Introduction to Film Studies - Module 3

The term "Hollywood" originated in the early 20th century, referring to the film industry's rise in Southern California. Filmmakers sought a climate suitable for year-round shooting and sought to avoid the fees imposed by Thomas Edison, who held many patents on the filmmaking process.

The Squaw Man (1914), directed by Cecil B. DeMille, is often considered Hollywood's first film, though In Old California (1910), directed by D.W. Griffith, was filmed entirely in Hollywood.

The 1920s marked the start of Hollywood's true flourishing, with the rise of the "movie star" and massive movie production. This era established Hollywood as a cultural icon, associated with leisure, luxury, and lavish parties.

The 1920s also saw the emergence of key roles in the movie industry: the director, who guides the creative vision of a film, and the star, who embodies the persona of the movie.

Warner Brothers Pictures, founded on April 4, 1923, by the Warner brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack), marked the beginning of the studio system in Hollywood.

The 1930s, known as the Golden Age of Hollywood, saw a surge in cinema attendance, with 65% of the US population watching movies weekly. This era witnessed the introduction of sound into films, ushering in new genres like action, musicals, and documentaries.

The Big Five studios (Paramount, Fox, Warner, RKO, and MGM) held dominance over the US movie industry from the late 1920s to the 1950s, producing over 700 movies during the peak of short film popularity.

The Jazz Singer (1927), the first feature-length talkie film, marked the beginning of the "Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema". Its success rapidly elevated Warner Bros. into one of the major Hollywood studios.

The Great Depression in the US saw a surge in cinema attendance, as people sought entertainment and escapism through movies. Child star Shirley Temple's popularity further boosted film studios during this time.

The influx of Jewish immigrants to Hollywood in the early 20th century significantly impacted the film industry. They transformed filmmaking into a more structured and organized business activity.

Warner Brothers played a crucial role in the transition to sound films in Hollywood, utilizing the Vitaphone sound system until 1928. The Western Electric Company later gained dominance through their subsidiary, Electrical Research Products Incorporated (ERPI), ultimately controlling the movie studios.

The Classical Age in Hollywood cinema, roughly from 1927 onwards, is characterized by the integration of sound into films. The release of The Jazz Singer marked the beginning of this era, which encompassed the years before as a 'formation period'.

The Classical Age saw a dramatic increase in film production, with thousands of films distributed worldwide until the 1960s. This era aimed to promote Western culture and its values through its films.

Classic Hollywood cinema often featured comedy, musicals, melodramas, and animated cartoons. Production and distribution were often handled by the same teams. Biopics (biographical films), though the term wasn't widely used, also gained popularity.

The Classical Age is considered a pivotal period in film history. The studios' influence, generous budgets, compelling scripts, and talented actors and directors shaped audience preferences for cinematic productions.

Howard Hawks and Alfred Hitchcock rose to prominence during the Classical Age, becoming iconic film directors who left a lasting impact on cinema.

The New Age in Hollywood cinema (1960s-1980s), also known as the Post-Classical era, marked a shift in narrative techniques and storytelling. Unexpected twists and surprises became more prominent in the movies.

The New Age saw the rise of highly skilled filmmakers from various parts of the world, particularly from the West, who integrated into Hollywood. The movie Bonnie and Clyde (1967) marked a turning point, emphasizing quality alongside box office success.

Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Roman Polanski, among others, made significant contributions to the New Age. This period witnessed a growing focus on adult eroticism and more daring acting, leading some historians to consider it the 'Golden Age of Porn'.

Films during the 1970s achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim. Spielberg's Jaws and Coppola's The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, and Polanski's Chinatown, alongside George Lucas's Star Wars, all were popular and critical successes, pushing Hollywood studios towards blockbuster films.

The Modern Age in Hollywood cinema (1990s onwards) marked a period of technological advancements, shifting political landscapes, and new economic waves shaping the industry. Epic scale spectacles and exceptional sound quality defined this era.

