CMNS 230Film

Lecture Nov. 20 2006,

David Newman

In the beginning…

» First Lumiere Brothers film screening in Paris, December 1895

» However, there were screenings prior to this

» Demonstrated very rapid diffusion of new technology

» First Lumiere Brothers film screening in Paris, December 1895

» However, there were screenings prior to this

» Demonstrated very rapid diffusion of new technology

Diffusion of motion pictures

Dec. 1895•

Diffusion of motion pictures

Dec. 1895•May 1895•

••

Diffusion of motion pictures

Dec. 1895•May 1895•

•

Jan. 1896•

•

May 1896••August 1896

August 1896

•

•Sept. 1896•

Oct. 1896

•

Feb. 1897•

June 1896•

Today’s lecture

» First half - historical overview

»Hollywood and non-Hollywood movies

» Canada, with New Zealand as a comparison

»Institutional structure and policy environment for the film industry

» Discussion of Assignment 3

» First half - historical overview

»Hollywood and non-Hollywood movies

» Canada, with New Zealand as a comparison

»Institutional structure and policy environment for the film industry

» Discussion of Assignment 3

Origins of Hollywood

» Film industry in the USA began in New Jersey and around New York

» Motion Picture Patents Trust - 1908 Edison Biograph Vitagraph

» Film industry in the USA began in New Jersey and around New York

» Motion Picture Patents Trust - 1908 Edison Biograph Vitagraph

Origins of Hollywood

» Problems for companies outside the Trust - harassment, legal threats

» Needed an alternative environment» California came into the picture» The first “runaway” productions and establishment of Hollywood as a production venue

» Problems for companies outside the Trust - harassment, legal threats

» Needed an alternative environment» California came into the picture» The first “runaway” productions and establishment of Hollywood as a production venue

Origins of Hollywood

» Why California and Hollywood? Various theories

»Escape Motion Picture Patents Company

»Proximity to the Mexican border»Physical environment / climate»Later - distance from head office and the financiers

» Why California and Hollywood? Various theories

»Escape Motion Picture Patents Company

»Proximity to the Mexican border»Physical environment / climate»Later - distance from head office and the financiers

Origins of Hollywood

» Development of 3 main sectors Production - manufacturing Distribution - wholesaling Exhibition - retailing

» Industrial terminology used initially along with attempts to make the process and studios as similar as possible to manufacturing in a factory

» Development of 3 main sectors Production - manufacturing Distribution - wholesaling Exhibition - retailing

» Industrial terminology used initially along with attempts to make the process and studios as similar as possible to manufacturing in a factory

Early Hollywood

» Post WWI The war had created a vacuum in European production

Dominance of Hollywood globally Aided by US government “Trade follows film” Star system in place to provide branding

» Post WWI The war had created a vacuum in European production

Dominance of Hollywood globally Aided by US government “Trade follows film” Star system in place to provide branding

Early Hollywood

» Scandals in early Hollywood» Fear of government regulation at both Federal and State levels

» Politically, industry self-regulation preferred approach

» Will Hays and MPPDA (Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association)

» Scandals in early Hollywood» Fear of government regulation at both Federal and State levels

» Politically, industry self-regulation preferred approach

» Will Hays and MPPDA (Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association)

Hollywood studio era

» Fordist approach to production

» Introduction of sound» Decrease in importance of international markets

» Fordist approach to production

» Introduction of sound» Decrease in importance of international markets

Hollywood studio era» The majors1926

» The majors1926»Paramount»Warner Bros»Fox»Loew’s/MGM»RKO»Universal»Columbia»United Artists

»Paramount»Warner Bros»Fox»Loew’s/MGM»RKO»Universal»Columbia»United Artists

Hollywood studio era» The majors1926 2006

» The majors1926 2006»Paramount»Warner Bros»Fox»Loew’s/MGM»RKO»Universal»Columbia»United Artists

