Hollywood Film Production

Hollywood Studio Cinema – The Producer
Producers were some of the most important decision makers in the

studio system because the had the power or authority to:
• ‘Greenlight’ a project (i.e. approve the start of a production).
• Organise contracts and budgets.
• Agree a production schedule.
• Oversee the entire production process.
• Represent the views of the studio – their decisions were final.
• Veto the final cut, and hire and fire any of the personnel involved
in the shoot (including the director and stars.
New Hollywood Cinema
In contemporary Hollywood a new form of product standardisation
has evolved, the ‘High Concept’ film.
• ‘A’ list stars.
• Director with a proven track record at the box office.
• Based within a successful genre (action, sci-fi, teen, horror).
• Spectacle, special effects and action.
• Highly stylised cinematography (high visual gloss).
• Classic three part story structure (to be retold in less than 15
sentences to a producer).
• Romance, heroes and villains.
• Merchandising and franchising possibilities.
• Musical score by a famous composer and/or a ‘hot’ pop act.
High Concept Films
• High concept films are a response by Hollywood
studios to the high risks of film production. They
may involve:
• Repackaging previously successful elements,
such as big name stars and/or directors
• Remaking past hits in the form of sequels
(extending the franchise) or variations on
currently fashionable genres. This often means
mixing genres.
What are the pros and cons?
Pros • Less risk
• Any more?
 Critics argue that the intention is to

Cons make audiences become engaged with
the “surface” features of visual set
pieces at the expense of coherent
narrative development or
characterisation. Action scenes are
linked only loosely to a narrative based
on cause and effect.
The Matrix Reloaded
• The longest car chase up to that date (17
minutes) were what impressed audiences
even if they never really became involved
with the narrative or characters.
• In high-concept movies, parts of the film
can be easily transferred or adapted into
other “windows” of exhibition, such as a
pop video for the soundtrack or a
computer game. The computer game
Enter the Matrix was released in the same
week as The Matrix Reloaded.
• Investors will only commit to a package when
they have a clear presentation of the target
audience and markets likely to be attracted by
the selling points of the film. When they are
persuaded that a return on their investment is
possible they will strike a deal, giving the project
the “green light”, which means the studio agrees
to fund the next stage – writing the screenplay or
putting it into production
Investors
• Funding by studios
• If a major studio is producing the film, it will usually
finance it.
• Many independent producer who develop ideas and

raise the money for a movie also have a short term
production contract with a studio. In this sense, they are
dependent producers because they depend on the studio
for funding. Studios insist on the right to approve the
script, cast and budget of any film they finance.
Film Finance and Film
Production
• Investment may come from a number of sources,
rather than one single investor.
• Not until the producer has all the finance needed,
does the film go ahead.
Costs
There are two types of costs that are incurred
during the film making process.
– ‘above the line’ costs. These are the most
predictable costs for the film. They are fixed
costs and do not change. E.G Salaries and fees.
– ‘below the line’ costs. These are not so easy to
predict. E.G locations, film stock and costumes.
These costs can easily escalate during filming.
Task
You have been granted a five minute ‘pitching’ meeting with a
top producer. You hope to convince her to greenlight your film
idea. She has $50 million to spend on a new blockbuster but is
your High Concept pitch what she is looking for…?
Produce an A4 treatment of the film utilising the ideas from the
list of key ingredients, remember to include;
• A Title for the film.
• A cast wish list.
• Outline of the story (in 15 sentences or less)
• Budget requirements
• A rationale of why she should invest in your movie (refer back
to the High Concept key ingredients)
The High Concept Movie
Pearl Harbour – Dir Michael Bay - 2001

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What were the roles and responsibilities of producers in the Hollywood studio system?

What are the characteristics of a high concept film?

Hollywood Studio Cinema – The Producer

Producers were some of the most important decision makers in the

 Critics argue that the intention is to

• Many independent producer who develop ideas and

Pearl Harbour – Dir Michael Bay - 2001

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