Essay 1: Blockbusters & Multiplexes Essay Plan

Essay Lego - Points (add explaination from exemplar essays) and your own examples

"Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technologies" Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content in Britain in the early 1980s.

Piracy - no check on certificate

Devalues technology and film 

Developing technology allows people to pirate them and steal 

Longer lasting videos- lower cinema attendance

Illegal but video certificates can not be checked when at home 

Censorship- graphic violence, rape, pornographic sex scenes 

Censored movies- can't see at the movies, made the popular to see what the fuss was about 

Being told it's bad by Margaret thatcher, Conservative party 

The human centipede 2- censored 

People might act upon it

Clockwork orange- rape as violence, teenage character 

Morally wrong 

Government- censored films but they hadn't watched them 

Upper class protecting working class

Nanny state- treated like children 

BBFC - The Video Recordings Act 1984

Moral panic

Scapegoat

Remove phalic images 

Nudity 

"Lesbians and homos"

Teddy boys 

Years later the wild one was allowed to be shown 

1971- scandal movies

The director had death threats to his family so he withdrew clockwork orange from being shown in England 

Video nasties horrific enough to seized by  the police 

Moral panic- introduce classification 

News- links disasters to films 

Technology; home video 

Political; conservative government sought to protect by putting age regulations and restrictions 

Mortality, video nasties- censorships

Social; riots against Margaret thatcher, so they waited for campaigns against video nasties to step in, Mary whitehouse 

Media, scape goat, moral panic 

Economic;cinema attendance declined, low budget made for a niche audience
Low budget- more realistic

Modern day, horror films which were censored have now been remade as society has been exposed and therefore are more lenient- Texas chainsaw 

Influential to the film industry 

Case studies;

Texas chainsaw 

I spit on your grave 

Evil dead 

Driller killed 

''Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technology'' Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content

''Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technology'' Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content

The 4 contextual points that show these fears are economic, social, political and technological. Economically, the BBFC started to issue age classifications to objectionable content on home video releases, which meant that they could control the content people watched whilst also making money off people buying these home releases. Socially, film censorship was evident in the video nasties which were refused a classification by the BBFC so they could not be viewed in cinemas or legal home video. These video nasties attracted attention because more people wanted to see why they were banned and they turned into a social event for people. Politically, the conservative government feared that people watching objectionable content in horror films and video nasties would inspire copycat behaviour from society to re-enact these films, which would raise the crime rate of the country. Technologically, the format wars between VHS and Betamax were ongoing. VHS won the format wars between the two video tape players because VHS was easier for people to pirate films and video nasties onto thus showing why film censorship had a role to play in the format wars.

In the early 1980's people were less interested in going to the cinema and instead it was more popular for people to stay at home and watch films on VHS or Betamax. This turned into a social event, with people inviting their friends over to watch films at their homes. The emergence of film censorship and regulated video content meant that some films were deemed too horrific, obscene or violent to be shown to the public by the BBFC, under the conservative government. Films that were refused a rating, which meant they could not be publicly released were placed on the 'video nasties' list with films like 'Driller Killer' and 'Cannibal Holocaust'. However criminals simply copied bootleg copies of the films from other countries and distributed them illegally to people wanting to watch them. This boosted the social aspect of staying at home and watching a film with friends because these films has gained notoriety and interest from being banned which is the exact opposite effect that the government wanted these films to have. This social context justifies that film censorship is highly motivated by fears about audiences and technologies because the new technological advancement of video tape players and recorders changed the way how people watch films entirely and film censorship is how they tried to stop this change.

These video nasties and other banned films were the end product of the countries moral panic caused by the conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher. The conservative government believed that content in films reflected on society and that very violent and obscene horror films could inspire similar or copycat behaviours in young people. To fight this, the National viewers and listeners association formed to protest against objectionable films, they protested and applied pressure on the BBFC to ban or censor films. The BBFC eventually did listen and they formed the video nasties list, where certain films were banned outright. This is a political context which justifies how film censorship is heavily motivated by fears about audiences, the conservative government felt that by allowing public access to these films content, it would incite violence into people and desensitise people. They also feared that the crime rate would go up in the country so they could have used the video nasties as a scapegoat for the increase in crime or violence.

