BSA 106 (Screen Arts I) Semester 2 Week 6 : New Hollywood
Also known as the American New Wave, New Hollywood was built on Auteur Theory, a concept born in Europe that states a film is the brainchild of the director and he has full creative control over the film. The French film critics that went on to create the French New Wave Movement noted that some American directors were Auteurs - John Ford, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles were some of the directors who managed to make their works distinct even under the studio system.
It was only once French New Wave became so popular that it was incorporated into Hollywood though. A new wave of filmmakers emerged in Hollywood during the 1960's and 1970's, from 1967 - 1975, until the release of Jaws the entire industry changed.
In class we watched the documentary "A Decade Under the Influence" in which some of the most famous directors from this period are interviewed. The generation of directors are all ones that I grew up watching - Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Hal Ashby, Milos Forman and Brian De Palma is among the few that were involved with the movement. Technically George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are also part of this generation, but they are credited as ending the New Hollywood era with their films Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977). Their movies set a new standard, gave people escapism from the politically motivated movies of the seventies.
- Conventions of the movement:
Seventies films showed much more than what was normal in the decades preceding it. Both gore and nudity was kicked up a notch.
Political Agendas of some kind present in the movies, quite popular to explore the war and teh new generation
It was only once French New Wave became so popular that it was incorporated into Hollywood though. A new wave of filmmakers emerged in Hollywood during the 1960's and 1970's, from 1967 - 1975, until the release of Jaws the entire industry changed.
In class we watched the documentary "A Decade Under the Influence" in which some of the most famous directors from this period are interviewed. The generation of directors are all ones that I grew up watching - Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Hal Ashby, Milos Forman and Brian De Palma is among the few that were involved with the movement. Technically George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are also part of this generation, but they are credited as ending the New Hollywood era with their films Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977). Their movies set a new standard, gave people escapism from the politically motivated movies of the seventies.
- Conventions of the movement:
Seventies films showed much more than what was normal in the decades preceding it. Both gore and nudity was kicked up a notch.
Political Agendas of some kind present in the movies, quite popular to explore the war and teh new generation
The New Hollywood movies tended to divert from the plot in narratively incidental ways, these diversions seem counterproductive at first but usually add to what the film-maker wants to communicate.
The American New Wave introduced unsatisfying conclusions. Instead of tying up everything clean and neatly these movies leave the viewer with a sense of irresolution. In general they strived to provide a more realistic representation of our lives.
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