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