FS103 Lecture Notes - Rko Pictures, Major Film Studio, Block Booking
Document Summary
Studio system was the major system for producing, marketing, and distributing films in the. Golden age/classical period of hollywood (1927- early 60s) Big five: fox film (twentieth century fox), mgm, paramount pictures, rko radio pictures, Little three: united artists, columbia picture, universal pictures. Studios placed stars under long term exclusive contracts. Contracts dictated the stars" roles, appearance and public behaviour. Studios kept a stable of creative talent including directors, writers, and crew who worked on the lot. Vertical integration: big 5 had their own distribution companies and theatre chains. Block booking: studios forced theatres to book films in groups that included shorts and cheap b- movies along with big-budget a-movies. May 4 1948: a federal law suit known as the paramount decree was filled against the big five accusing them of monopolizing the filmmaking market (ten years of fighting then studios lost)
