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Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, that is synonymous with the American film industry. It is home to many famous movie studios, celebrities, landmarks, and awards. It is also a global symbol of glamour, fame, and creativity. But how did Hollywood become such a powerful and influential force in cinema? What are some of the key features and events that shaped its history? And what are some of the challenges and opportunities that it faces today? In this article, we will explore these questions and more as we take a closer look at Hollywood: the dream factory.
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The Origins of Hollywood
Hollywood was not always a film-making hub. In fact, it started as a small agricultural community in the late 19th century. It was named by H.J. Whitley , a real estate developer who is also known as the "Father of Hollywood". He bought 500 acres of land in 1886 and planned to build a residential area. He also coined the name "Hollywood" after his friend's estate in Illinois.
However, Hollywood's destiny changed in the early 20th century, when film-makers from the East Coast started to move to California. They were looking for a place with good weather, diverse scenery, and cheap labor. They also wanted to escape the strict control of the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC), a trust that monopolized the film industry and charged high fees for using its equipment and patents.
Hollywood soon became a popular destination for film-makers, as it offered all the advantages they were looking for. The first film studio in Hollywood was founded by David Horsley in 1911. He converted a former tavern into a production facility and named it Nestor Studios. Other studios followed suit, such as Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal, and MGM. By 1915, Hollywood was producing most of the films in the United States and attracting talent from all over the world.
The Golden Age of Hollywood
Hollywood reached its peak of success and influence from the 1920s to the 1960s. This period is often referred to as the Golden Age of Hollywood, as it produced some of the most iconic films, stars, and genres in cinema history. It was also a time when Hollywood dominated the global film market and shaped the cultural and social values of millions of people.
The Studio System
One of the key features of the Golden Age was the studio system, a mode of production that gave complete control to the major studios over every aspect of film-making. The studios owned the actors, directors, writers, and technicians under long-term contracts. They also owned the theaters where the films were shown, ensuring a steady distribution and revenue. The studios operated like factories, producing films in large quantities and with strict schedules and budgets.
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The studio system allowed Hollywood to create a consistent and recognizable style and quality of films. It also enabled the studios to experiment with new technologies and innovations, such as sound, color, animation, and special effects. Some of the most notable achievements of the studio system include The Jazz Singer (1927), the first feature-length sound film; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the first full-length animated film; Gone with the Wind (1939), one of the first Technicolor films; and King Kong (1933), one of the first films to use stop-motion animation.
The Star System
Another feature of the Golden Age was the star system, a mode of marketing that created and promoted movie stars as the main attraction of films. The studios invested heavily in building and maintaining the image and popularity of their stars, using publicity, gossip, fan magazines, and radio shows. The stars were often given glamorous names, costumes, hairstyles, and lifestyles to appeal to the public's fantasies and desires.
The star system helped Hollywood to attract and retain audiences, as they became loyal to their favorite actors and actresses. It also helped Hollywood to differentiate its films from those of other countries, as it showcased the unique charisma and talent of American stars. Some of the most famous stars of the Golden Age include Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor.
The Genre System
A third feature of the Golden Age was the genre system, a mode of classification that organized films into various categories based on their themes, settings, characters, plots, and styles. The studios produced films in different genres to cater to different tastes and moods of audiences. They also used genres to establish formulas and conventions that made film-making more efficient and predictable.
The genre system helped Hollywood to create a diverse and rich cinematic culture that reflected and influenced American society. It also helped Hollywood to establish its identity and reputation as a leader in entertainment and artistry. Some of the most popular genres of the Golden Age include musicals, westerns, comedies, gangster films, horror films, war films, and film noir. The Challenges and Changes in Hollywood
Hollywood's golden era did not last forever. From the 1960s onwards, Hollywood faced various challenges and changes that threatened its dominance and stability. It also had to adapt to new trends and demands from audiences, critics, and filmmakers.
The Rise of Television
One of the biggest challenges that Hollywood faced was the rise of television, a new medium that offered more convenience, variety, and affordability to viewers. Television competed with Hollywood for attention and revenue, as it broadcasted news, sports, entertainment, and advertising. It also offered more creative opportunities and freedom to writers, directors, and actors, who could explore different genres and formats.
Hollywood responded to the threat of television by trying to offer something that television could not: spectacle, scale, and quality. It invested in producing more expensive and elaborate films that showcased its technical and artistic skills. It also experimented with new formats and techniques, such as widescreen, 3D, Cinerama, and Cinemascope. Some of the films that exemplified Hollywood's response to television include Ben-Hur (1959), The Sound of Music (1965), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and The Godfather (1972).
The New Hollywood
Another challenge that Hollywood faced was the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers who challenged the conventions and norms of the studio system. They were influenced by the social and cultural movements of the 1960s, such as the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, the counterculture, and the New Wave cinema of Europe. They also had more access to cheaper and lighter equipment, such as handheld cameras and portable sound recorders.
The new filmmakers brought a fresh and innovative perspective to Hollywood, as they explored more realistic, complex, and controversial topics and themes. They also experimented with more personal, artistic, and unconventional styles and techniques. They often clashed with the studios over creative control and artistic vision, but they also gained critical acclaim and commercial success. Some of the films that represented the New Hollywood include Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Easy Rider (1969), The Graduate (1967), Taxi Driver (1976), and Star Wars (1977).
The Blockbuster Era
A third challenge that Hollywood faced was the shift to producing more blockbuster films that aimed to appeal to mass audiences and generate huge profits. This trend was influenced by the success of films such as Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977), which created a new model of film-making that relied on high-concept premises, special effects, merchandising, and marketing. It was also influenced by the rise of globalization, which opened up new markets and audiences for Hollywood films.
Hollywood embraced the blockbuster era by focusing on producing fewer but bigger films that catered to popular genres and franchises. It also relied on star power, sequels, remakes, adaptations, and cross-media tie-ins to attract and retain viewers. It also collaborated with other media industries, such as video games, music, television, and theme parks, to create synergies and expand its reach. Some of the films that epitomized the blockbuster era include Jurassic Park (1993), Titanic (1997), The Matrix (1999), The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003), and The Avengers (2012). The Diversity an