Lab:
Please continue working on your documentary script projects (until 8:00). Before you leave the lab, please read and note the following (you have time to see these clips on your own--our next class will be entirely viewing Jaws.)
Try to complete your 300-500 word script by the end of the week. You are welcome (if you have the equipment) to proceed with the creation of your film documentary. When we return from Feb. break, we will complete this project.
The Modern Blockbuster
Sony unveiled their VTR (video tape recorder) in 1967, but it wasn't until the 1970's that it took the world by storm. The early versions cost a prohibitive $1,000 to $4,000! That's about 8-10 I-phones and at least as many TiVos--whoever uses those anymore?
Watching movies in your home threatened the movie industry, but under the Betamax VCR (1975) viewers could watch pornography without feeling guilty about it (the internet had not yet established itself). As fall-out, the porn and "X" film production grew, and later would help release a whole host of B-films which would not receive a wide release in cinemas. Many films today are not distributed except through direct-to-digital-video. Netflix, HBO, Amazon, etc. are all trying to create their own content as digital streaming becomes our next, greatest challenge to the movie industry. But first, a little history:
Steven Spielberg (American New Wave director/Auteur) filmed his blockbuster Jaws in 1975. The success of the book and the film began to show the possibility of mass-produced entertainment and gave film a legitimacy through popular culture. There were few film programs in colleges and schools at this time. You may recall Spielberg's other work (mostly blockbusters, like Jaws). After the Blockbuster phenomenon, film gained much attention (and money).
Writers like Michael Crichton and Stephen King became quite wealthy as popular authors since so many people went to see the movies based on their books. Now, bestsellers almost always get made into films as a way to capitalize on profits (J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, for example). Stan Lee is also doing nicely as every year or so another Marvel superhero movie leads the summer blockbuster scene. Here are a few of Spielberg's films:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
E.T. (1982)
George Lucas on the other hand created the single most influential film in the 1970's with his space opera (part IV) of the seminal Star Wars (1978). Both Jaws and Star Wars became the first two films to make more than $100 million, rocketing both directors into fame!
Star Wars (1977)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and the famous "melting face scene just for fun - SPOILER."
In 1982 the film Tron (1982) effectively used CGI for its special effects. Since then CGI has been married to the Hollywood Blockbuster.
Westworld (1973) (same author as Jurassic Park: Michael Crichton)
The Black Hole (1979)
Star Trek (1979) (VO by Orson Welles)
As you might note, CGI greatly improved the sci-fi genre.
Now, the goal of Hollywood remains to produce a blockbuster film. These are traditionally action-packed epics chock-ful of CGI and special effects. Many films also are mass produced so that even if the film fails at the box office, the production company can make back a loss by selling the music tracks, toys, or DVD's.
Recent blockbusters include:
Star Wars: Rogue One (2016) ($7 billion and counting...)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) (over $2 billion; film grossed $1 billion in 12 days...)
Jurassic World (2015) 652.3 Million
Avatar (2009) $2,782,275,172 Billion
Titanic (1997) $2,185,246,990 Billion
The Avengers (2012) $552.7 Million (and counting)
The Dark Knight (2008) $533 Million
Spider Man (2002) $403.7 Million
E.T. (1982) $359.2 Million (see clip above)
Jurassic Park (1993) $357.1 Million
Forrest Gump (1994) $329.7 Million
Top 100 Box Office Blockbusters of All Time It pays to be a producer!
And for perspective, some top films that flopped:
Tomorrowland (2015) loss of $200 Million
47 Ronin (2013) loss of $151 Million
Cutthroat Island (1995) loss of $147 Million
The Alamo (2004) loss of $146 Million (we lost the battle as well)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) loss of $145 Million
Pan (2015) loss of $130-150 Million
HOMEWORK: Please watch film clips and take notes on clips from this and other previous posts. Read the handout "Film Styles, Shots & Angles". Understand the "language" of film so you can make your own films more effective.
