OUTLINE CHAPTER 4 and 5

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OUTLINE CHAPTER 4 - FRANCE IN THE 1920S The French Film Industry after World War I ● France was severely affected by WW1. Only 20-30% of films screened in France were actually French made Competition from Imports ● The USA, and then gradually, the UK and Germany dominated the already small French domestic market ● French films were not popular anywhere other than French colonies and neighboring countries with substantial French culture ● Abel Gance, Marcel L’Herbier, Germaine Dulac, and Jean Epstein all made films for large firms because the French film industry was desperate for the development of a unique French style Disunity within the Film Industry ● Pathe and Gaumont cut back on film production because of the high cost and high risk of production ● High taxes kept profits low ● Competition from the US was fierce as their film industry was following the American trend of corporate conglomeration. The US outspent French firms on film production ● The government refused to use protectionist policies to nurture the industry until the 30s

Outdated Production Facilities ● Filmed on location instead of in sets because the film companies had small studios in french suburbs ● Lighting was not as good as in America. They used shadow techniques with natural lighting instead of creating lighting effects with all artificial sources ● Generally just low capital in filmmaking Major Postwar Genres ● Serials were popular and were pushed by industry because they were the only way to make adaption films profitable ● Crime-related thrillers were popular but the popularity stagnated when there was a social push against indecency ● Most big production films were historical epics ● Comedy and fantasy were popular. Fantasy used effects in the same vein as early french filmmakers like Melies ● Andre Antione - a theatre legend, moved into cinema at the end of his life. Known for naturalism and lyricism The French Impressionist Movement ● 1918 to 29. Admired Hollywood obsession with pictorial beauty and psychological exploration The Impressionists' Relation to the Industry

● Impressionists had to make commercial films in addition to their experimental works in order to make ends meet ● Sought to convey emotional “impressions” ● Towards the later years of the the movement, there were finally some impressionists who were intertwined with the mainstream film industry ● Albatross left russia after communist takeover and became influential ● Many famous and successful filmmakers went and formed their own companies, which helped spur artistic development Impressionist Theory ● Believed that art is a form of expression where artist creates experience which evokes emotions without being overt Formal Traits of Impressionism ● focus on conveying character subjectivity via mental images ● Used blurring and distortion to communicate subjectivity ● Gance used triptych for wide shots, symbolic juxtaposition, and subjectivity ● Also utilized fast and rhythmic editing ● Shot with filters and in real locations ● Narratives were conventional and the effects listed were only used for important scenes ● A few films did try to use innovative narratives, focusing on subjectivity The End of French Impressionism

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