5 Big Ideas About Film

The film industry is one that completely fascinates me. Learning about how movies are made boggles my mind; I have had the opportunity to work as an extra on a television show and witness the work put into a minute-long scene. If filming a scene that short took nearly 4 hours I could only imagine the difficulty filming a movie brings to the surface.

1. The first idea that sparked my interest in this chapter about film was the beginning of the Motion Picture Patents Company. These film companies basically formed their own little nation, securing their dominance in the industry. They worked together to achieve what they wanted, whether it be resources or more money from producers. Like always, there were some companies that wished to remain on their own. They were known as the "independents" and basically were in charge of the "underground" film industry. The Motion Picture Patents Company attempted to exert all of their energy on getting the "independents" to join their coalition, which in the end, failed.

2. I also found it interesting to read about the majors and minors in the film industry during the Golden Age. While these 8 studios were an incredible part of the film industry all those years ago, their influence and place has greatly changed. Most seem to be either owned by another major company or setting up plans to merge with one. RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures, which was one of the 5 majors during the Golden Age, does not even exist anymore! This industry is an ever-changing one, and companies such as Paramount, Loew's/MGM, Fox Film Corporation, and Warner Bros. are not as strong and self-sufficient as they used to be.

3. Reading about the different rating systems developed throughout years helps reestablish the fact that things change with time. The world was changing and the need for the Hays Code of ratings was not as necessary as it previously was. In 1968, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) created the Motion Pictures Ratings System which still protected people from explicit content, but allowed for producers to test certain boundaries and shed light on topics that had previously never been touched upon.

4. Another topic I enjoyed reading about was the influences different countries had on the film industry in the United States. Denmark provided us with the idea of feature-length films, Germany opened up our eyes to the darker side of film (touching upon subjects such as insanity and betrayal), Japanese movies led to the eventual creation of the Rashomon effect which told thriller stories through different characters' eyes, and Italians brought in nonprofessional actors when their stories pertained to the poor classes of society.

5. If it were not for the development of special effects, the movie industry would be completely unlike it is today. The entire system began with a man named Bill Abbott, who created action scale models of items, used special lighting and high-speed cameras, in order to create an amazing film. While I was aware of some of these effects, I did not have knowledge of most of their official names and I enjoyed learning them. When I took a tour of Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina I remember seeing the visual paintings of outdoor scenery behind the sets. Now, because of this chapter, I know that they are referred to as matte shots. It is incredible to see just how detailed these images are - it is as though you are actually looking outside when you look through the window!

Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading this chapter. I love watching movies (and television), and always find myself questioning and pondering what it takes to create one. This chapter allowed me to absorb a lot more information, and also think of new ideas I want to look further into!