»Paramount»Warner Bros»Fox»Loew’s/MGM»RKO»Universal»Columbia»United Artists

»Paramount»Warner Bros»20th Century Fox

»Universal»Disney»Columbia/Sony Pictures

» MGM/United Artists

»Paramount»Warner Bros»20th Century Fox

»Universal»Disney»Columbia/Sony Pictures

» MGM/United Artists

Hollywood studio era

» Source of Hollywood’s strength? Finance capital v. industrial capital

» New York-based bankers

» Source of Hollywood’s strength? Finance capital v. industrial capital

» New York-based bankers

Hollywood studio era

» 1948 Paramount case» Television

» 1948 Paramount case» Television

Rise of the independents

» Change in production style»Move to post-Fordist approach

» Studios adapted - focused on distribution

» Runaway productions in Europe

» Change in production style»Move to post-Fordist approach

» Studios adapted - focused on distribution

» Runaway productions in Europe

Rise of the blockbuster

» Jaws 1975 Steven Spielberg

» Star Wars 1977 George Lucas

» Jaws 1975 Steven Spielberg

» Star Wars 1977 George Lucas

Blockbuster revenues

» Theatrical releases» DVD / video releases» Cable and broadcast TV rights» Product placements» Ancillary merchandise» Musicals / theme park rides

» Theatrical releases» DVD / video releases» Cable and broadcast TV rights» Product placements» Ancillary merchandise» Musicals / theme park rides

Directors of top-10 grossing films

Worldwide» James Cameron Canada» Peter Jackson (2) New Zealand» Gore Verbinski USA» Chris Columbus (2) USA» George Lucas USA» Steven Spielberg USA» Mike Newell England» Andrew Adamson New Zealand

» James Cameron Canada» Peter Jackson (2) New Zealand» Gore Verbinski USA» Chris Columbus (2) USA» George Lucas USA» Steven Spielberg USA» Mike Newell England» Andrew Adamson New Zealand

Source: www.imdb.com

Situation today

» Hollywood movies - continuing to dominate

» Independents and films from other countries obtaining about 10-15% of the North American box office

» Hollywood movies - continuing to dominate

» Independents and films from other countries obtaining about 10-15% of the North American box office

Centre-Periphery model for Hollywood / non-Hollywood

industries

Peter Jackson

Canada & New Zealand

» Both former British Dominions» Both dominated by Hollywood productions

» Both with relatively small populations making it difficult for a domestic production industry to be commercially viable

» Population Canada 32 million New Zealand 4.1 million (excluding sheep)

» Both former British Dominions» Both dominated by Hollywood productions

» Both with relatively small populations making it difficult for a domestic production industry to be commercially viable

» Population Canada 32 million New Zealand 4.1 million (excluding sheep)

Canada

» Essentially two cinemas Quebec & non-Quebec, or English-language & French

» Quebec interesting exception» An example of a regional, ethnic or sub-national cinema

» Success in recent years very different

» Essentially two cinemas Quebec & non-Quebec, or English-language & French

» Quebec interesting exception» An example of a regional, ethnic or sub-national cinema

» Success in recent years very different

Canada institutions

» TeleFilm Canada» National Film Board» Provincial level agencies

» TeleFilm Canada» National Film Board» Provincial level agencies

Telefilm mandate

“… cultural investor… supporting Canada’s audiovisual industry to create cultural works that reflect and celebrate the diversity of Canada and are widely appreciated in Canada and abroad.”

“… cultural investor… supporting Canada’s audiovisual industry to create cultural works that reflect and celebrate the diversity of Canada and are widely appreciated in Canada and abroad.”

Canada - policy tools

» Policy institutions» Direct investment (Telefilm, NFB)

» Tax credits» Co-production treaties» Location support (at local/provincial level)

» Policy institutions» Direct investment (Telefilm, NFB)

» Tax credits» Co-production treaties» Location support (at local/provincial level)

New Zealand institutions

» New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)

» Feature Film Fund» New Zealand Screen Council» New Zealand On Air» Film New Zealand

» New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)

» Feature Film Fund» New Zealand Screen Council» New Zealand On Air» Film New Zealand

NZFC mandate

“To contribute to New Zealand’s cultural capital through the development, production, financing and marketing of audience-focused feature films; and to grow the film sector within the larger screen production industry.”

“To contribute to New Zealand’s cultural capital through the development, production, financing and marketing of audience-focused feature films; and to grow the film sector within the larger screen production industry.”

