The US Film Industry

Name

Institution

The US Film Industry

IntroductionThe US film industry has been appreciated worldwide, and this has been as a result of the various history and development procedures that have been implemented to enhance the growth of this sector. The society has benefited from the landmark events that have shaped the US film industry from the early days to the present day. The US film sector has been addressed as the Hollywood where most superstars have emerged as the industry has created different job opportunities in the film market. It is the role of the media to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information through various social platforms that seek to improve the conditions of the society. The paper reflects on the different ways that the US film industry has shaped the country and how this segment has been influenced by the emerging social conditions. The development of this medium can be linked to the occurrence of significant events that ensured the success of the industry. Industry rivals have emerged as time progresses by the US film industry has adopted the most effective measures and strategies to ensure that they have higher bargaining power in the film market. Their higher competitive advantage is associated with its historical development and the social conditions that have shaped it to the position it stands in the modern community.

The History and Development of the US Film Industry

The origin of motion pictures as well as movies started in the late 1800’s where there was the creation of motion toys that were intended to lure the eye into seeing an illusion of gesture from a spectacle of still frames in a quick sequence. The first actual motion picture was initiated in 1872 by Edward Muybridge as he placed twelve different cameras on a racetrack and fitted them to capture shots in a quick series of running horses in front of the lenses (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This invention by Edward gave other inventors the courage to try forming similar devices that would capture such motion. The most successful person was Thomas Edison who produced the kinetoscope, and this device was used by earliest filmmakers in their film production process. This indicates that the emergence of this device gave filmmakers an opportunity to produce movies that would entertain the audience. This was a good starting point because, as time passed by, the filmmakers decided to try new alternatives because the kinetoscope was heavy and massive and it stressed them during their shoots.

D.W. Griffith, on the other hand, realized that a static camera was not sufficient to mediate vision and he developed movie editing. In 1915, he was the first person to shoot a movie in Hollywood that was a three-hour classic about the Civil War and its immediate aftermath. Movie editing has helped the filmmakers in the past and modern societies to produce exquisite pieces of artwork that have helped the audience to get inspired or motivated because it allows the creation of high definition films that have improved as technology intensifies. The major film genres that emerged during this era include slapstick comedies, historical films, swashbucklers, as well as melodramas. The Jazz Singer of 1927 was premiered, and it marked the launch of a new technological breakthrough known as the talking picture or talkie. This consequently led to the fall of the silent film and most actors lost their careers because they not meet the demands of the new style of moviemaking. This was disappointing because most actors disappeared and the U.S film industry was affected by the adoption of the new method of making movies.

In the 1930s, other movie genres had emerged, and they included musical, biographical pictures and animated cartoon. During this era, the producers, actors, film technicians, as well as directors worked on specific studios. There emerged different studios that developed cinemas in the cities where they managed to show their films. Therefore, each studio had its personnel, and their salaries depended on the culture of the studio they worked with. General Wills Hays, however, introduced the Protection Code that was enforced in 1934 to set specific guidelines for artwork concerning violence, sex, and religion (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This was meant to regulate the infamous affairs and scandals that were prevalent in the U.S film sector. In the 1930s, other film genres that were developed include horror films, adventure and fantasy movies. This expanded the US film industry, and the government identified this sector to be significant because it improved the country’s economy by raising huge revenues.

The major studios that operated since the 1920s included the MGM films, Twentieth Century Fox, and Paramount Pictures. These studies gave actors a chance to exercise their careers, and it helped them to grow and develop filmmaking skills to advance their careers. Films managed to attract talented actors because there existed numerous cinemas that were owned by the studios that had been created (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This changed the US film industry because there emerged experienced and skilled directors, actors, producers, as well as technicians. It was an industry on the rise, and it allowed people to enjoy scenes that reflected their day-to-day life experiences. It is understood that most audiences were aware of the importance of the film industry and they were motivated and encouraged to ensure that this sector succeeds and attains the stipulated goal and objectives. This influenced the filmmakers to create epic movies that reflected on the society giving the people ideas of addressing various problems within the community.

