Lecture dynamics of mass communication (9th edition) chapter 9 joseph r dominick

Chapter 9Motion Pictures  The Phi Phenomenon  Persistence of Vision  History of the Motion Picture  Motion Pictures in the Digital Age  Defining Features of Motion Pictures  Organi

THE DYNAMICS

OF MASS COMMUNCATION

Joseph R Dominick

University of Georgia Athens

Chapter 9

Motion Pictures

 The Phi Phenomenon

 Persistence of Vision

 History of the Motion Picture

 Motion Pictures in the Digital Age

 Defining Features of Motion Pictures

 Organization of the Film Industry

 Ownership in the Film Industry

 Producing Motion Pictures

The phi phenomenon: consecutive  light sources appear to be one  source that moves

The Phi Phenomenon

Persistence of vision:  seeing an image 

for a split second after it has 

disappeared.

Persistence of Vision

move to Hollywood – MPPC had lost power by 1917

History of the Motion Picture

• The Star System  

– ) Carl Laemmle and Florence Lawrence 

• Pulls audiences away from MPPC films

• Promotes star competition– Charlie Chaplin

• $150/week (1913)   $1 Million / 8 films (1917)– Mary Pickford

• $20,000/week + 50% of profits by 1918– United Artists Studio (1919)

– Strand (NY) and Egyptian Theater (Hollywood)

History of the Motion Picture

• Consolidation and Growth 

– Economic pressures force consolidation

– Zukor combines production and 

distribution    Paramount Pictures, then  adds theaters

– Loew (theater chain) purchases studio 

(which becomes MGM) – Block booking helps production 

companies

History of the Motion Picture

History of the Motion Picture

– Financing of independent producers

Organization of the Film Industry

• Exhibition

– 37,400 movie screens in 2000 (USA) – 36,000 in 2004

Economics

– 90­10 deal: nut, air, then 90/10

– Concessions: 90 percent of theater profit

Economics

• Internet ads on portals and ticket sites

Economics

Feedback

Figure 9-2 Average Weekly Film Attendance in the United States

– HBO    Showtime    Cinemax

Cable and Video:

The Hollywood Connection

The Film Industry

• Upward Mobility

– Editing room workers tend to stay there

– Production

Assistants      Assistant Directors         Director   

         Producer

– Distribution or sales   management

The Film Industry