New Hollywood Cinema: Definition, Attributes

Dec 5, 2022–Research in progress

New Hollywood Cinema

A broad label referring to the revival of Hollywood filmmaking since the mid-1970s

Elements that make up the New Hollywood

There’s more questioning of the status quo

Appropriation and transformation of cult enthusiasms by the new Hollywood

New generation of directors (movie brats)

New marketing strategies and techniques

The blockbuster since Jaws in 1975 as  a high concept of  distribution and exhibition

New media ownership and management styles

New technologies of sound and image reproduction; digitized F/X, Dolby Sound

New Audiences:

If cinema was survive, it needed to attract auds brought up on TV and pop music.

New auds identify with broader values of youth culture: non conformism, rebelliousness, sexual freedom, fashion consciousness, conspicuous consumption

New marketing strategies and techniques

Marketing, spending is a signpost by which the filmmakers measure the studio’s level of enthusiasm.

Blockbuster-Franchise Mentality

J. K. Rawlings has changed the business with Harry Potter

Before her, nobody thought of making and releasing one movie per year over a 7-year-period.

The challenge to build a solid franchise with clear identity and content.

The consolidation of exhibition:

The proliferation of multiple screens

Scope of release has increased from average of 400 for Jaws to 6000

Funding

There are so many different ways to put together movies financially

There are a lot more resources available for indies

TV Series taking over: Holocaust

The longer narrative forms on TV (beginning with Roots and Holocaust) enable actors to get into their characters and take hold of viewers imagination.

Independent Cinema

The indies have become an industry, much more competitive than it was in the 1990s. Many more films are made.

Stars

Directors and stars used to make many more movies in their careers.

Myrna Loy made over 100 pictures.

No Genres: Hybrids, Mixed, Mishmash

Kitsch, Amusement Park

Van Helsing, action adventure, comedy, fantasy, horror, thriller

All things to all moviegoers approach

Mummy (directed by Van Helsing Steven Sommers)

Tone of the Mummy all over the place

Executives:

Hollywood governed by people in constant fear of losing their positions, status and power.

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