Dick Tracy (1990), the first 35mm feature film, marks the beginning of the Modern Age. Batman Returns (1992) was the first film to feature digital Dolby stereo sound, enhancing audience immersion.

The use of computer graphics revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking, increasing realism in films like Jurassic Park and The Phantom Menace, further elevating the audience experience.

Online promotions expanded the reach of high-budget films during the Modern Age. The era also witnessed huge salaries paid to stars like Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, and Julia Roberts, who often invested in film production.

Hollywood continues its evolution in the post-millennium era, employing new formulas and impressive visual effects. Sci-fi, space movies, and adventure movies are dominant in modern cinema, shaping new popular cultures.

In 1889, Edison's phonograph laid the groundwork for the synchronization of sound and image, though the technology was rudimentary.

By 1900, several inventors independently figured out how to synchronize phonograph records with projected film strips, bringing sound into the world of movies.

From 1903 to 1908, Oskar Messter incorporated short, synchronized musical scores into his short films, adding a layer of sonic accompaniment to visuals.

Eugene Lauste introduced the 'sound-on-film' system in 1910, which provided a basis for the RCA Photophone - one of two major sound-on-film systems adopted by Hollywood.

The Tri-Ergon sound-on-film system, another significant development, employed a flywheel mechanism with sprockets to ensure proper film speed.

Fox acquired Tri-Ergon in 1927, demonstrating the growing interest in sound-on-film tech.

Lee de Forest's sound-on-film system solved the amplification issue by adding an audion tube, making the sound audible for large audiences. His system was available for sale by 1922.

Challenges arose with integrating sound and images, especially in amplifying sound for large audiences. Moreover, the different formats (phonograph records vs. film strips) posed synchronization issues.

Hollywood producers initially hesitated to embrace sound technology due to the expense of converting their production and distribution systems.

Warner Brothers, despite not being the largest studio, took a chance on talking pictures, even though other studios refused. This decision was driven by their desire to provide consistent sound quality across their theater network.

In 1926, Warner Brothers acquired Vitaphone, a sound-on-disc system developed by AT&T. This marked their bold move towards embracing sound technology.

Don Juan (1926) was the first sound film produced by Warner Brothers, marking a significant step in the evolution of cinema.

The Jazz Singer, though considered the first "talkie" (not an all-talkie), featured a musical score, dialogue, and singing. Its immense success convinced the film industry that sound films were here to stay.

Converting the entire film industry to sound presented significant challenges, including building sound stages, rewiring theaters, and acquiring new sound equipment. This cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The conversion to sound posed a potential threat to established actors who weren't trained to speak, potentially jeopardizing their careers.

The film industry faced the challenge of developing microphones that could record sound effectively without capturing unwanted noise, especially during filming.

Lighting became an issue due to the buzzing noise produced by arc lighting, which was commonly used in filmmaking. Studios had to switch to tungsten incandescent lighting, which was quieter.

The Big Five Studios (MGM, Paramount, First National Universal, PDC, and Warner Bros.) signed an agreement in 1927 to convert their operations to sound. This costly undertaking involved investing over 300 million dollars.

The Big Five Studios decided to adopt the sound-on-film system instead of the sound-on-disc system, as the former became the industry standard. Although the sound-on-disc system had advantages initially, sound-on-film proved to be more practical.

Soundproof cameras were placed in ice boxes to reduce noise interference. While this solution made cameras stationary, it provided a soundproof environment for filming.

In 1931, the blimp, a soundproof camera cover, enabled greater camera mobility while avoiding noise contamination. This innovation allowed for more dynamic cinematography.

Microphones evolved from non-selective omni-directional mics to directional mics, focusing on specific sounds in a smaller range. Boom microphones mounted on booms provided flexibility in recording actor's dialogue.

A standard film speed of 24 frames per second was adopted to ensure proper sound synchronization and prevent distortion.

Arc lighting, a source of noise that interfered with sound recording, had to be replaced with tungsten incandescent lighting, which produced less noise.