Expanding on the moral panic surrounding these films, the government and the video tape industry suffered from the moral panic economically ,the National Viewers and Listeners Association protested against violent films and wanted the government, specifically the BBFC to regulate video content on home video. Eventually the BBFC regulated the content via age restrictions that they were already using in cinemas but now they were also using these certificates in home video releases. This restricted children or young teenagers from buying horror film tapes. This limited the sales of their tapes and  people chose to buy pirate copies from criminals who didn't care how old you were. This combined with the accessibility of piracy on VHS meant that the video tape industry lost money. This links back to a economical context, because their fear is justified here because they lost money due to film censorship in that it reduced their buyers market.

Finally, the BBFC acted as a censor and regulator for the film and decided to ban films that formed the video nasties list. It also regulated what age group could watch a film via its classification system. Specifically, it was illegal to distribute or sell a video nasty in a shop. They could only be pirated in order to see them. Social demand was for people to watch these video nasties to see why they were banned. It was considered fashionable or popular to watch them and own them. This links to a technological and economic context with the format wars between VHS and Betamax which VHS won. VHS was easier for criminals to copy films, which meant people needed to watch pirate films and video nasties on VHS's. VHS was more popular. This links to film censorship and fears surrounding it because essentially, film censorship was made to fight piracy.

In conclusion, I think that film censorship was highly motivated by fears about audiences and technology. The conservative government and National Viewers and Listeners Association were worried about a moral panic in England whilst cinemas and film distributors found it hard to sell their regulated content tapes whilst piracy grew in popularity. Ultimately, the attempt to stop people being exposed to obscene content failed because by making a list of films that no one should watch, they inevitably attracted attention for people who wanted to see them. Ironically, the video nasties were probably more popular than they would have ever been if they were not on the video nasties list. Also, directors of video nasties like Wes Craven and Sam Raimi went to direct mainstream horror films so being on the video nasties list helped their career. For cinemas and film distributors, there is little they can do to stop piracy, with film classification being necessary in terms of content. There is always going to be piracy. However, censoring and banning content is ineffective in the long term as the video nasties have shown.

Practice Question - Video Nasties

Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technology. Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content. (1980s)

Film censorship was created to protect audiences from potentially inappropriate topics in film and to try and minimise the influence of illegal distribution of unregulated films as well as minimising the damage that piracy was causing in the early 1980's. Although, this was not the only reason why film censorship was created. Margaret Thatcher, Mary Whitehouse and the rise of home video causing a decrease in income in for cinema's were all factors which influenced film censorship.

Through the increase of home video, people saw this as a new craze and it became fashionable. These new technologies like VHS and Betamax meant that people can now see films which may be considered inappropriate for them. For example, young teenagers watching 18+ rated movies which influenced film censorship to try and stop films like this being accessible to audiences which would be inappropriate for them to watch. The rise of both home video systems allowed much more efficient piracy for audiences and unlimited access to unregulated films an example of this would be Evil Dead which had intense gore which would be inappropriate for viewers under the age of 18. This caused cinema's to lose money since people were more likely to stay at home and rent a film than go out and watch a film, especially lower budget films which would not have been distributed to big cinemas. The 1980's led to many films considered as 'video nasties' being created and censored by the BBFC. The aim of this was to supposedly protect the people from possible psychological effects from the graphic gore in these films an example of this would be I Spit on your Grave.

