The Hollywood Film Industry Reading Answers

Answer: Ⅳ
Supporting Sentence: This chapter examines the ‘Golden Age’ of the Hollywood film studio system and explores how a particular kind of filmmaking developed during this period in US film history.
Keywords: Golden Age, Hollywood, Filmmaking, US Film History
Keyword location: Paragraph A, lines 1-7
Explanation: This chapter analyzes how a certain style of filmmaking evolved. During the so-called "Golden Age'' of the Hollywood film studio system in the United States. It also focuses on the two major factors—the invention of sound. And the corporate goal of vertical integration—that contributed to the development of the traditional Hollywood studio system. Examining the development of the studio system may provide insights into the types of problems. That came along with the establishment of each new medium in addition to its historical interest. These lines highlight the advantages and lessons to be learned from studying the Golden Age of Hollywood. The industry's paradigm shift, and the changes that the sector underwent over time.

Answer: Ⅱ
Supporting Sentence: The shift of the industry away from ‘silent’ films began during the late 1920s. Warner Bros’ 1927 film, ‘The Jazz Singer’ was the first to feature synchronized speech, and with it came a period of turmoil for the industry.
Keywords: Silent Films, Warner Bros, The Jazz Singer
Keyword location: Paragraph B, lines 1-4
Explanation: In the late 1920s, the cinema industry started to move away from silent films. The Jazz Singer, a 1927 movie from Warner Bros., introduced synchronized speech for the first time and ushered in a turbulent time for the business. Studios now had evidence that 'talkie' movies would be profitable. These sentences appear to mark the beginning of the transition from traditional silent films to speech-synchronized films.

Answer: Ⅶ
Supporting Sentence: Vertical integration is the other key component in the rise of the Hollywood studio system. The major studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production (making the film), distribution (getting the film out to people), and exhibition (owning the theaters in major cities where films were shown first).
Keywords: Vertical Integration, Production, Distribution, Exhibition
Keyword location: Paragraph C, lines 1-6
Explanation: The development of the Hollywood studio system also relied heavily on vertical integration. The major studios recognized they could boost their earnings by overseeing each phase of a film's life. Production (creating the picture), distribution (putting it in front of audiences). And presentation (owning the theaters in major cities where films were shown first). Through the late 1940s, five studios known as "The Big Five" attempted to integrate vertically. While possessing large amounts of land for building complex sets. These lines suggest how the studios evolved into being powerfully authoritarian. And overpowering factors using a variety of strategies, such as vertical integration. The studios' monopoly and control are discussed throughout section C.

Answer: Ⅰ
Supporting Sentence: During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part to long-term management heads – the infamous ‘movie moguls’ who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists. At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades.
Keywords: Movie Moguls, MGM, Warner Bros, Columbia
Keyword location: Paragraph D, lines 1-6
Explanation: The fabled "movie moguls," who controlled their kingdoms with an iron grip, were long-term management leaders of the studios throughout the Golden Age. And they are much to thank for the companies' remarkable consistency and stability as businesses. The same men managed the studios at MGM, Warner Bros., and Columbia for many years. The treatment of stars, who were created and utilized to fit a studio's image and timetable, was another factor in the development of the studio system. These words serve as an example of the authority and control held by the leading studios of the day. In addition to enjoying the popularity and financial success of the films they produced. The studios also relished the power they had over all of the activities involving those films and the actors who starred in them.

