Final Paper
November 30, 2008
Professor Tejada
Lights, Camera, Action: The Adaptation of the Movie Industry in our Changing Society
Ever since the earliest emergence of the movie industry, films and the
industry as a whole have adapted to our constantly changing society. They have both
influenced our culture, and the way we view our culture , as well as how we make
decisions as individuals. Even in a society that has multiple modes of
disseminating and obtaining information and ideas, the film industry
has remained a relevant and important way to spread one’s views to a widespread
audience.
The first motion picture film ever produced was The Story of the Kelley
Gang, which was an Australian film about the notorious Ned Kelly. It was a silent
film, made in 1906, and ran almost eighty minutes. Audiences were captivated as the
story of the infamous outlaw was vividly brought to life off the pages of story
books. As more and more people gathered to see films, motion picture studios began
springing up all over the world. By 1910, almost 10 countries were developing
motion picture films. This created one of the first convergences of cultural
technology. Movies told stories in ways that books could not, and film became more
widespread, more people began seeing the same films. Perhaps one of the most
poignant films to come out during the early 1900’s was The Birth of a Nation. The
movie is about the impact of the Civil War through the eyes of a bigoted white
southerner. This controversial film caused protests and sparked many arguments, but
made several million at the box office. It paved the way for filmmakers to produce
movies with even more daring, and at times quite biased, subjects, allowing larger
numbers of people’s views to be heard and subsequently discussed.
By the mid 1920’s, producing films had become much more efficient, and the
U.S. alone was producing over 800 films annually. People from all aspects of life
wanted their voice heard through the art of motion pictures. National and world
events, such as the Great Depression and the World Wars, gave people even more to
talk about. Motion pictures had become a way for people to not only retell events
of the past, but offer viewpoints and insight into current events, especially since
the time it took to produce movies had become much shorter.
The 1950’s showed the rise of television, which threatened the medium of
motion pictures. Filmmakers had to find new and inventive ways to draw in their
audiences. Filmmakers became progressively bolder with the subject matter of their
films. Big budget films, or “blockbusters” as they are commonly referred to today,
began to spring up, often in the form of historic epics, such as The Ten
Commandments, Spartacus, and Ben Hur. Over time, television and cinema have found
more ways to coexist and even complement and promote each other. Television
programs are now often adapted into movies, or vice versa. Television ads are now
shown before movie film previews. And of course, movie trailers shown on television
during commercials are a major marketing tool for movie production companies.
The 1970’s brought on a wave of controversy in the film industry. While
once left up to the imagination, directors now began to depict graphic sex,
violence, and drug use. This came as a result of studios allowing their directors
more freedom on their projects. Many films made during this era were surrounded by
controversy. These explicit references were a new way for directors to get their
point across, captivating and shocking the viewer with explicit images and therefore
making their film less likely to be dismissed. Movies such as A Clockwork Orange
offered moviegoers a new, edgier, and uncompromising exposure to the director’s
vision.
The 1980’s ushered in the era of VCR’s. Movie rentals through video
stores became a serious source of revenue for movies that had already been through
theatres. VCR’s allowed people to watch movies on VHS, providing the opportunity of
repeat viewings for almost any movie. This development completely reshaped the
motion picture industry. People could now watch a wide collection of movies at
their discretion. This also allowed for the study of movies at colleges and other
places of study, because a movie could be rented or purchased for use at any time.
The 1980’s also ushered in the era of movie sequels. Studios realized the
profitability of making sequels to movies that were successful. Fantastic sequels
to Star Wars and Indiana Jones emerged. However, this also led to dreadful sequels
spawning from already terrible movies , such as Porky’s IV and Police Academy V. In
addition to bad sequels, studios often unabashedly tried to imitate popular or
bankable titles, usually resulting in a sub-par movie.
This brings us to recent times. The rise of independent films has led the
way to even more extreme and vivid storytelling. Hyper-violent movies such as Pulp
Fiction not only revolutionized cinematic storytelling, but also proved that
independently produced films could be successful at the box office. This cinematic
success has led to a continuing rise of independently produced films that often
times deal with very unique or explicit subject matter. Because independent films
are produced on a much smaller budget, directors must find creative ways to hold the
audience’s attention, often coming in the form of extreme subject matter, or in bold
directorial techniques, such as filming in black and white or withholding the payoff
of the story until the very end. Also, documentaries have become much more
commercial. This is perhaps due to an increase in globalization and the invention
of the internet, which allows people to remain more easily updated and involved in
current events. The 21st century has seen the invention of many different methods
that allow for the easy shooting and distribution of self-made or independently made
films. Websites and magazines now give specific directions on almost any aspect of
writing, shooting, or distributing a film. Sites such as YouTube allow the easy
distribution of any type of film medium, giving one access to films on almost any
subject.
In conclusion, all these inventions have ultimately led to the increased
globalization of the movie industry. Films have become more pertinent than ever
before, because there is no film making boundary that cannot be crossed. Any
subject matter can be covered, and any story can be told. Technological and
artistic innovations throughout the years have accumulated to what the film industry
is today. Currently, and with the help of the internet, filmmaking has turned
into a global affair, whether we like it or not. But most importantly, and perhaps
the reason the film industry has survived for so long is this: The accumulation of
motion picture advancements has given people choice. Now, society as a whole has an
immediate and direct influence over filmmaking. We decide which topics and fads are
relevant at this time, which directly influences the movies that are chosen to be
made and watched the most. By either participating in creating a movie, or viewing
someone else’s film, you are directing the ebb and flow of our society and its
interests. As our interests as a society as a whole change, so does the direction
of the film industry. Motion pictures have remained relevant because there is no
set formula for making a film. There are just as many ways to make a film as there
are films made, and each way brings something new to the table. Films also have no
timeframe. Some films made 50 years ago are just as relevant as ones made
yesterday. Motion pictures will continue to relevantly shape our society as long as
people still have a voice or opinion they believe should be heard.
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