This seemed to stir up a 'moral panic' within the conservative party who were in power at the time who were led by Margaret Thatcher who used home video and 'video nasties' as scapegoats for the economic problems they were experiencing such as power cuts during the weeks, shortening work days for people in England as well as unemployment in general in England. Thatcher claimed that these video nasties were a threat to the people as they may possibly influence people to recreate certain aspects of them. These films also spread messages which contrasted with conservative views and the conservatives wanted to control what messages were being sent which was part of this moral panic. Mary Whitehouse also further reinforced these conservative views through media watch which was all about reinforcing family values, or what right wing sympathizers would consider as wholesome family values.

At first, video nasties were only banned in the cinema, but not for home video. The BBFC however did not enforced the Video Recordings Act (1984). This meant that all films which may be considered a video nasties must have been sent to the BBFC for evaluation. An interesting fact is that the BBFC were not very strict with video nasties until there was a conservative influence within the group who linked video nasties to problems within British society. They also feared these films would have a negative influence on the populations behavior. An interesting contrasting point however would be that there is no real recorded evidence or correlation to show that in the 1980's to even suggest that video nasties had an influence on crime rates and national issues in Britain during the 80's.

In conclusion, film censorship seems to have been influenced in some ways by the government through their beliefs that video nasties would have some affect on the general population. Home video was also a major issue, because without VHS or Betamax there would have been no way of getting around film censorship, so film censorship in the 80's was seriously influenced by technological advancements during that time. In comparison to the film industry today there seems to be a massive hole where video nasties used to be apart from a few which caused uproar such as The Human Centipede. Audiences have seemed to become desensitized to these kinds of films in modern society. Personally, I do not believe films should be censored but however still have regulations enforced on them as then it would be more down to personal choice rather that what the ruling government thinks you should see.

Practice Question: Multiplexes

"Why did the 1980s see the decline of Fleapit cinemas and emergence of the Multiplex? Give reasons linking to the Production, Distribution & Exhibition of Blockbusters and their popularity."

Answer Scaffold:

Intro: Your answer to the question (production, distribution, exhibition)

3 x paragraphs: Point> Example (film)> Explain how this answer the question 

Summary: Why Blockbusters are linked to rise in Multiplex cinema in 80's/personal opinion?

Task 2: Lesson Preparation

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/6693/business/cinema-attendance-in-uk/

 

1. Read through and make notes on the articles and the videos linking to:

Technology

Economics

Social

Fleapits & Multiplexes articles/notes to read 

Multiplex Mark Kermode on modern cinema chains 

2. Mind Map "Multiplexes in the UK"

surround the statement with your notes under the 3 contextual categories

3. Connect the answers to the questions - you may have to research more extensively beyond the starting point articles/video (& beyond wikipedia...)

1. When was the first Multiplex in the UK?
2. What was cinema attendance like in this time? 
3. What films were being played in the new Multiplexes (name and year?)
4. How were these Multiplexes encouraging audiences to go to the cinema?
5. Where are these Multiplexes built instead of the High Street and why?
6. What had happened to audience leisure patterns that meant 'Fleapit' cinemas lost popularity?
7. What advantages did Multiplexes offer cinema audiences and film distributors over Fleapits?
8. What reasons was cinema attendance low? (Technologies and Audience Leisure Patterns)

Some answers (but not all) match up & explain (the bit where you THINK and deduce a connection)

• Youth Audience
• Multiplex guarantees a larger audience
• Audience Leisure Patterns: Fashion of Home Video (VHS/Betamax)
• Piracy & Home Video
• The Rise of Blockbuster 'Event' Movies
• Fleapit cinemas sound & picture quality experience and run down
• Recession & Cinema Attendance
• Audience Leisure Patterns: Shopping & Out of Town leisure

 

 

Practice Question: Multiplexes

What factors led to the decline of town or city centres cinemas in the late 1970s and early 1980s?

