Monday, February 29, 2016

Student Film Documentaries: Early History of Film; Characteristics of Blockbusters; Jaws (Part 1)

EQ: Who were some of the early film stars, producers, and directors? What are some of the qualities of a blockbuster and how might we apply these characteristics to the film Jaws (1975)?

Student Film Documentaries

Rashid: Billy Bitzer
Robert: Thomas Harper Ince
Cameron: Nickelodeons
Jasmina: Lilian & Dorothy Gish, Mae Marsh
Rosalia: Vitagraph & Co.
Frieda: Kinemacolor
Alannah: Goldwyn, Fox, Warner Bros.
Olivia: Alice Guy Blanche
Avana: Lon Chaney, Sr.
Nandi: Lois Weber
Jahde: Frances Marion

Creative Writing Prompt: After screening these student films, please come up with your own idea for a "blockbuster" film. If you had an unlimited budget, what kind of film would you make? Take a few minutes and create an idea. See handouts.

Characteristics of a Blockbuster

Blockbuster films make money. So much money. Films that make money are often called "blockbuster" films. Those that lose money are called "bombs."

Here are some tongue-in-cheek rules concerning blockbuster films by Charlie Jane Anders:
  • If your kid hasn't heard of it, don't spend $200 million on it
  • Genre mash-ups only work if both genres are popular
  • Spend less on the first film in a series and more on the sequels
  • When dealing with a familiar hero or character, go back to the source material or original concept
  • Pay attention to the structure of the original (particularly in sequels)
  • Blockbuster films have to play overseas in the foreign market
  • Things that sound funny, should be funny (Sharknado, for example...)
  • Remember the human element: special effects does not a blockbuster make
  • Fans are a double-edged sword: they love your content/subject matter--but then...they love your content/subject matter.
Blockbusters are usually:
  • Advertised or heavily marketed
  • Based on advertised/heavily marketed material (books, games, pop cultural items, etc.)
  • Use familiar (well-known) directors or actors in major roles
  • Action films
  • Epic in scope and story (life versus death stuff...; the fate of all hangs in the balance...)
  • Costume dramas or historical fiction
  • Include special effects that involve explosions
  • Have a male protagonist
  • Deal with themes that can be easily recognizable (life, nature, death, love...)
  • Have an underlying religious theme or strong belief in the power of good
  • End happily for the protagonist, usually by saving the day
Of course there's no set guarantee that your film will be a blockbuster, but if you hit upon some of these elements, it is more likely you are making a blockbuster.

So let's see how this holds up as we watch the film Jaws (1975). Directed by Steven Spielberg. Written by Carl Gottlieb & Peter Benchley (from his novel: originally titled The Stillness of the Water). Before we begin let's learn a little about the film and read the first few pages of the script. See your handouts for details.

For more information about the film, please check here: Jaws and the full script is here.

HOMEWORK: None.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrVK6h_Z75Y

Unknown said...

https://youtu.be/yhucws5A7FU

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCA5MDCmxM

Unknown said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGY1Ne0T0wM

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