COM 240 Chapter 6: Movies

persistence of vision

images our eyes gather are retained by our brains for about 1/24 of a second, producing the appearance of constant motion

kinetograph

William Dickson’s early motion picture camera

kinetoscope

peep show devices for the exhibition of kinetographs

cinematographe

Lumière brothers’ device that both photographed and projected action

factory studios

the first film production companies

movie palaces

elaborately decorated, opulent, architecturally stunning theaters

double feature

two films on the same bill

vertical integration

a system in which studios produced their own films, distributed them through their own outlets, and exhibited them in their own theaters

corporate independent studio

specialty or niche division of a major studio designed to produce more sophisticated—but less costly—movies

blockbuster mentality

filmmaking characterized by reduced risk taking and more formulaic movies; business concerns are said to dominate artistic considerations

concept films

movies that can be described in one line

IP based movie

movies based on already existing intellectual property (IP), such as stories, products, imaginary worlds, or characters that have a built-in fan base

franchise films

movies produced with full intention of producing several sequels

tentpole

an expensive blockbuster around which a studio plans its other releases

theatrical films

movies produced primarily for initial exhibition on theater screens

piracy

the illegal recording and sale of copyrighted material

branding films

sponsor financing of movies to advance a manufacturer’s product