Certain factors such as production, distribution and exhibition in the film industry have influenced the decline in town or city centre cinemas which have been influenced by different changes within society which led to an increase in multiplexes on the outskirts of city areas as well as the atmosphere in cinemas becoming more of a social experience rather than going to actually enjoy a film which led to the rise of multiplexes being placed in shopping centres. In terms of technology since visual effects from companies like Industrial, Light and Magic (ILM) were becoming more popular it led to people desiring a spectacle in which they could only get that experience from a multiplex and not in town or city centre cinemas'. Economically, merchandise and marketing made films in a multiplex more profitable since multiplexes were placed in shopping centres which influenced the decreasing popularity of town or city cinemas. In response to these factors blockbusters were being made to fill multiplexes to have more control over films being made and multiplexes were being created to house blockbusters because the film industry realised that this would make a profit because all audiences wanted were style over substance films.

As town or city centre cinema declined in came the rise of the blockbuster and multiplexes. In terms of production, companies were beginning to play more with special effects to create a spectacle and in return, these new effects created hype around films like Jaws turning it in to an event movie, creating the idea of going to a multiplex to be a social experience. An example of directors using new visual effects in their films to create a spectacle is when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created ILM which was involved in the creation of Star Wars and also influenced the creation of ET in years to follow. As a result of this it has later influenced other film companies to conform to similar production techniques as they new they would get large audiences from films with spectacle over substance. Only multiplexes could house blockbusters because in terms of technology multiplex cinemas had wider screens, as well as better sound and video qualities which town or city centres did not have which led to a decrease in popularity for these 'flea pit' cinema's because they were using older screen technology and could not offer the same viewing experience that multiplexes could.

As the UK were just coming out of a recession most families were still quite tight with money and could not go out to enjoy films in the cinema which meant there was a loss of business for town or city centre cinema's because they could rent a film and get the same experience that they would in a town or city centre cinema. Also piracy was also a huge issue, an example of this is ET, ET was the most pirated film in 1982. Piracy meant that American Hollywood Studios (AHS) were getting less revenue from the blockbusters and they therefore needed something brand new to give audiences or find another way to make their money back. They did this through merchandising. Blockbusters began to only be played in multiplexes and turned blockbusters in to event movies. This led to marketing a film selling merchandise and advertisement to increase revenue and attraction to the film before it is even released. An example of a film which followed this formula of marketing is the Star Wars franchise and the film was only given to Multiplexes as they created a bigger experience than town or city centre cinema with better seating and better sound quality. This hurt town and city centre cinema's as all the films that were making huge amounts of money were only being played in multiplexes which caused town and city centre cinemas to decline.Technological advancements like VHS and VCR meant that people did not need to leave home to watch films, because of this it became fashionable to watch films in your own home. This created an alternative to going to the cinema that was not available before. It would not be before the rise of the multiplex that people started going to see films again. Small town and city centre cinemas lacked the social event status that VHS and VCR provided. However, something to note is that  because of the recession most homes would not have a VHS or VCR because they would not be able to afford one which suggests that this technological advancement may not be the sole factor in the decline of town or city centre cinemas. A contrasting point however is that for the homes that did have a VHS or VCR it would be cheaper to rent a film, than to go out and watch a film in a 'flea pit cinema'.

During the late 70s and early 80s teenagers quickly became the cinemas main audience, they became this because they were economically dependent on their parents, were granted a disposable income and were able to go out socially whilst their parents worked for them. They were attracted to multiplexes which were placed in shopping centers which were where teenagers would interact socially before multiplexes were placed their anyway. This in a sense devalued cinema because it turned it in to a 'shopping experience'. Blockbusters also in return became formulaic to fit what teenagers liked. An example of this is Jaws, Jaws was a violent film which attracted teenagers and it was also based in the summer time in a beach setting which is relatable to things that teenagers like to do socially. Jaws was also released during the Summer time during a time where teenagers would go to the beach as well. This led to the decline in town or city centers because teenage audiences had a big influence on the film industry and multiplexes attracted them more than town or city centers because multiplexes gave them more choice and gave them a new experience in where they interact socially and town or city centers did not deliver the same experience so teenagers did not go there to see their films.

