Since Thomas A. Edison’s invention of the motion picture in 1889, movies have always attracted
and fascinated the audience around the world. The unique combination of moving
pictures and sound had one great advantage in contrast to past cultural events like the vaudeville,
the musical or the theater: Its capability of reaching more people.
In the course of time, smart business people began to found studios in order to produce
full-length pictures. Up to 1948 the American film industry consisted of a certain number of
studios, the so called “Big Five”- Paramount, Twentieth Century-Fox, Warner Bros., RKO,
and MGM- and the “Little Three”- Columbia, Universal, and United Artists (Phillips 327).
Over decades these studios managed to produce the most influential and most profitable movies
worldwide.
Things changed, however, and the era of the studio-production drew to a close as production
of a feature film outside, meaning in the real world, became much cheaper than producing
the picture in expensive stagesets, which had often been special manufactured and
thus could only be used once. Changes were now unavoidable. After directors like Howard
Hawks, George Cukor, Sidney Lumet, Don Siegel, and others influenced the art of motion
picture in the first half of the century, others took over and led Hollywood to new fame and
wealth. At the end of the sixties a new generation of young American filmmakers developed
a more personal cinema, which was a combination of visions and marketing. Steven Spielberg,
George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola were the most popular advocates
of the New Hollywood (Monaco 366). [...]
Table of Contents
I. The influence of Hollywood decreased in the past years and the United States, especially Los Angeles, are not the center of film business anymore.
A. More movies are produced overseas to reduce production costs.
B. Foreign influence on American film industry – “strangers” take over important roles in front of the camera and behind it.
1. The Australian contributions to the 2002 Academy Awards.
2. Directors from abroad like Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Peter Jackson, and Marc Forster take over important roles in Hollywood.
C. Foreign participation in the production of movies is becoming more and more important.
II. Hollywood is still important, but its power and its position has changed.
A. Although many films are produced abroad, Los Angeles maintains its leading role by being responsible for the majority of blockbusters.
B. The Cooperation between U.S. and foreign production companies, especially European and Asian ones, are dominated by the American side.
C. Hollywood stars are still the only ones who are popular nationwide and international, thus Hollywood can be described as the most important springboard for an international career.
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The paper examines the changing landscape of the American film industry, specifically addressing whether Hollywood has forfeited its position as the world's primary cinematic power or if it is undergoing a structural evolution to adapt to global production shifts.
- The decline of traditional studio-centric film production in the United States.
- The increase in international movie production and foreign financial partnerships.
- The growing influence of foreign directors and actors within the Hollywood system.
- Hollywood's enduring status as a global springboard for international stardom.
Excerpt from the Book
The end of an era – Hollywood’s decreasing influence in the world’s film politics
Since Thomas A. Edison’s invention of the motion picture in 1889, movies have always attracted and fascinated the audience around the world. The unique combination of moving pictures and sound had one great advantage in contrast to past cultural events like the vaudeville, the musical or the theater: Its capability of reaching more people.
In the course of time, smart business people began to found studios in order to produce full-length pictures. Up to 1948 the American film industry consisted of a certain number of studios, the so called “Big Five”- Paramount, Twentieth Century-Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, and MGM- and the “Little Three”- Columbia, Universal, and United Artists (Phillips 327). Over decades these studios managed to produce the most influential and most profitable movies worldwide.
Things changed, however, and the era of the studio-production drew to a close as production of a feature film outside, meaning in the real world, became much cheaper than producing the picture in expensive stagesets, which had often been special manufactured and thus could only be used once. Changes were now unavoidable. After directors like Howard Hawks, George Cukor, Sidney Lumet, Don Siegel, and others influenced the art of motion picture in the first half of the century, others took over and led Hollywood to new fame and wealth.
Summary of Chapters
I. The influence of Hollywood decreased in the past years and the United States, especially Los Angeles, are not the center of film business anymore.: This section analyzes how production costs and foreign creative involvement have shifted the geographic concentration of film production away from California.
II. Hollywood is still important, but its power and its position has changed.: This section discusses the resilience of Hollywood as a global brand, emphasizing its continued dominance in blockbuster distribution and the creation of international movie stars.
Keywords
Hollywood, American film industry, film production, global cinema, blockbusters, international cooperation, New Hollywood, film politics, movie studios, cultural influence, foreign directors, stardom, production costs, media economics, international marketing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper investigates whether Hollywood is losing its global dominance or simply adapting its production processes to a more interconnected, globalized film market.
What are the central thematic pillars?
The main themes include the shift toward overseas production for cost efficiency, the rise of international creative talent, and the evolving role of the American studio system.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is whether the American film industry has lost its status as the world’s most important power or if internal processes have forced a necessary restructuring of the industry.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author employs a descriptive and analytical approach, drawing on historical industry developments and contemporary data to evaluate shifts in market influence.
What does the main body address?
The main body examines the transition from traditional studio production to globalized filmmaking, the influence of non-American directors, and the continued reliance on Hollywood for international fame.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Hollywood, film production, globalization, international cooperation, and the changing landscape of film politics.
How does the author define the shift in Hollywood's influence?
The author argues that while Hollywood's physical "Mecca" status has weakened due to international production, its brand power remains intact as a global player that integrates foreign elements.
Why do American studios now frequently collaborate with foreign partners?
Collaborations are driven by the need to mitigate the high risks and exploding costs of film production, forcing studios to seek international financial support and creative synergy.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2002, The end of an era - Hollywood's decreasing, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/26729
