Is there such thing as a global cinema industry? Debate this question with reference to contemporary cinema production This question has been topic of debate for many years with scholars offering up their own viewpoints on the subject. I will look at the national cinema industries of certain countries and then discuss whether a global cinema industry exists. Early film production include the Silent industries and films made in the World War One era. There were no real UK studios only independent filmmakers. The US however was evolving as Hollywood is developed and studios begin to form. Within Germany investing in the cinema was seen as investing in their identity as the national identity at the time was low in the Weimar Republic period. French cinema was similar to that of the UK and they preferred to focus on artistic expression and creativity (Norwell-Smith, G 1996). The UK and French efforts are put into actuality films during war period, so US production was dominating the UK cinema screens. National cinema is films made within a country and contributes to the representation of national identity. They are also financed by money from the country which they are produced in and includes all films produced in a country primarily for the audience of that state. British cinema is an example of a national cinema .British cinema was massively popular in the 1930’s to the mid 50’s and almost everyone went to the cinema at least once a week. Since then cinema audiences have declined dramatically and it is no longer as successful as it was. British cinema has been in the shadow of Hollywood for a while now, with no solely British movie in the top ten in the last 10 years. Another national cinema is the German film industry. Know... ... middle of paper ... ...em. Out of all national cinema, Hollywood would be the one considered to be global. Their films extend way beyond the confines of the US and have a massive influence on people around the world. America determines how successful films are. If they have done well in America then they can be considered successful if not then they have performed ok but not considered to be blockbusters. For there to be a truly global cinema industry it would mean that many national cinema industry were popular and thriving. That people were being exposed to a wide range of films from numerous countries. However this isn’t the case. The majority of films that get the exposure around the world are Hollywood films, it is this films that have the most impact in the film industry and so the American dominance limits the capacity for other national cinemas to contribute to the economy.
...e different types of movies but also the types of movies that Australia produce. As I have outlined in this essay many factors come into account when a film industry can be in crisis such as competition with similar industries, financial support to have the technology and equipment to create a movie. Although these factors may be true, globalisation has made it possible, through studios in Australian being more affordable for American directors. This then gives Australian’s the open doors that are needed to create a sophisticated film even if it is an American Australian film. Just like Rowley explains ‘in the last five years, it has been to more ‘local’ films, that aims at the Australian market and feature recognisable, everyday settings. The engagement of Hollywood genres often remains, but is no longer done in an attempt to emulate Hollywood slavishly’. (1998)
The overall appeal of the cinema to the masses was particularly evident during the interwar era. Audiences worldwide wanted to watch the variety of films, particularly American produced films, and they always went back. The visibly attractive and glamorous Hollywood movies often depicted the success of the underdog over unjust authority. Values of cash over culture were often a theme in the early American films and societies with restricted social mobility, such as those in Europe, could dream of such a triumph. The working class and unemployed could fantasise about wealth, fame and freedom which America as a country was portrayed as offering.
An artistic achievement that can demonstrate that the United States is in its Golden Age is its very influential fast growing entertainment business, a business very important to the U.S. economic activity. The U.S. entertainment has been popular around the world globalizing U.S. pop culture and the U.S. entrainment business economy. This globalization is a result of new innovations, that the U.S. itself developed, that allows film, music, and television, to spread worldwide. Because the U.S. is generally first to have such innovations the entertainment is commonly considered better quality thus appealing to the masses of people. Other factors that lead to the huge success of its entertainment business include their methods of distribution, which is through large and powerful foreign companies, and their large English-speaking market potential. High market ability and general international appeal of the U.S. entertainment business has put the U.S. in a “Golden ...
...m industry, which is the largest in the world. From the movies and shows people see the life style, American life style. They are becoming more Americanized every time when they watch a film where American marines one again save the world. A huge part of American movie industry is based on propaganda movies. And this is not all, bois in the information programs such as CNN and ABC sometimes can be completely misinformed.
Wasser, Frederick. "Is Hollywood America?", in Movies and American Society. Ross, Steven T., ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2002.
In Hollywood today, most films can be categorized according to the genre system. There are action films, horror flicks, Westerns, comedies and the likes. On a broader scope, films are often separated into two categories: Hollywood films, and independent or foreign ‘art house’ films. Yet, this outlook, albeit superficial, was how many viewed films. Celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with the use of seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects were considered ‘Hollywood films’. Films where unconventional themes like existentialism or paranoia, often with excessive violence or sex or a combination of both, with obvious attempts to displace its audiences from the film were often attributed with the generic label of ‘foreign’ or ‘art house’ cinema.