In conclusion there seems to have been a substantial decline in town or city centre cinema in the late 1970's and early 80's which seems to have a correlation with the rise of the blockbuster and the rise of the multiplex. There also seems to be a correlation between the rise of home video and a decline in cinema attendance in town or city centre cinema. These have been influenced by social, economic and technological factors which offered new experiences for cinema audiences and you could only achieve the best experience apparently in multiplexes which pretty much put town or city centers out of business because blockbusters were only being played in multiplexes who were placed in the UK by AHS and multiplexes eventually became an experience for cinema goers, rather than actually going for the film itself, essentially devaluing films and blockbusters began to be created to be place in multiplexes and multiplexes created to house blockbusters.

Task 1

Starter: HumanCentipedeTrailer – who has seen it?

Find out what the story is and why it is controversial

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/for-their-eyes-only-inside-the-world-of-the-film-censor-2294349.html

Debate

Should there be such a thing as censorship of films?

This should take 15 minutes

Task 2

New Information: Exam Question 2 1970/80s

“Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technologies.” Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content in Britain in the early 1980s. [30]

Task:

Initial Research: For the following words in BOLD - Know about what was happening, define the terms, outline the context, and what relevance they have to the above exam question?

 

Group 1.

The right-wing, pro-censorship response by groups such as the National Viewers and Listeners Association and conservative MPs who wanted the introduction of restrictive laws for access to films on video

Group 2. 

2. The level of take-up/fashion amongst the UK population of home video technologies in the 80s and unregulated home video distributors 

Group 3. 

3. The dawning of the home video age - format wars (VHS and Betamax) and the moral panic about the uncensored Video Nasties and unregulated video content and move to regulation of film in the home.

Some basic resources to work through to help - split then across your teams - not all looking:

http://youtu.be/OqbMvbP_j1k?t=6m17s watch from 6m 17s – 11m 34 s

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/gallery/2012/nov/10/censored-cinema-in-pictures

http://blogs.examiner.co.uk/moviesfilmscinema/2010/04/30-years-on-from-the-video-nas.html

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/1980s-video-nasties-bbfc-home-video.html

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/1980s-format-wars-vhs-vs-beta.html

Check Learning – Share your understanding across the team, this should take a about 30 mins to work through

Share your findings with the class as Mentor pairs Mind Map on A3 using highlighters your shared knowledge: write the exam question in the middle and use the notes to write analysis points under the contexts 

Technology

Political & Social

Economic

Each Mentor team should have a MIND MAP with the 3 contexts from the all the above

This should take about 20 mins - photograph & upload the Mind Map to your blog

Task 3

New Information - Deeper analysis of the resources

Divide up the links between you as Mentor Partners

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/1980s-video-nasties-bbfc-home-video.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNawGIPLFHo  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ppqutUB23A  

Create Meaning - look for answers in the videos & articles

1. What is the significance of Home Video & the Format Wars for audiences 
2. What were the concerns around Home Video and regulation/censorship?
3. What is a Video Nasty and why were they popular with audiences?
4. What did these films have in common (Genre/Budget/Subject matter/Story)?
5. Who were Margaret Thatcher & Mary Whitehouse and why were they relevant?
6. How did Video Nasties become Political and how was this Moral Panic being exploited by the government?

In your Mentor Teams work your way through the documentaries (seperately) & questions - this should take 30 mins with 10 minutes to share across Teams of 4

Prepare an argument: Critical reviews of Banned Video Nasties

Each team of 4 take a different Case Study from the films below

For the following Video Nasties read over the plot summary imdb or wikipedia – outline the content, watch the trailers - why do you think this one in particular banned?

How have these Video Nasties been critically received over time, what films did these directors go on to make?

• I spit on your grave
• Last House on the Left
• The Driller Killer
• Evil Dead

What is your group's opinion - should these have been banned or censored?

What were the contextual reasons for these films being banned? 

