What value is there for you in the study of the cinema of the past? David O Selznick
What value is there for you in the study of the cinema of the past?Cinema as an art form has stood the test of time for over one hundred years, since the Lumiere Brothers exhibited a series of moving images to the public in 1895. What started off as a documentary-tableau style of moving photography progressed into a contrived and well-planned medium. New filmmakers were pushing the medium further. Georges Melies' A Trip to the Moon (1902) showcased a vaudeville style previously only seen in theatres. Edward S. Porter's The Life of an American Fireman (1903) and more so The Great Train Robbery of the same year put forward the idea of story telling through space and time, via the unique technique of editing scenes together. He also hinted at the importance of the protagonist and antagonist to carry the narrative through to the viewer.The success of these early films aroused the interest in several entrepreneurs who, having seen the great public demand, saw what could turn out to be a great money-spinner. The new place to be was California as the second gold rush began, that is, Hollywood. At first there was a large number of companies set up to cash in on this new industry. However, it was a hi
He had been on top of his game for over twenty years and knew when to stop, unlike many of his contemporaries. He believed that the improving economic climate demanded an increase in higher quality entertainment. Families were moving out of the cities and into the suburbs. They needed someone with an understanding of finance, marketing and filmmaking. He also disregarded the machine-like production values of the studios and looked towards more prestigious productions. Griffith, Eisenstein would have had to start from nothing. He had discovered another new concept in Hollywood - 'the package deal'. These studios still had their front offices in New York to handle all financial transactions. His brave steps into independence have influenced a great number of new 'producing directors' such as Hitchcock, Coppola and Spielberg. He had control of almost every aspect of the independent movie business. He had a hands-on approach with his productions and was well respected by writers, directors and editors alike. By studying what has happened before I can better prepare myself for the future. In 1926 he joined MGM as a reader and quickly rose to assistant producer.
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