Film Group Analytical Post

Film as a medium has a much shorter history, yet quite possibly already one of the most illustrious histories to date of any communications medium. Film has come a long way from the earliest mass viewings of Edison's nickelodeons, taking place in the early 1900's; along with the first few films Edison had made at his Black Maria studio at the same time. Film has grown by leaps and bounds, in accordance with technological innovations always being pushed to the forefront of the medium. One of the earliest examples of this is the film "Birth of a Nation", which despite it's content, would go on to form the basis for some of the more complicated camera techniques of our day. Movies were mass-produced by studios throughout the 40's, 50's, and the 60's, using very cheap, internally focused contracts and studio structures. During the 70's, the film industry had a dramatic shift in almost every way. Young directors entering from film school elevated the medium yet again, while control had shifted from studio movie executives, to power now residing in the hands of corporations previously not even involved in the industry. After the era of industry control, comes the modern era of movies, in which the independent filmmaker has grown, thanks in part to the massive infusion of technology into the industry.

Ironically, the very technology that has allowed the industry to grow by leaps and bounds, is also its biggest competitor in many ways. Video games have sky-rocketed as a competing medium, with ever increasing realism and profit margins that often eclipse many theatre releases. In addition, the YouTube boom has crowded the field with new competitors daily for the ever-decreasing attention span of the public. Viral videos have significantly impacted the public, and even now, the film industry is attempting to use them as marketing tools, or creating their own for use in the public eye. The film industry more than ever is filled with new, technology based jobs.