Apply to demonstrate

Do you agree with the right-wing (conservative) decisions to censor or restrict access (regulate) to these films? Justify your opinion with evidence from today and reference to one of the films.

Write your individual argument on your blog

Last Task should take 30 minutes

good Luck

Multiplex Cinemas - extract 3 Reasons

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/fleapits-multiplexes-articles.html

1. Technological
2. Social
3. Economic

Students own research:

1. Put smaller cinemas out of business
2. Success of a few led to expansion in the 1980s
3. 1984 Multiplexes got people back into the cinema from big gradual decline low cinema attendance (Trend Home Video VCR)
4. Milton Keynes first multiplex in UK 1984/5
5. Rotate screens of the biggest films: release the biggest on the main screen then onto smaller for a longer run

What factors led to the decline of town or city centre cinemas in the late 1970's and early 1980's?

Introduction
A combination of factors led to the decline in town and city centre cinemas but there are three main pointers: technological, economical and social reasons.

Teenagers have disposable income so have money to spend with friend through a socialising environment such as cinemas and due to the multiplex cinemas being built in shopping centres that are easily accessible through the motorway and have more attractions such as restaurants, arcades  and shops mean that a day outing can be planned around the entertainment available.

The development of VFX that was first displayed in Star Wars led to the making of the Industrial Light and Magic company founded by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. 

Multiplex cinemas replace flea pits due to the beneficial income because of the variety of films that will be advertised meaning a greater audience is brought to increase their revenue. 

Production

Spectacle films are now being produced due to VFX and the formulaic value that they know will sell to the audience- Star Wars was produced in 1975 which changed the course of cinema down this avenue leading to more films such as E.T that conformed to the science fiction genre which was now a huge hit with the teenage audience. However due to the mass of the teenage audience that brought in majority of the ratings, it also brought in new types of films such as the disco era that was brought about making films such as Saturday night fever in 1977 which was to reassure the fact they would continue bringing this audience in.

Distribution 

Piracy meant that American film studios were getting less revenue from the blockbusters being churned out which means they cannot afford to take a risk with a new creative idea for a film meaning the same formulaic films year in year out are being produced. This meant that American film studios had to cooperate with the new consuming preference of the audiences through the internet which led to the creation of Netflix and hulu so that people could watch movies online but still get money out of the audiences.

Exhibition
People were intrigued by the new all around better experience in the multiplex cinemas that they would pay slightly more money for, in comparison to the dilapidated flea pits. Due to the fact they were located in a shopping centre meant there were many more things to do within walking distance of the cinema- this meant people went on a 'day out', taking it for granted rather than saving up and treating it as a special occasion like the older generations usually do. this meant that the american film studios were making many films to keep the revenue and ratings flowing into the cinema.

3.2.1 Film Text & Context intro Blockbusters in Context

Starter: What characteristics of Blockbusters do these films demonstrate?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951265/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Conclusion:

What does this suggest about the popularity of Indie Franchise Films - is there a formula, which audiences?

Homework review: Unit F631: Film Text and Context Section B: Cinema...

1. The exam and its requirements – skim & present 

ñ  How many questions & what topics?

ñ  What relevance are knowing about Blockbusters?

ñ  What case studies are you writing about?

ñ  What is Production?

ñ  What is Distribution & Marketing?

ñ  What is Exhibition/Exchange?

ñ  What do we mean by context?

ñ  BONUS Name the 2 most influential directors of these emerging types of films in 70's/80's?

starter: Match up the PDE
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/film-production-distribution-exhibition.html

Answers to PDE: http://prissnashfilm.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/pde-qualities-and-values.html

Create Meaning

What are the arguments around Blockbusters? Case Study: Transformers

Kermode on Transformers 3 & Truth about Blockbusters

Transformers 4 Product & Star-driven

Big Dumb Movies: Transformers

Apply: Your opinions – discussion on post it notes

Create Meaning

Identify significant points of Context that have had an effect on the rise and dominance of Blockbuster movies. 