The Second World War brought forth not only physical destruction to Germany, but also cultural destruction, particularly in its film industry. The film industry of West Germany, in particular, went under the inevitable control of the United States (US). American films became popular among the West German public, while prominent West German directors and actors chose to leave West Germany to pursue their careers in Hollywood, with many of them becoming highly successful. Yet, it did not take long for West Germany to become self-reliant in terms of reinvigorating its domestic film talents amidst the continued dominance of American films. The economic recovery, West Germany experienced in the mid-1950s, enabled its film industry to produce more domestic film outputs as it continuously featured American films, which enjoyed great commercial success during the period. The domineering control of the US over the distribution of American films in West Germany prompted the West German government to render support to domestic filmmakers – a move supported by the growing economy of the nation that time. Although West German films did not fare well commercially in the domestic market due to the continued dominance of American films in West Germany, international success did follow through the international acclaim of domestic filmmakers, many of them having gained working experience in Hollywood. The emergence of New German Cinema in 1962, through the Oberhausen Manifesto, was characterized by support coming from the West German government, the economic resurgence of the nation and the shift from nonpolitical and positive themes that somewhat denies the sordid political mishaps of Germany prior and during t...
Marchetti, Gina, and Tan Kam. Hong Kong film, Hollywood and the new global cinema no film is an island. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
France during World War II was a dark place for a film industry that had once experienced such successes. As a result of Nazi Germany’s occupation, the selection of films available in France was severely limited. With Hollywood films strictly banned, theatres during the war mostly exhibited German imports and only a handful of domestically produced and heavily censored features. Immediately following WWII the French film industry was in ruins like the rest of the country’s industry.
Fifteen years ago, South Korean cinema was in precipitous decline. It was facing deadly competition from Hollywood as import barriers were dismantled, and had almost no export market. Today, South Korean cinema is widely considered the most successful and significant non-Hollywood cinema anywhere in the world today. It is successful both in the domestic market, and internationally. This essay sets out to understand this phenomenon. First, it attempts to trace South Korean cinema’s comeback story. I feel a need to do this because I find that so many of my South Korean friends and colleagues are reluctant to admit this, or focus solely on the problems the industry is facing in the future. There may be worries about the future and there may be “ifs” and “buts” about the present state of the South Korean film industry. But we should start out by acknowledging its success.
Thompson, K 2003, ‘The struggle for the expanding american film industry’, in Film history : an introduction, 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill, Boston, pp. 37-54
...rding to the US Economic Census, motion picture and video production in the United States as a whole generated revenues of $20.15 billion in 1997, with Hollywood alone being responsible for close to 60% of this total.” (US Census) Hollywood’s success has come with no great competition to push for more, and with the emergence of film globalization, it should be very interesting going forth seeing if they can maintain the ideal motion picture headquarters. Its unique pool of talent drawn from many different countries cultural impact of Hollywood films is now felt in all parts of the world.
The modern film industry was born around the beginning of the twentieth century. On April 23rd 1896 Thomas Edition showed the first publicly-projected motion picture at Koster and Bial's Music Hall in New York City. From there the film industry had an explosive growth rate. In fact, not only was Thomas Edison the inventor of film but he is also responsible for the birth of media censorship. "The Kiss " was the first film ever made of a couple kissing in cinematic history. May Irwin and John Rice re-enacted a lingering kiss from their 1895 Broadway stage play The Widow Jones was also notorious as the first film to be criticized as scandalous and bringing demands for censorship."1 By 1900 films had already started taking their modern form as story telling narratives became the most popular production instead of documentaries. Between 1910 and 1914 Hollywood was born, annexed by Los Angeles and replaced the East Coast as the center for the new burgeoning film industry. The beginning of the First World War brought European filmmaking to a complete halt and made room for America as the world center for film production2. During this time some of the most influential names in film history made their names.
Globalisation can take on many different shapes and forms in its free flow of goods and services across national borders. Cultural globalisation is one of those forms. Capcioglu (2008) refers to cultural globalisation as a “Global circulation of information, signs and symbols on a global scale and the reactions shown to the various socio-cultural transformations as a result of these conflicts.” Ritzer and Barber (1996) first coined cultural globalisation as ‘Americanisation’ and ‘McDonaldisation’, referring to the spread of western culture from the United States across the globe. The American image was beamed around the globe in the 1950’s and 1960’s through Disney cartoons, music videos, television programs, Hollywood movies and products such as McDonalds and Coca Cola. The global appeal of these goods and services was centred on the fact that America is seen as the place of modernity around the world. It is a culture that is rich, powerful and exciting and thus captures global appeal.
The evolution of American cinema can be classified into four main categories, silent film, classic Hollywood cinema, new Hollywood and the contemporary period, which we are in now .During the early 20th century many eastern European Jewish immigrants were able to find work in the American film industry and eventually moved over to the production side of the movie business to become some of the biggest producers, such as The Warner Brothers.