Response to the Post-War Decline of Film

Question 1

What gimmicks did the film industry use in response to the decline?

Answer 1

-the industry responded frantically
-widened cinema screens, tried to improve sound and color, discouraged tv, started using 3D, smellivision, the tingler in horror films (jolt of electricity in the seat), human plants in the audience

Question 2

What type of film emerged in the decline?

Answer 2

spectacle films that focused on large scale epics (e.g. Cleopatra)
-tried to distinguish from tv, but didn’t work, many moved towards bankruptcy

Question 3

What is the period after the decline referred to as?

Answer 3

New American Cinema

Question 4

Characteristics of new American cinema

Answer 4

-occurred in the 1960s during feminist and civil rights movements and protests against Vietnam war
-socially conscious films
-viewers wanted films to reflect social issues (became specialized audiences that were no longer focused on the Lowest Common Denominator)
-rise of educated and sophisticated audiences
-rise of artistic, experimental, and Avant Gard
-broke rules of language, alcohol, and drugs
-ushered in diversity of films
-emphasis on movies with social commentary didn’t last long because big conglomerates focused on movies genres, such as disaster films, that appealed to younger audiences and made more money

Question 5

Rise of blockbusters

Answer 5

-search for blockbusters sets off by Jaws and Starwars
-people would go to see these films more than once
-blockbuster trend helped change American aesthetics; from plot and character driven to more sensation driven (bigger, faster, louder)
-foreign audiences wanted star-studded special effects films that speak universal language of sensation and extravagance
-released mainly in summer when there was more free time

Question 6

Different formulas to make more money

Answer 6

-obsessive use of sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots
-films based on other media (e.g. books, video games, comics, games, etc.)

Question 7

Sequels

Answer 7

continuance of the story of a previous movie
-make about 2/3 revenue of the first film
-however some sequels do better than the first film
E.g. Jaws and Rocky

Question 8

Remakes

Answer 8

remaking an older movie with a new cast
-might change plot some
-E.g.: Ocean’s Eleven, True Grit

Question 9

Prequels

Answer 9

-tells a story that takes place earlier than in the previous movie
E.g.: The Joker

Question 10

Reboots

Answer 10

-telling the original story in a new way, often with a new cast
-good for money making because established fan base , don’t need to be super creative
-people familiar with the subject matter
E.g.: Jurassic World