The blockbuster ERA 1970-1980

IBDP Film2010-2011

By: Joshua Schawelson

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

1970’s - 1980’s

• Hollywood experiencing financial and artistic depression.

• Benchmark decade for development

• New era for film makers, creative high point in film industry.

• The films of the 1970’s were attempts to explore the mindsets of a society undergoing tremendous change through honest portrayals of real people

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What was brought from the 1960’s?

• Restriction of language, adult content, sexuality and violence had loosened up - widespread

• Hippie movement, Civil Rights movement, growth of rock & roll and use of drugs

• Hollywood New Wave or New Hollywood (Young generation took prominence , film school educated,reach the youth) emphasis on realism

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• Viewers and directors would not compromise with the production of mediocre films.

• Audiences from late 1960’s saw a glimpse of new possibilities, new story telling techniques and meaningful ‘artistic’ options.

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What is the Blockbuster Era?

• Block-bust-er (noun)

• A thing of great power or size

• an era of great commercial success

• Considered the greatest era of filmmaking (art form)

• Jaws regarded as first film of “blockbuster era”

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1970’s...

• 50’s & 60’s were recognized for wide-screen epics on silver screens....70’s was an age of creativity.

• Reflected questioning spirit and truth of the time.

• It brought vigor in adventures, complex realistic narratives with rich cinematography.

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Social Change• The aftermath of late 1960

social events called out for tremendous change.

• Audiences no longer wanted to partake in the false, homogenized and happy images.

• Realism and stories to relate to.

• Independent and innovative way of creating film.

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Culture in Film 1970’s

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74Pae3PpMo - All that Jazz (Four Oscars) deemed culturally significant

• Counter-culture to be more free

• Pop culture - Saturday Night Fever & Grease

• Hippie culture / movement

• Rise of music (Jazz, composers,

• 1972 Munich Olympics

• Lava lamps

• Literature relating to Nixon and the watergate scandal were top sellers

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Influence of Historical Events

• Success films were based upon the harsh truths of wars or events.

• Events: Vietnam War, the Kent State Massacre, the Watergate scandal, President Nixon's fall, the Munich Olympics shoot-out................

• The Parallax View (1974), Patton (1970’s), M*A*S*H (1970).

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The Parallax View

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=324b8PIaMfA

• Richard Nixon conspiracy theory of assassination

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MASH

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UeYGS0UU6E

• subtext Vietnam War / set in Korean War

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Steven Speilberg

• Film producer, screenwriter & director.

• Jaws (1975)

• Founder of DreamWorks

• Worth 3 Billion

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Jaws• 1975 Relase - 159 days to shoot

• Based on Peter Benchleys novel

• Changed the movie industry - first summer blockbuster

• Led to summer screening for larger profits

• Regarded as one of the best movies of all time

• Three Mechanical sharks made for production (Bruce)

• Music by John Williams

• Shifted Hollywood away from jaded, sophisticated cinema towards more high-adventure thrills

• Shark was more terrifying when unseen - shown an hour into the movie

• Great White represented taxes and unemployment - Ronald Regan.

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Jaws

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMLFO6TsFM

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George Lucas

• Producer, screenwriter & director

• Founder of Lucasfilm Ltd. -1971

• USC school of cinematic arts

• Star Wars + Indiana Jones Franchise

• Worth 3 Billion

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Star Wars (1977)• Ground breaking in the use

of special effects

• Unconventional Editing

• Sci/fi storytelling

• Motion control photography

• ‘Used Universe’

• Industrial Light and Magic - visual effects (revolutionary)

• John Williams

It can be used to facilitate special effects photography. The process can involve filming several elements using the same camera motion, and then compositing the elements into a single image.

editing together aerial dogfights from old war films, which enhanced the pacing of the scenes.

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Star Wars

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypNYVnjQPZI - behind the scenes

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ -trailer

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Developments• Cable television - the first pay/premium television channel, Home Box

Office (HBO), was founded in 1972; in 1975, became the first in the television industry to use satellites for regular transmission of programming

• The industry decided to move major film openings from mid-week to Fridays, in 1973

• Multi-plex theaters - the proliferation of multi-screen chain theaters in suburban areas, replacing big movie palaces, meant that more movies could be shown to smaller audiences

• Hollywood realized that it could increase its profits by advertising its new releases on television

• publicity/celebrity magazines -People Magazine - first published as a weekly magazine in March of 1974 , took over the role of celebrity watching and film promotion for the industry

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Notable Directors from 1970’s

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THE END

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Homework (not optional)

• Watch Episode IV Star Wars

Tuesday, September 14, 2010