RTF 308 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Solax Studios, Horizontal Integration, The Love Light
Notes 09.12.17
Context of Classical Hollywood
WWI ends in 1918
19th aedet ratified i 9 oes right to ote
U.S. experiences urban-industrial boom; populations shift toward cities
First radio station begins broadcasting in Pittsburgh in 1920
U.S. Film Production Moves West, 1915
Universal/Carl Laemmle are the first Independent to move, followed by others
Home office on east coast, factory on the west
Sunshine, scenery, cheap land; escape the Trust
(created Hollywood!)
Factory-Like Production in Self-Sufficient Studios
Pioneered by New York Motion Picture Co. (Thomas Ince)
Planning a year in advance to maximize profits
Films through stages of production and post production
52 pictures per year, about 1 per week
To achieve efficiency:
A producer was assigned to each film
Introduced shooting script, pre-arranged plan based on minimum cost
Features: $100k-$500k to make, earned $1M-$2.5M
Built on economies of scale
Factors that cause average cost of production decrease as volume of output increase
Profitable to make additional prints for international distribution
Own sets, costumes, back lots; long-term contracts for actors and workers
Eaple: Laeles Uiersal Cit
Massive 230 acre studio/factory in San Fernando Valley (business in New York)
Electrically equipped shooting stages, enclosed and open air (Edison helped)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
19th a(cid:373)e(cid:374)d(cid:373)e(cid:374)t ratified i(cid:374) (cid:1005)9(cid:1006)(cid:1004) (cid:894)(cid:449)o(cid:373)e(cid:374)(cid:859)s right to (cid:448)ote(cid:895) U. s. experiences urban-industrial boom; populations shift toward cities. First radio station begins broadcasting in pittsburgh in 1920. Universal/carl laemmle are the first independent to move, followed by others. Home office on east coast, factory on the west. Sunshine, scenery, cheap land; escape the trust (created hollywood!) Pioneered by new york motion picture co. (thomas ince) Planning a year in advance to maximize profits. Films through stages of production and post production. 52 pictures per year, about 1 per week. Introduced shooting script, pre-arranged plan based on minimum cost. Factors that cause average cost of production decrease as volume of output increase. Profitable to make additional prints for international distribution. Own sets, costumes, back lots; long-term contracts for actors and workers. Massive 230 acre studio/factory in san fernando valley (business in new york) Electrically equipped shooting stages, enclosed and open air (edison helped)