Use Popplet to create a Flow Diagram of the relevent points of context you have extracted from the articles

 

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/1975-rise-of-blockbuster-social.html

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/skyfall-to-70s-cinema-attendance.html

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-rise-of-multiplex.html

Context: Economic Blockbuster Marketing Budgets (F...

http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/cinema-attendance-uk.html

http://portable.tv/film/post/how-jaws-spawned-the-modern-blockbuster/

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/15702/jaws-the-first-blockbuster

Student 1: Social (audience behaviours, preferences, cinema attendance)

Student 2: Technology (Projection, sound, visual effects, online)

Student 3: Economic (budgets, marketing, box office, recession, piracy)

Student 4: Conclusion – summarise how have all 3 contexts have affected the Production of these films? 

Mid point plenary/Review
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-deuction-journey-or-how-to-apply.html
 

Break

Session 2 Kermode on Transformers 4

Star Wars & The Blockbuster

Micro Essay

Reasons why the popularity of certain films in the 1970s led to the rise of the Blockbuster formula
1. Economic
2. Social
3. Technological


How is this the legacy of Lucas & Speilberg? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE

What social, economic & technological context gave rise to the blockbuster film from 1975-1983?

American Film Studios built multiplex cinemas on the outskirts of town in a shopping centre in England to replace the single screen cinemas that were also known as 'flee pits' that advertised their Hollywood films. Due to the fact that there was more than one screen meant that there was a variety of films available to watch that the audience could chose from, however they were the same formulaic structure which meant that all it was doing really was leading us to believe people had a choice.Their Hollywood films were known as blockbusters which were new movies with the added spectacle which brought new interest to the screen. The fourth Star Wars Film: A New Hope directed by George Lucas was a well known American production that was all spectacle; alternate universe, explosions, lasers, light sabers and aliens which changed the course of cinema from then onwards.

In the time frame between 1975 and 1983 the teenage demographic was on an increase due to the social events that became increasingly common and the new rage of things to do was attend the new and improved multiplex cinemas; due to the disposable income that teenagers were entitled to from their parents meant they could go out and do what they wanted. Due to the majority of viewers in cinemas being teenagers meant that they were the huge influence on the ratings of films and the summer blockbusters. From 1975, due to this, new eras of film were born such as the disco era from which the blockbuster, 'Saturday Night Fever' was produced in 1977; this film was directed at the new and common teenage demographic that were the reason for majority of the multiplex cinema's income.

The new invention of VFX to be used in movies meant that it added to the spectacle and gave something new and exciting to the cinemas which meant it brought in the audience. In 1975 the blockbuster 'Jaws' was released which was one of the most successful blockbusters of all time. VFX was bascially what brought people out of their homes and into the cinema.

Cinema viewings became less popular in the 1980's which meant there was the invention of the VCR which meant people could watch movies at home; E.T was the first movie to be released on VCR. Due to the VCR and video tapes bringing movies to people's homes, it meant the fashionability of people staying in at home to watch movies came in. 

Multiplex cinemas were built near motorways to make it easily accessible and noticeable by people; due to the fact they were usually located on the upper floor of shopping centres meant there were many other attractions to draw the demographic in such as shops and restaurants. Milton Keys in Birminghamshire was the first multiplex cinema to be built in England; it was a business that the Americans used to earn money both ends; brought money in to expand the cinema and bring new things in that would be new and exciting.

Homework Prereading Next week's lesson
Fleapits & Multiplexes articles/notes to read
&
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/lesson-43-how-blockbusters-led-to-rise.html - prepare answers to these questions:

Create Meaning: How did the Blockbuster affect Production, Distribution & Exhibition?

Expert groups:

1. Cinema Attendance 1972-1980 why was this? (Economic, Social reasons?)
2. Production Technologies (Star Wars) & the Big Screen Experience
3. Distribution - The Event Movie hype (marketing budgets)
4. Box Office numbers of the early Blockbusters (exhibition)