The desire for wartime propaganda influenced the US film industry to respond to World War II in the early 1940’s. It was a tough time for the industry, but the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese sparked a mixture of reactions (Shindler, 2014). During this time, movie production had advanced because technology use helped the filmmakers to make movies modern and appealing by improving sound recording quality, beginning to use colour film and using specific effects to come up with quality pieces of art. It was during the World War II that the US film industry decided to create a surge of wartime pictures that enhanced American patriotism because they managed to generate war-related propaganda, documentaries, and created awareness to American citizens of the wartime need (Shindler, 2014). This influenced high attendances at the theatres helping the film industry to make huge profits. The aspect of patriotism was instilled during this wartime, and most people were encouraged by the educational pictures to join the US defence forces to protect the freedom of the United States primarily from the Germans and the Japanese who had declared war on America.

In the 1950s, the American Film Industry recorded substantial loses because the society was introduced to televisions. Most families by this time had a TV in their home and the activities of the cinemas reduced. In response to this, the filmmakers began making films for television to avoid minimizing the profits acquired through the movie theatres (Foster et al., 2015). This period marked the entity of the US film into the television industry. The late 1960s were characterized by the push for social change. Movies focused on fashion, fun, shifts in cultural values, and societal transitions. This was influenced by the Vietnam War and the rapid changes in governmental power. This time also marked the difference in the world’s view of America and the country’s culture. This indicates that the film industry was growing at a faster rate than expected amid technological advancements that were taking place in the world. America is an excellent example of how the film industry has helped the society to address various social issues that slow growth and development of the country.

In the modern society, the use of special effects while producing films has increased the production costs of films. Most studios seek to capitalize on improvements in special effects technology, and this has helped them to focus on the quality of their product. In 1992, CD-ROM’s were developed and this helped movies to be watched on DVD. In addition, films and series can be viewed on smartphones, computers, tablets because technology has paved the way for the development of advanced streaming services like Netflix (Crane, 2014). Directors and producers have focused on creating films that imitate different themes that they intend to portray. This is accompanied by the use of the right personnel to ensure that the film produced captures the mind of the audience where he or she can point out the ideas of the writers. Various social institutions have used the film industry to create awareness to the people regarding social issues helping them to acquire information on the ways they can address the issues that affect them as a community. The American film industry has undergone changes that have increased their level of global competitiveness vital in the competitive film market.

Conclusion

Different events and social issues have shaped the US film industry since its birth. The modern society enjoys the fruits of these land marking events because Hollywood is the best in filmmaking across the world. The sector produces numerous movies and series that entertain the people of all backgrounds. Today, most people worldwide enjoy the films and sequence provided by the US film industry, and this has been a source of income for many. There are thousands of directors, actors and actresses, producers, and film technicians who have revolutionized the US film sector. Americans are proud because Hollywood has managed to build a strong brand image that is appreciated and respected across the world. The filmmakers have also recognized the works done by the earliest people in the industry because they have given them a chance to be who they are today amid the challenges that they experienced. In the society, the US film industry has contributed to the success of the nation because there has been the production of educative pictures and documentaries that have been used by most institutions to increase knowledge and acquire new information. It has been an industry that has struggled against the social changes and preferences in the country, but with the appropriate measures and strategies, the US film sector has managed to improve their level of global competitiveness.

References

Bodnar, J. (2017). Memorializing Pearl Harbor: Unfinished Histories and the Work of Remembrance.

Crane, D. (2014). Cultural globalization and the dominance of the American film industry: cultural policies, national film industries, and transnational film. International journal of cultural policy, 20(4), 365-382.

Foster, P., Manning, S., & Terkla, D. (2015). The rise of Hollywood East: Regional film offices as intermediaries in film and television production clusters. Regional Studies, 49(3), 433-450.

O’Connor, J. E., & Jackson, M. A. (Eds.). (2016). American History/American Film: Interpreting the Hollywood Image. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Shindler, C. (2014). Hollywood Goes to War: Films and American Society, 1939-1952. Routledge.