possible attack and to limit the risk. Photograph: Buckner/Variety/Rex Shutterstock

The now censorship of

radical depictions in the

film industry

Recently organizations have been denying radical films depicting anything with bombs, explosives, or other acts of radicalization. Terrorism hurts the film industry and despite great strengths in terrorism prevention (which is a great thing) there is going to be a destructive drop in radicalized films, films with freedom and corruption, and even your standard action film will begin to minimize. This will affect film organizations throughout below and above the line jobs and internationally it will feel like the screenwriters freedom, will be lessened because of the producers and executives morals, ideas, and assumptions.

Henry Barnes, a writer for theguardian states that, “The programme's lack of films that tackle the contemporary issues of Terrorism and religious content as been seen by some as a concerted attempt to avoid any tension” (Barnes, “Cannes remains vigilant as festival opens amid fears of terror attack”).

Wrap-up of Terrorism in

the film industry

While terrorism strengthens organizations by adding extra security and training people in terrorism prevention programs and protocols, terrorism will always be bad. There is no benefits, just complications and complex problems politically, individually, and culturally.

“Homeland security is not a television show about mysterious government agencies, covert military units, or heroes with fantastic cell phones that summon F-16’s it is an ongoing construction project that builds upon philosophy and strategy to ensure effective organization, establish rules and procedures, deploy new technology, and educate a fast army of federal agents, local police, part-time soldiers, private security guards, first responders, medical personnel, public health officials, and individual citizens. (miller 6)

The complications of

climate change in the film

industry

Theconversation Mad Max Dune Destruction of habitat

While there is complications in climate change and

pollution through big industrial organizations, as

well as agricultural industries, film is just the

same. The destruction of natural habitat happens

constantly through production and over time can

lead to a major ecosystem being destroyed.

Pirate Pollution

Not only is the pollution from a day small set, there are bigger problems with the film industry destroying and polluting. The picture on the left shows a cleared field awaiting building for Pirates Of The Caribbean. The right shows what was built and will soon (after production) be demolished. This leads to soil erosion and emission of Greenhouse Gases. So overall location building from film organizations can be extreme hazard to the environment and habitat around it.

Guy Castley from Griffith University states, “Urban development is another land use that affects the natural environment. Residential expansion to accommodate burgeoning human populations often removes wildlife habitat” (Castley, Eats shoots and leaves: what the film industry does to ‘location).

Theconversation destruction of habitat from building Pirates Of The Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales coming out in 2017.

Popular Location ruining

the environment

While the film industry constantly builds upon ecosystems and film culture becomes increasingly popular, there is one last thing that brings harm to the ecosystem because of film organizations, tourism. While tourism is common and towns, cities, and businesses grow of it, it can also be somewhat of a problem for the ecosystems, habitats, and surrounding areas.

● Tourists can pollute the areas of famous scenes and sets where actors have been or have played a role in.

● Tourists can increase popularity to the location where scenes or sets where, which can increase waste and make it a hazard for the already destroyed habitat because of the set building.

● Lastly, popularity to the area could increase growth around these natural habitats leading to an increase in suburban building and construction of outlets and stores.

Wrap-up of climate

change in the film industry

While Katherine Miller briefly explains that climate change is do to human contribution to pollution in Organizational Communication Approaches and Processes, the film industry shows that with the work of building an organization that gives people jobs and entertainment, there is also a pollution of wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

So the question is, does every organization contribute to global warming and pollution? Yes, every organization contributes to the problems of pollution whether it be contributing to greenhouse gases, buying paper, building sets, or even just using light pollution.

The complications of

changing demographics in

the film industry

npr hollywood sign - the demographic problems in the film industry

As changing demographics make up a large part of important information for organizations, film and television is one of the most important. Statistics and audience samples are gathered to see how good a show is running or what kind of people are seeing your movie. These ideas can help improve shows and even be the judge of cancellation. While is is one benefit for the film and television industry, there is also a huge diversity problem.

The diversity problem of the

film industry

Miller states, “The United States Is anticipated to be a “majority minority” nation by 2050” (Miller, 8).

While this is a great thing and the United States is certainly changing it’s ways and accepting and expanding, there are quite a few industries that are still stuck in the past and film is one of them.

