New Hollywood

New Hollywood refers to the period from early 1960 to early 1980. A new generation of film makers arrived influencing the types of films produced, their production and marketing. The films they made were part of the studio system. They introduced subject matter and styles that set them apart from the studio traditions. 


Following the Paramount case attempts were made to try and keep the audiences interested such as widescreen, 3D, techni-colour and sound improvements. However these were generally not successful in increasing profits. By the mid 60's studios reached seriously low levels. By the time the baby boomers were coming of age studios did not know how to appeal to this teen audience. The studios began to bring in new young directors who brought a sense of excitement back to cinema. 


At this point realism became very important in style. Many films were anti-establishment. Sex, drugs and rock&roll


The most significant film of new Hollywood was 'Bonnie and Clyde' produced by Warren Beatty who also stared in the film. The films mix of graphic violence, sex and humor as well as its theme of glamorous disaffected youth was a hit with audiences, and received Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography.

The hays code

The black swan
Released 21/1/2011
Classified 15

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/BFF273237

BLACK SWAN is a film about a young New York based prima ballerina, portraying her psychological deterioration while preparing for her first leading role. The film was classified '15' for strong sex, strong language and bloody injury.

The film contains a number of scenes of strong sex and sexual activity. In one scene, the lead character appears to receive oral sex from another ballerina. The scene does not include any sexualised nudity or sight of genitalia or breasts. The scene does, however, present a strong impression of a sexual act. The film also includes scenes of implied masturbation, but again without any strong detail. The BBFC's Guidelines at '15' state that 'Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail'.

The film also shows some sight of bloody injuries. These include a stabbing and some self inflicted wounds. Although occasionally bloody there is no strong detail of the infliction of any injuries. At '15' the Guidelines state that 'Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable'.

The film includes frequent use of strong language, including aggressive and sexual uses. At '15' the Guidelines state that 'There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, 'fuck')'.

The film also includes a sequence in which two characters take an unspecified drug in a nightclub. The effect on one of the characters is for her to become disorientated and to experience hallucinations. The Guidelines at '15' state that 'Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse'.

127 Hours 

Released 7/1/2011

Classified 15

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF274267

127 HOURS is a survival drama based on the true story of Aron Ralston who suffers a fall while canyoneering alone in a remote part of Utah and finds himself in a narrow ravine with his right arm trapped by a boulder. The film was classified '15' for one scene of strong gory injury and strong language.

Aron's predicament, as he suffers the effects of thirst, hunger and cold, becomes increasingly tense and desperate and begins to take a toll on his mental state. Realizing that he is likely to die in the ravine, Aron makes a desperate decision which offers him the only means of surviving. The outcome presents a scene which places a focus on self-inflicted strong gory injury. The BBFC's Guidelines at '15' state that 'Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable'. The injury is not the result of violence as such, but is self-inflicted out of necessity and although there are moments of graphic detail in the scene, they are not dwelt upon for sensationalist reasons but to show the real-life extremes to which an individual had to go in order to survive. Those intending to see the film are advised that the scene carries the potential to cause distress and physical discomfort.

There are several uses of strong language in the film, most of them uttered by Aron as expressions of anger, frustration and helplessness in the course of his ordeal. The Guidelines allow for the 'frequent use of strong language (for example, 'fuck')' at '15'.

The war genre

Codes and conventions

• Usually war films focus on 5 main characters and follows the story of one character, these are usually soldiers. Other characters that can be found in war films could include: villains, heroes, civilians, a leader and the challenger and usually there is a comic character. 
• Locations that are generally associated with the war genre include beaches, trenches, baron landscapes and also Iraq as that is where war is taking place at the moment. 

• There are many iconic objects and symbols that people would expect to find in a war film: flags, sandbags, weapons, bombs, vehicles, uniform (determines two sides), medals

• War films use dramatic music to create atmosphere and make the audience feel an emotion. Visually everything is very dark to represent the consequences of war as dark colour are usually associated with death.
• The narrative of a war genre usually consists of somebody dieing. We then see how their friend copes with their death, we see their life story (home life). There is usually a sense of battrle and sometimes a resolution
• As for the stars of the war genre they generally consists of a strong, athletic, masculine male.
• Actors seen in war films: Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson

Todorov's Theory

Tadorov's 3 key acts: Equilibrium - Disruption - New Equilibrium


A film that follows the 3 act structure -
Juno series follows this structure:
The equilibrium is that Juno is a happy teenager
The disruption is that Juno gets pregnant
The new equilibrium is that Juno gives her baby up for adoption
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuN0Z65sp5c


A film that does not follow the 3 act structure -