Film Studies 1020E Lecture Notes - Studio System, Adolph Zukor, Block Booking
29 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
The studio system is a vertically integrated approach to filmmaking. Vertical integration means that a studio controls the modes of production, distribution and exhibition. The official date of the studio system is 1920, however vertical integration was achieved in 1917 when adolph zukor and paramount film corporation aligned with famous. In order to be successful and financially independent studio it was necessary for the studio to control three elements: production, distribution, exhibition. Controlling production meant that studio had under contract, everyone necessary to make a film. Studio held the contractual rights to everyone from scriptwriters to actor to directors to composers. This enabled them to make whatever film they wanted without having to look outside. The distributors job is to get the film out to the theatre. Many studios practiced what is called block booking. The distributor controls what films can be rented.
