The Hollywood story began in the early 1900s when filmmakers started moving to California to escape the harsh patent laws imposed by Thomas Edison’s Motion Picture Patents Company in New Jersey, who owned many patents on the movie-making process and had strict rules and regulations in place for the film industry.

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The Golden Age (1920s – 1950s)

Characterized by the studio system. The “Big Five” studios – Paramount, MGM, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and RKO – dominated, each with their own roster of stars. This period produced many of Hollywood’s most beloved classics:

  • Wizard of Oz
  • Citizen Kane
  • Gone with the Wind
  • Casablanca
  • It’s a Wonderful Life
  • Psycho

Post-Studio System Era (1960s – 1980s)

In the 1960s, the old studio system had fallen and the “New Hollywood” emerged. This era was marked by films that had a more realistic and grittier aesthetic:

  • The Great Escape
  • The Godfather
  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Taxi Driver
  • Alien

The ’80s was the rise of the blockbuster films like:

  • Star Wars
  • E.T.
  • Indiana Jones
  • Back to the Future
  • Die Hard
  • Scarface

Modern Era (1990s – Early 2000s)

  • Goodfellas
  • Fight Club
  • The Matrix
  • Pulp Fiction
  • Toy Story
  • Lord of the Rings
  • The Departed
  • Gladiator
  • The Dark Knight

2010s-Present

Increase in diversity and representation, both in front of and behind the camera. Driven by social media activism, there are to this day increased calls for diversity. High-profile examples include “Black Panther” (2018), “Wonder Woman” (2017), and “Moonlight” (2016).

Woke remakes:

  • Ghostbusters (2016)
  • Star Wars (2017)
  • “Ocean’s 8” (2018)
  • “American Pie: Girls’ Rules” (2020)

Key moments

The #OscarsSoWhite controversy in 2015 and 2016 – when all 20 actors nominated in the lead and supporting actor categories were white. This led to widespread criticism and calls for greater diversity in the film industry. In response, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences implemented changes to diversify its membership.

The #MeToo movement that gained momentum in 2017 following several high-profile sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood also emerged.

2023

Hollywood Diversity Bill Passes California Legislature

California’s Film Tax Credit Aims to Punish Projects That Don’t Hit Diversity Goals.

Under a proposal from the governor’s office, productions that fail to meet their diversity goals will lose 4% of their tax credit allocation and a 4% bonus for productions that meet diversity goals.

The provision is part of a five-year extension of the state’s $330 million tax credit. Productions that receive the credit will be required to submit a diversity “workplan,” under which they must commit to hire a crew that is “broadly reflective” of the state’s demographics.

Hollywood Diversity Bill Passes California Legislature – Variety

California Aims to Punish Productions That Don’t Hit Diversity Goals – Variety

Here are the top 10 film producing states in America in 2021, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA):

Rank State Number of Feature Films Produced
1 California 574
2 New York 91
3 Georgia 71
4 New Mexico 60
5 Louisiana 56
6 Texas 45
7 North Carolina 38
8 Michigan 35
9 Tennessee 34
10 Illinois 33

 

California, New York, Georgia, New Mexico, and Louisiana. These five states account for over 80% of all feature films produced in America.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of filmmakers moving away from California and to other states, such as Georgia, New Mexico, and Louisiana. These states offer a number of incentives to filmmakers, including tax breaks and rebates.

Here is a table of California’s market share in the movie industry by decade, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA):

Decade Market Share
1920s 95%
1930s 90%
1940s 95%
1950s 90%
1960s 85%
1970s 80%
1980s 75%
1990s 70%
2000s 65%
2010s 60%
2020s 55%

 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced new eligibility requirements for Best Picture nominees in 2024. The new standards are designed to increase representation and inclusion in the film industry.

The new requirements include:

  1. At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors must be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
  2. At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles must be from at least two underrepresented groups.
  3. The main storyline, theme, or narrative of the film must be centered on an underrepresented group.
  4. At least two of the creative leadership positions and department heads must be from underrepresented groups.
  5. At least six other crew and technical positions must be from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
  6. The distribution or financing company must have paid apprenticeships or internships for underrepresented groups.

The new requirements have been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised the Academy for taking steps to address the lack of diversity in the film industry. Others have criticized the requirements, arguing that they are unfair and discriminatory.

Only time will tell how the new requirements will impact the film industry. However, they are a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and representative Oscars.

Here are some of the underrepresented groups that are covered by the new standards:

  1.  Women
  2. People of color
  3. LGBTQ+ people
  4. People with disabilities
  5. People from low-income communities
  6. People from rural areas
  7. People of indigenous heritage

Does this sound like the best way to create the best movies possible?

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