Sunday, October 10, 2010

Classic Hollywood and the Studio System

In the studio system, studios had actors, actresses, and directors under contract. Studios would use their big stars to promote their films. During the time of classic Hollywood, studios were known for certain style or genre of films. This paired with the fact that the same cast and crew were involved in these productions; led to a case in which actors/actresses were playing the same person in every movie. The studio system showed us our first glimpse of actors being casted in the same roles over and over again. A modern equivalent would be some one like Vince Vaughn or Seth Rogen or Michael Cera. The example used in class was the American icon, Judy Garland. In her younger years, when first breaking into the industry, Garland was paired with Mickey Rooney in a string of "backyard musicals"; some of these films included: Babes in Arms, Strike Up the Band, Babes on Broadway, and Girl Crazy. In all of these films the young actors are said to be portrayals of teenagers dreaming big, fighting with parents who don't understand them, facing rejection and disappointment, and dealing with low self-esteem and self-doubt.
    
     I usually find it kind of lame when actors/actresses play the same roles over and over again, but history had told us that it works. (I love Seth Rogan and Will Ferrel movies, so I guess I really does work)

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