A study tested by the University of Southern California has found that out of 21,000 characters and crew members on sets on over 400 films there were only :

● 33.5 percent of speaking female roles● 28.3 percent of the dialogue was from non white actors● 3.4 percent of directors are female in the film industry● 17 percent are female in the television industry ● Women over 40 were deemed largely “invisible”● 2 percent of the actors in film and television are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.● 7 percent of behind the scenes crew were cast thats race and ethnicity reflected the country’s diversity.

(Deggans, “Hollywood Has A Major Diversity Problem, USC Study Finds”).

The diversity problem of

the film industry Cont.

What will have to happen at some point, is the film industry will have to conform to the new changes of diversity. Only time and fighting for racial rights in the film industry will there begin to be a change to the way colored actors are represented and viewed.

Miller states, “Changing demographics also pose the challenge of treating individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, races, ages, genders, disabilities, and sexual orientations in ways that respect these differences and create opportunities for meeting both individual and organizational goals.” (Miller, 10).

Miller’s quote shows that organizations have a challenge to have a balanced amount of diversity in the workplace, but with that said the film industry sort of neglects diversity and hires whites to play major colored roles, especially over Hispanic actors. This leads a problem of low inclusion in the workplace (even behind the scenes) and can lead to unfair pay, treatment, and respect.

Sampling and measurement

of the film and television

industry

Entertainment.howstuffworks family watches television, but does not know that they are also being measured.

There is just problems of demographics, there are also some great benefits. Nielsen (a statistical sampling company that rates and produces research on audiences through demographics) produces jobs for the film industries through audience research and statistical analysis, demographics can also provide the information necessary to boost ratings, to see what kind of people are watching the shows and films, and give a view of what needs to come later if they want to keep the show running.

Howstuffworks states, “a “black Box” which is a computer and modem, gathers and sends all this information to the company’s central computer every night. Then by monitoring what is on TV at any given time, the company is able to keep track of how many watch the program” (Howstuffworks, dow do television ratings work?)

Wrap-up of diversity in the

film industry

While there major problems in film organizations with diversity and changing demographics there can always be a beneficial measure to films and television as well. The industry needs to fix its inclusion problems and start getting more diversity in the mix. The beneficial measures of audiences and sampling to produce information on their gender, race, culture, and age to produce a list of ratings with various outcomes. With more information a show can then decide what they need to improve on and or what needs to be cut out. Employees also play a major role in the diversity of behind the scenes pre-production, production, post product, and even distribution, so with the help of a diverse group of people, there is in turn a more culturally diverse workplace.

Conclusion

While there is some great benefits to the film industry there are also some major problems that need to be addressed. Film organizations have bunch of complications and complexities that need to be managed through communication of workers and even the audience.

So what can be changed? Well there is many ways of preventing terrorism, making a diverse workplace, thinking of alternatives for sets, and preventing extreme globalization so you keep jobs in your country. The step is to just communicate correctly and fix these problems and figure out how to make the benefits increase.

“It is important,though, to consider the ways in which our thinking about organizational communication can best facilitate our ability to make a difference in today’s world” (Miller,11).

Barnes, Henry and Lee, Benjamin. “Cannes remains vigilant as festival opens amid terrorist attack.” theguardian,10 May 2016. Web. Accessed 14 September 2016.

Castley, Guy. “Eats, shoots and leaves: what the movie industry does to ‘location’.” theconversation, 17 June 2015. Web. Accessed 14 September 2016.

Deggans, Eric. “Hollywood Has A Major Diversity Problem, USC Study Finds.” npr, 22 February 2016. Web. Accessed 14 September 2016.

“How do television ratings work?”, Howstuffworks 28 July 2000. Web. Accessed 17 September 2016.

Mcnary, Dave. “ LA Mayor Eric Garcetti backs efforts to stop film scoring.” Variety, 11 June 2014. Web. Accessed 15 September 2016.

Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes. 7th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.

Pearson, Michael. “Prosecutor releases image from Aurora Theater shooting.” CNN, 11 September 2015. Web. Accessed 15 september 2016.

Sliwinski, Michael. “The Globalization of Cinema, What’s Next?.” Lawstreetmedia, 20 May 2015. Web. Accessed 14 September 2016.

Verrier, Richard. “Musicians implore Hollywood to stop scoring films overseas.” Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2014. Web. Accessed 14 September 2016.

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