CIN201Y1 Lecture 4: CIN201 TUTORIAL 4
TA: Daniel Oct. 7, 2016
CIN201 TUTORIAL 4
EARLY AMERICAN FILM INDUSTRY
• Two phases (1) 1895-1905/1907 + (2) 1905-1913
PHASE ONE
- EXHIBITION Vaudeville houses/theatres
- DISTRIBUTION films were sold, not rented in theatres
- PRODUCTION cameraman system, actualité popularity
PHASE TWO
- SWITCH TO NARRATIVE no more waiting for events to happen, create
your own story, length/budget more predictable, controlled schedule =
division of labour (PRODUCER)
New roles are solidified (DIRECTOR, CREW)
- CHANGES IN EXHIBITION Nickelodeons change this era, replace
Vaudevilles quickly
Lots of prosperity and development, immigration, urbanization
The “invention of free time” for the working class
- CLASS COMPOSITION immigrant and working class audiences, they
now have free time and can afford it
Was accessible and easily understood, Nickelodeons were mainly in
big cities, catered more to middle class in response to this, larger
consumer base
Nickelodeons set up shop near middle class areas
Tried to keep films “un-ethnic” to attract ‘waspy’ audience
- CONSOLIDATION MPCC (PRODUCTIVE REFORM)
Oligopoly of largest film companies (Motion Pictures Patent
Companies), needed patents to make/show films (in 1910 the General
Film Company was set up)
MPCC bought everything, controlled which films could be made, but
the Trust couldn’t keep up with demand
Independent companies popped up (IMP became Universal),
MPCC were manufacturers, most concerned with profiting from
EQUIPMENT
- REFORM film became better quality and were standardized, ended foreign
domination, America dominated their own film market
- ADVENT OF THE FEATURE new production by 1914, move towards
STARS, a change in distribution (road shows), more to QUALITY
Shift from Nickelodeons to PICTURE PALACES, shift to upper class
entertainment
The more audiences could afford, the more big-budget films
(ESCALATORS)
The Trust wouldn’t take risks and disintegrated
The Independents invested more, got more in return
The Italian (US, 1915)
1. How does a pointedly aspirational form such as a higher-budget feature negotiate the
depiction of an immigrant’s plight as its subject matter?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Early american film industry: two phases (1) 1895-1905/1907 + (2) 1905-1913. Distribution films were sold, not rented in theatres. Switch to narrative no more waiting for events to happen, create your own story, length/budget more predictable, controlled schedule = division of labour (producer) Changes in exhibition nickelodeons change this era, replace. Lots of prosperity and development, immigration, urbanization. The invention of free time for the working class. Class composition immigrant and working class audiences, they now have free time and can afford it. Was accessible and easily understood, nickelodeons were mainly in big cities, catered more to middle class in response to this, larger consumer base. Nickelodeons set up shop near middle class areas. Tried to keep films un-ethnic to attract waspy" audience. Oligopoly of largest film companies (motion pictures patent. Companies), needed patents to make/show films (in 1910 the general. Mpcc bought everything, controlled which films could be made, but the trust couldn"t keep up with demand.