Source: NZFC Fact Sheet 2005

New Zealand - policy tools

» Policy institutions» Investment (NZFC, FFF)» State sales agency (NZFC)» Co-productions» Accelerated tax write-offs» Large Budget Screen Production Grant

» Location support

» Policy institutions» Investment (NZFC, FFF)» State sales agency (NZFC)» Co-productions» Accelerated tax write-offs» Large Budget Screen Production Grant

» Location support

Culture v. economic

» Different policy goals Culture - national or ethnic identity

Economic - economic activity and jobs

» Different policy goals Culture - national or ethnic identity

Economic - economic activity and jobs

Results

New Zealand feature production

8

109

7

13

8

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Financial year ended

US$m & #

$1.3m

$2.1m

$1.1m$1.5m

$2.1m

$4.5m

Average budget excluding Peter Jackson

Excluding Peter Jackson productions

Canada feature production

60

8683

7670

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Financial year ended

Number

Feature production by million population

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Financial year end

Features produced per million population

New Zealand Canada

Feature production expenditure per capita

2.37

6.94

2.20

3.34

4.19

11.07

8.79

6.81

4.98

8.037.46

5.49

3.66

5.59

4.58

5.86

9.38

8.12

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Financial year ended

Per capita feature production expenditure (US$)

Per capita production value - New Zealand Per capita production value - English-Canada Per capita production value - French-Canada

% of local box office

0.1%

4.3%3.8%

12.4%

6.3%

9.7%

12.7%

6.0%

1.1%0.9%

1.7%

4.0%

0.7%

23.3%

6.9%

1.0% 1.4%

0.3%1.1%

1.6%0.9%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 1QYear

% of box office

NZ film share of box office excl. LOTR & King Kong (%)

NZ film share of box office w/ LOTR & King Kong (%)

Canadian film share of English-language Canadian box office (%)

7.9%

4.8%

2006 projection

Telefilm budget for feature production by

language

11.37.8

12.015.3

18.9

33.1

21.5

13.8

19.2

28.9

43.5

33.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Financial year ended

C$m

French-language feature support English-language feature support

Development expenditure per capita (US$)

0.000

0.050

0.100

0.150

0.200

0.250

0.300

0.350

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

New Zealand development investment per capita US$Canadian development + SAP (Eng) per capita in US$

Number of projects receiving development

(per capita)

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.41.61.82.0

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05NZ devlpmnt. projects per 100,000 pop.

Telefilm devlpmnt projects (SAP & non-SAP) per 100,000 pop.

Avg. US$ development per project

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

NZFC avg. US$ per devlpmnt projectTelefilm devlpmt. US$ per project (non-SAP)Telefilm devlpmt. US$ per project (SAP)

Box office for select top local films since

1999 (US$)New Zealand» World’s Fastest Indian * $4.74m

» Whale Rider * $4.61m

» Sione’s Wedding$2.73m

» What Becomes of the

Broken Hearted $2.14m

» In My Father’s Den * $1.20m

» Scarfies

$840,000

» River Queen *

$670,000

New Zealand» World’s Fastest Indian * $4.74m

» Whale Rider * $4.61m

» Sione’s Wedding$2.73m

» What Becomes of the

Broken Hearted $2.14m

» In My Father’s Den * $1.20m

» Scarfies

$840,000

» River Queen *

$670,000

* co-production1 as of November 2, 2006

Canada - English» Bon Cop/Bad Cop 1 $10.4m

» Resident Evil: Apocalypse *

$3.75m

» Mambo Italiano $3.69m

» Trailer Park Boys 1 $3.2m

» White Noise * $2.8m

» Men with Brooms$2.44m

» Bollywood/Hollywood

$950,000

Canada - English» Bon Cop/Bad Cop 1 $10.4m

» Resident Evil: Apocalypse *

$3.75m

» Mambo Italiano $3.69m

» Trailer Park Boys 1 $3.2m

» White Noise * $2.8m

» Men with Brooms$2.44m

» Bollywood/Hollywood

$950,000

New Telefilm policy -2007/08

» Asymmetrical model» Instead of 5% overall target

2% for English language 20% for Quebec (significant that they are using the term Quebec rather than French-language

» Different policies for funding with lower box office targets for English-language films

» Still reviewing French-language funding problems as they have insufficient resources for the demand

» Asymmetrical model» Instead of 5% overall target

2% for English language 20% for Quebec (significant that they are using the term Quebec rather than French-language

» Different policies for funding with lower box office targets for English-language films

» Still reviewing French-language funding problems as they have insufficient resources for the demand

Service productions

» Also known as “runaway productions

» Productions filmed in a different geographic location from the control and funding

