The Classic Hollywood Style

There were two elemental players in the emergence of the classic Hollywood style. They were both hugely affected by the same factors - Economic, social and practical - but tackled the issues in very different ways. There varying methods aided them in creating unique, memorable styles of film.

When the American and, subsequently, the global economies took a dramatic crash in 1929, all industry was affected. The economy was also damaged by the upcoming prospect of a war. Countries focused on and invested in building their armies. The budgets of films had to be cut and this called for drastic alterations to the filmmaking process. MGM Studios decided, with the cut budgets, to make expensive, quality films, just not many of them. This affected what aspects of the films they focused on when filming. MGM used many long, straight shots to incorporate the elaborate, well-made backgrounds (As in the Wizard of Oz). They maintained the themes of elegance and glamour by only hiring conventionally good-looking actors for the main roles. This helped to form one aspect what we know now as ‘the Hollywood Style’.

Another style that might be observed as a hollywood encouraged, was pioneered and developed by Warner Bro's Studios. They concluded, after the Wall Street Crash, to make a lot of low budget films. To keep the budgets as low as possible they had to use intuition that had not, previously, been necessary. They reused a lot of their sets and kept their actors on contracts. Warner used contemporary story lines, whereas MGM used a lot of fantasy stories. In order to give their films a certain degree of verisimilitude, Warner used many close ups and some experimental angles. By doing this they did not have to expose the low quality backgrounds they were using in their films.

All these factors contributed in setting up the format we now understand as a hollywood-unique style.

Statement of Intentions

I intend to create a three minute stop motion animation using iStopMotion and Final Cut Pro. My animation follows the Earth's downfall as a result of clashing ideologies and over surveillance. It begins as footsteps appear against a plain white background. Accompanied by nothing but silence and the sound of footsteps, and the screen flicking back and forth between an image of a CCTV camera. I want the film to

create a sense of the desperation and helplessness of living under an authoritarian regime.

After sitting down to watch the television, the main character - who represents the entire population - flicks through the channels. He flicks past BBC World News and Have I Got News For You, up to this point nothing seems unusual. He presses the '3' button on the remote and suddenly a sequence of him

appears on the television. At this point the audience should realise that he is being watched.

The narrator then explains the situation: a history of conflict and oppression, leading to potential Armageddon.

Stylistic consistency will be created by the makeshift theme that continues throughout the film. The CCTV camera, television and remote control are all made from cardboard. The Earth is a painted watermelon and the airplane is an Airfix model. This has many similarities with the Michel Gondry film, Be Kind Rewind, which is based around some friends t

hat make amateur remakes of Hollywood films. I believe that the fascination people have with stop motion animation is how can give life to inanimate objects. I want my film to make the audience amazed at the way a cardboard television can be made to display moving images.

The story of the film is also heavily influenced by George Orwell's 1984. 1984 follows one character, living under a regime of over surveillance, who hopes to defy the government and join a group that plot against it. The book concludes with the character beaten by the authorities and forced into submission.

I hope the song adds to the film's feeling of distress.

I want my production to be open to interpretation. The opening sequence will be ambiguous and allow the viewer to make up there mind on the message of the film. The ending is not clear and could tell the story of a possible alternative conclusion to the Cold War.