Nikki (Unit 26) - Hollywood Production System Notes

Why Hollywood was so successful:

• There are six major studios in Hollywood: Universal, Paramount, MGM, Warner Bros, 20th Century and RKO.
• The studios operated using production line methods which meant that stars were contracted to studios for large amounts of time. This meant that the studios also had huge control over stars: managing their publicity, their look, their roles and how they lived.
• Studios also organised around vertical integration. This led to block booking which meant that if cinemas wanted the main feature they also had to book other films from the studio.
• Hollywood was a controlled industry that maximised profits and minimised risk. They developed a classic narrative system that audience would come to love and expect.

What happened?

• The Paramount Decree (1948) banned vertical integration and block booking.
• Stars started to rebel against long-term contracts. The De Havilland Decision released actors from their contracts that they were in with the studios. Directors also started to ask for more artistic freedom.
• Suburbanisation meant that people were moving out of the cities and into the suburbs which meant they were watching more TV than cinema.

Hollywood: Then to Now

• MGM, Paramount and Universal started to rent equipment and lots to independent directors like Martin Scorcese and Steven Spielberg.
• Producers no longer had power over creative filmmaking.
• The influence of new wave filmmaking encouraged hollywood independent directors to develop their unique styles.
• During the 1970s, film school graduates in California began negotiating their own film deals.
• The success of films such as Jaws, Close Encounters and Mean Streets proved that mainstream audiences would accept change.

Why is Hollywood different?

• “New Hollywood” refers to Hollywood from 1975 onwards.
• Hollywood is now organised around blockbusters which are largely directed by George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. In fact, the first High Concept film is considered to be Jaws which was directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975.

The Star System: New Hollywood

• Actors and Directors are no longer contracted to studios. Actors instead have agents to protect their interests and gets them roles in movies. Actors now have much more freedom and can do A class roles as well as independent films. Actors can also request huge fees for starring in films.

New Hollywood: The High Concept Film

• Studios make fewer films now because of higher budgets which can keep studios afloat.
• They have moved towards higher concept films. These films are organised around a simple concept and are often action based to excite with special effects and speed chases.
• A high concept film rarely appears as a single thing. Studios usually involve computer games, music and merchandise with the release of a high concept film to earn more money from different products.

The Hollywood product

• Hollywood relies on existing products to generate more money and to create a ‘product’ for example: Star Wars, Harry Potter and Spiderman.

Distribution Practices

• Hollywood studios put millions of dollars into the distribution and marketing of films - premieres in particular.
• Hollywood films generally achieve blanket coverage meaning that blockbusters show on 450 screens in the UK and British films around 10.
• Hollywood does still operate on a star system in that A-List stars can almost guarantee a profit when they star in a film. This is fuelled by a celebrity culture that is perpetuated by magazines, TV and tabloids.

Why is Hollywood still successful?

• Studios are powerful and efficient - they can now make films and distribute them in europe and beyond.
• Well established studios mean films now get massive budgets.
• Hollywood is now looking towards audiences beyond western audiences by using stars that appeal to a wider market like Jackie Chan and J-Lo.
• Hollywood studios like Universal have now started upgrading cinemas to multiplexes.
• The growing UK audience is mainly for Hollywood films. For example: Hollywood films take 70-80% of the UK Box Office.