-Why is “allusionism” significant for both modernism and post-modernism? If modernist filmmakers alluded to film history, what do post-modernist filmmakers allude to?
Allusionism allows filmmakers to create an emotional connection with the viewer by making connections and references to older, beloved films. Allusionism allows them to create films that can be both entertaining and mass appealing and at the same time also appeal to art house or film-know-it-all crowds. While modernist filmmakers alluded to film history, postmodern films allude to both film history and world history/current events in order to make people look at these things in different ways.
-What is "blind bidding"? Why did exhibitors object to the proposed blind bidding for Jaws? Why was the blind bidding for Jaws called off?
Blind bidding is a system in the distribution process in which exhibitors select a film to exhibit without having actually seen it, with the idea beings that they'll be able to draw an audience to the film and make money off the screenings. Exhibitors were opposed to blind bidding in the case of Jaws because Universal had a lot of stipulations included in the purchase of Jaws. They were asking unheard of sums of money and expecting exhibitors to help out with the advertising costs. After a preview screening in Dallas, however, blind bidding was called off as the Justice Department decided those exhibitors who had attended the screening had an unfair advantage over those who hadn't.
-How was the saturation booking and marketing of Jaws different than other Universal films (or earlier blockbusters such as The Godfather)?
The marketing for Jaws began with the book's release. It continued relentlessly until the film's release, invading TVs and newspapers everywhere. Ads were made to appeal to every audience imaginable. The film was released to 400 theatres nationwide, rather than sticking to the New York-LA, 150 theatre program that was the norm. On the contrary, The Godfather was released initially in New York and LA, and spread by huge demand throughout the states.
1 comment:
Good. Re: Allusionism: We'll come back to that again and again, but also think about the Family Guy example on the main blog. What kind of interaction with the multi-media landscape would one have to do to be a part of the "second tier"?
Re: Blind Bidding: Be prepared with a few more details about the objections that exhibitors had with the Jaws deal.
Look over the end of the Kramer article. It will be important for the coming weeks.
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