Please continue working on your documentary script projects (until 8:00). Before you leave the lab, please read and note the following (you have time to see these clips on your own--our next class will be entirely viewing Jaws.)
Try to complete your 300-500 word script by the end of the week. You are welcome (if you have the equipment) to proceed with the creation of your film documentary. When we return from Feb. break, we will complete this project.
The Modern Blockbuster
Sony unveiled their VTR (video tape recorder) in 1967, but it wasn't until the 1970's that it took the world by storm. The early versions cost a prohibitive $1,000 to $4,000! That's about 8-10 I-phones and at least as many TiVos--whoever uses those anymore?
Watching movies in your home threatened the movie industry, but under the Betamax VCR (1975) viewers could watch pornography without feeling guilty about it (the internet had not yet established itself). As fall-out, the porn and "X" film production grew, and later would help release a whole host of B-films which would not receive a wide release in cinemas. Many films today are not distributed except through direct-to-digital-video. Netflix, HBO, Amazon, etc. are all trying to create their own content as digital streaming becomes our next, greatest challenge to the movie industry. But first, a little history:
Steven Spielberg (American New Wave director/Auteur) filmed his blockbuster Jaws in 1975. The success of the book and the film began to show the possibility of mass-produced entertainment and gave film a legitimacy through popular culture. There were few film programs in colleges and schools at this time. You may recall Spielberg's other work (mostly blockbusters, like Jaws). After the Blockbuster phenomenon, film gained much attention (and money).
Writers like Michael Crichton and Stephen King became quite wealthy as popular authors since so many people went to see the movies based on their books. Now, bestsellers almost always get made into films as a way to capitalize on profits (J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, for example). Stan Lee is also doing nicely as every year or so another Marvel superhero movie leads the summer blockbuster scene. Here are a few of Spielberg's films:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
E.T. (1982)
George Lucas on the other hand created the single most influential film in the 1970's with his space opera (part IV) of the seminal Star Wars (1978). Both Jaws and Star Wars became the first two films to make more than $100 million, rocketing both directors into fame!
Star Wars (1977)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and the famous "melting face scene just for fun - SPOILER."
In 1982 the film Tron (1982) effectively used CGI for its special effects. Since then CGI has been married to the Hollywood Blockbuster.
Westworld (1973) (same author as Jurassic Park: Michael Crichton)
The Black Hole (1979)
Star Trek (1979) (VO by Orson Welles)
As you might note, CGI greatly improved the sci-fi genre.
Now, the goal of Hollywood remains to produce a blockbuster film. These are traditionally action-packed epics chock-ful of CGI and special effects. Many films also are mass produced so that even if the film fails at the box office, the production company can make back a loss by selling the music tracks, toys, or DVD's.
Recent blockbusters include:
Star Wars: Rogue One (2016) ($7 billion and counting...)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) (over $2 billion; film grossed $1 billion in 12 days...)
Jurassic World (2015) 652.3 Million
Avatar (2009) $2,782,275,172 Billion
Titanic (1997) $2,185,246,990 Billion
The Avengers (2012) $552.7 Million (and counting)
The Dark Knight (2008) $533 Million
Spider Man (2002) $403.7 Million
E.T. (1982) $359.2 Million (see clip above)
Jurassic Park (1993) $357.1 Million
Forrest Gump (1994) $329.7 Million
Top 100 Box Office Blockbusters of All Time It pays to be a producer!
And for perspective, some top films that flopped:
Tomorrowland (2015) loss of $200 Million
47 Ronin (2013) loss of $151 Million
Cutthroat Island (1995) loss of $147 Million
The Alamo (2004) loss of $146 Million (we lost the battle as well)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) loss of $145 Million
Pan (2015) loss of $130-150 Million
HOMEWORK: Please watch film clips and take notes on clips from this and other previous posts. Read the handout "Film Styles, Shots & Angles". Understand the "language" of film so you can make your own films more effective.
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