» Worth C$821m to British Columbia last year (feature films only)

» Also known as “runaway productions

» Productions filmed in a different geographic location from the control and funding

» Worth C$821m to British Columbia last year (feature films only)

Coming to a nearby theatre soon (hopefully)

References & further reading

» Gomery, Douglas (2005), The Hollywood Studio System: A History, BFI Publishing, London

» Miller, Toby, Nitin Govil, et. al., (2005), Global Hollywood 2, BFI Publishing, London

» Wasko, Janet (2003), How Hollywood Works, Sage Publications, London, Thousand Oaks and New Delhi

» Wexman, Virginia Wright (2006), A History of Film, 6th ed., Pearson Allyn & Bacon, Boston

» www.imdb.com» New Zealand Film Commission Annual Reports & website» TeleFilm Canada Annual Reports & website» Movie posters from Wikipedia, www.imdb.com and NZFC

» Gomery, Douglas (2005), The Hollywood Studio System: A History, BFI Publishing, London

» Miller, Toby, Nitin Govil, et. al., (2005), Global Hollywood 2, BFI Publishing, London

» Wasko, Janet (2003), How Hollywood Works, Sage Publications, London, Thousand Oaks and New Delhi

» Wexman, Virginia Wright (2006), A History of Film, 6th ed., Pearson Allyn & Bacon, Boston

» www.imdb.com» New Zealand Film Commission Annual Reports & website» TeleFilm Canada Annual Reports & website» Movie posters from Wikipedia, www.imdb.com and NZFC

Assignment 3

» Outline is (or will be) on the class website

» Due 3pm, December 8 at the main School of Communications office

» Will be graded by Professor Murray

» Outline is (or will be) on the class website

» Due 3pm, December 8 at the main School of Communications office

» Will be graded by Professor Murray

Assignment 3

» Select an existing cultural product or text, preferably Canadian in origin

» This might be a television series, film, book, magazine, CD or videogame

» Make sure you are familiar with it

» Talk to us if you want to do something outside of what is listed above

» Select an existing cultural product or text, preferably Canadian in origin

» This might be a television series, film, book, magazine, CD or videogame

» Make sure you are familiar with it

» Talk to us if you want to do something outside of what is listed above

Assignment 3

» Product pitch Create a brief description of the text in the form of a pitch or outline

Maximum of 100 words Provide the essence of the story or format with something to grab or interest the audience

This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Give yourself plenty of time to develop this

» Product pitch Create a brief description of the text in the form of a pitch or outline

Maximum of 100 words Provide the essence of the story or format with something to grab or interest the audience

This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Give yourself plenty of time to develop this

Assignment 3

» Target audience 1 paragraph outlining the specific audience or audiences along with their demographics that this text is targeted towards

Be specific… maybe compare with other cultural texts

» Target audience 1 paragraph outlining the specific audience or audiences along with their demographics that this text is targeted towards

Be specific… maybe compare with other cultural texts

Assignment 3

» Funding Identify the sources of funding for the creation of the product and possible constraints

Try to identify the likely cashflow (use Backend Money and The Movie Business (on Reserve) to help you

What impact do funding constraints have on the creation of the product?

» Funding Identify the sources of funding for the creation of the product and possible constraints

Try to identify the likely cashflow (use Backend Money and The Movie Business (on Reserve) to help you

What impact do funding constraints have on the creation of the product?

Assignment 3

» Audience reception Evaluate the aesthetic and popular success of the text/product»Do you think it is good?»Do others think it is good?»How has the audiences received it?

What could be changed to enhance its market success nationally and internationally?

» Audience reception Evaluate the aesthetic and popular success of the text/product»Do you think it is good?»Do others think it is good?»How has the audiences received it?

What could be changed to enhance its market success nationally and internationally?

Assignment 3

» Relationship to policy How has cultural policy made a difference to the production of the text?

Has it impacted the content or meaning at all?

» Relationship to policy How has cultural policy made a difference to the production of the text?

Has it impacted the content or meaning at all?

Assignment 3

» Prose format using the headings listed as section headings

» This is intended to be a synthesis and application of what you have learned from this course. Think about the lessons learned and apply them.

» Be creative; be original

» Prose format using the headings listed as section headings

» This is intended to be a synthesis and application of what you have learned from this course. Think about the lessons learned and apply them.

» Be creative; be original