Classical Hollywood Cinema Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is Classical Hollywood Filmmaking?

Make sure your main character wants something. Emphasize conflict. Takes your character on an emotional journey. Be sure that your ending resolves the initial situation.

What is Classical Hollywood Cinema?

A cinema tradition that dominated Hollywood production from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Classical Hollywood Cinema became the most powerful and dominant style of filmmaking worldwide.

True

The style of Classical Hollywood Cinema is easily detectable by the average spectator.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a Classical Hollywood film.

<p>Casablanca, Citizen Kane</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term Classical Hollywood Cinema?

<p>David Bordwell, Janet Staiger and Kristin Thompson</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'classical Hollywood style'?

<p>A distinctive cinematic style that developed during 1917-1960.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Classical Hollywood style became paradigmatic due to the global dominance of Hollywood cinema.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the seven features of Classical Hollywood Cinema?

<p>Three-act narrative, Objective storytelling, Character driven, Mise-en-scene, Time and space, Classical continuity editing, Reality-effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the three-act narrative structure?

<p>Hollywood plots are set out according to the three-act structure of orientation, complication, and resolution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how narratives contain cause and effect.

<p>Every narrative contains a series of events that occur over the course of the film.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Classical Hollywood films, situations are typically resolved without any closure.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a classical narrative style?

<p>It is based on the classical principles of literature and art, characterized by perfect balance and symmetry.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How must the elements of a classical narrative be arranged?

<p>They must be clear, simple, free of excesses, and integrated to create harmony.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Classical Hollywood filmmakers primarily rely on psychological motivations to drive events.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by motivation in classical narrative film?

<p>Motivation should be clear and complete as possible.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes objective storytelling in Hollywood films?

<p>The audience knows more than the characters do.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does objective storytelling provide an omniscient perspective?

<p>We are able to see what is happening in other places at the same time, and we can see what other characters are doing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'character driven' mean in the context of American cinema?

<p>It is almost exclusively concerned with individual characters and their personal journeys.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In character driven films, characters are arranged in a hierarchy from protagonist to antagonist.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of character driven films?

<p>Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Maze Runner</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mise-en-scene' refer to?

<p>It means 'staging a scene' and involves the aesthetic arrangement of actors, sets, lighting, and props.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does mise-en-scene contribute to a film?

<p>It adds to the film's mood and allows the audience to become absorbed in the story.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Hollywood Filmmaking

  • Main character is driven by a clear desire, leading to conflict and emotional journeys.
  • Ends of films typically resolve the initial conflict, providing closure.

Classical Hollywood Cinema

  • Dominated Hollywood production from the 1930s to the 1960s, establishing a filmmaking tradition.
  • Evolved into a globally influential filmmaking style, gaining massive popularity and recognition.
  • Exhibits an invisible style, often unnoticed by the average spectator.

Notable Examples

  • Films such as "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane" exemplify classical Hollywood filmmaking.

Terminology and Contributors

  • The term "Classical Hollywood Cinema" was coined by scholars David Bordwell, Janet Staiger, and Kristin Thompson in their influential study.

Classical Hollywood Style

  • A distinctive cinematic style grew between 1917 and 1960, characterized by clarity and formal consistency.
  • This style became paradigmatic due to Hollywood's global impact on cinema.

Features of Classical Hollywood Cinema

  • Key features include a three-act narrative, objective storytelling, character-driven plots, mise-en-scene elements, and classical continuity editing.
  • Reality-effect is a significant aspect, enhancing audience connection to the story.

Narrative Structure

  • Hollywood narratives adhere to a three-act structure: orientation, complication, and resolution.
  • Narratives highlight a clear cause-and-effect sequence that drives the plot forward.

Objective Storytelling

  • Audiences are privy to more information than characters, creating a god-like perspective that allows insight into various narrative threads.

Character-Driven Stories

  • American cinema emphasizes individual characters' journeys and motivations, forming the foundation of plot development.
  • Characters are hierarchically arranged, influencing their interactions and story arcs.

Mise-en-Scene

  • Originating from theater, mise-en-scene refers to the aesthetic arrangement of actors, sets, and props within a frame.
  • Contributes to the film's mood, helping audiences engage deeply with the story and its characters through visual storytelling.

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Description

Explore the key characteristics and evolution of Classical Hollywood Cinema, which dominated film production from the 1930s to the 1960s. Learn about its influence on global filmmaking standards, notable films, and the scholars who shaped its study. This quiz will enhance your understanding of this iconic filmmaking tradition.

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