Movie Article

After reading the article “How and What a Movie Communicates” about making movies compared to television and what a movie communicates, it has helped me to understand more about the business of making movies. The article points out the uniqueness of television based on its simultaneity which is not possible with movies. The article also discusses the art of movie making versus the business of selling a creative work of art. Often these two parties have differences which result in either a packed house at the movies or a total bomb which loses money at the box office.

The director, writer, and actors of a film all have to come together into a unified artful whole. The director is ultimately responsible for a film; the actor must immerse himself into the character he or she is playing. If the actor is particularly charismatic the film will have the signature of that actor. Producers of movies usually perform executive duties. Eighty percent of the movies produced are based on books. Many movies are left unwatched because they have not been marketed. By and large the content of movies reflects the American Dream.

Schindlers List, my movie for my paper was produced in 1993 by Steven Spielberg. The movie won seven Oscars and is considered Spielberg’s greatest accomplishment. This movie is based on a very tragic true event that happened during World War II. The protagonist, Oskar Schindler builds a factory in Poland and hires Jews to work for him. He witnesses the horrific events against the Jews and endeavors to save as many of them as he can. The film is in black and white and this communicates a somber tone to the viewer of the film. The musical score also makes the viewer feel sad which also sets the tone as the dramatic events unfold.

This article was informative but it does not really affect the way I view films. Yeah maybe it added some background information, but when I go to the movies I go to be entertained, sometimes to be educated, but I don’t really look at the movie in terms of how the film was put together by the director, writers, or actors.