Answer: Ⅴ
Supporting Sentence: Examining how each production company tried to differentiate itself has led to loose characterizations of individual studios’ styles. MGM tended to put out a lot of all-star productions while Paramount excelled in comedy and Warner Bros, developed a reputation for gritty social realism. 20th Century Fox forged the musical and a lot of prestige biographies, while Universal specialized in classic horror movies.
Keywords: Studios’ styles, Paramount, Prestige biographies
Keyword location: Paragraph E, lines 2-9
Explanation: "Studio bosses understood they couldn't produce essentially the same movie with the same group of actors over and over again and expect to keep making money. Additionally, they had to differentiate their products. Loose descriptions of the distinctive styles of several studies have been produced by looking. At how each production firm attempted to set itself apart. Warner Bros gained a reputation for grim social realism, while Paramount excelled in comedies and MGM tended to release a lot of all-star movies. The musical and several prestigious biographies were produced by 20th Century Fox, while Universal focused on vintage horror films. These lines clearly show how the well-known studios specialized in different genres to set themselves apart from one another. Some authors set themselves apart from the competition by adhering to the humor genre, while others went with horror or biographies.

Answer: Ⅵ
Supporting Sentence: In 1948, struggling independent movie producers and exhibitors finally triumphed in their battle against the big studios’ monopolistic behavior. In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year, the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ – opening the market to smaller producers.
Keywords: 1948, Monopolistic Behavior, Divestiture
Keyword location: Paragraph F, lines 1-6
Explanation: "In 1948, struggling independent filmmakers and exhibitors won their fight against the monopolistic practices of the big studios. In the United States v. Paramount court ruling of that year, the studios were required to surrender. Their theaters in a process known as "divestiture," which allowed smaller producers access to the market. The influence and revenues of the studio system were significantly harmed by this. Together with the introduction of television in the 1950s. This shows the process of divestment, which forced the movie moguls to give up a fair portion. Of the chance to the aspirant and emerging production houses, put an end to their power in 1948. The second assault, which differed from the popularity of the movies, was the introduction of television programs.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Warner Bros’ 1927 film, ‘The Jazz Singer’ was the first to feature synchronized speech, and with it came a period of turmoil for the industry. Studios now had proof that ‘talkie’ films would make their money, but the financial investment in this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the studios hesitant to invest at first.
Keywords: Turmoil, Financial investment, 1927
Keyword location: Paragraph B, lines 2-6
Explanation: "The Jazz Singer, a 1927 movie from Warner Bros., introduced synchronized speech for the first time and ushered in a turbulent time for the business. Although studios now had evidence that "talkie" movies would be profitable. They were initially unwilling to make the necessary financial commitments for new camera equipment and projection facilities. This shows that the addition of synced speech brought about alterations for which the filmmakers were not immediately prepared. At initially, the adoption process was a little unsure, and the people involved were a little uncertain.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Although full integration of sound into movies was completed by 1930, it would take somewhat longer for them to regain their stylistic elegance and dexterity. The camera now had to be encased in a big, clumsy, immovable soundproof box. In addition, actors struggled, having to direct their speech to awkwardly-hidden microphones in huge plants, telephones, or even costumes.
Keywords: Elegance, Dexterity, Struggled
Keyword location: Paragraph B, lines 9-13
Explanation: "Although sound in movies had been fully integrated by 1930, it would take some time for films to regain its grace and skill. It was now necessary to place the camera inside a large, awkward, immovable soundproof box. Actors also had a difficult time since they had to guide their words to awkwardly concealed microphones in massive plants, phones, or even costumes. The negative aspects of the dubbing process for movie actors are highlighted in these words. This includes difficulties with voice recording, camera portability, etc.

Answer: Not given
Explanation: The paragraph as a whole makes no mention of the performers competing with one another.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Actors were bound up in seven-year contracts to a single studio, and the studio boss generally held all the options. Stars could be loaned out to other production companies at any time. Studio bosses could also force bad roles on actors, and manipulate every single detail of stars’ images with their mammoth in-house publicity departments.
Keywords: Contract, force bad roles, manipulate
Keyword location: Paragraph D, lines 6-10
Explanation: "Actors were tied down to a single studio by seven-year contracts, and the studio head often owned all the options. At any time, stars could be lent to different production firms. Additionally, studio executives could employ their enormous internal publicity teams to compel performers into poor roles and control every aspect of stars' public personas. These sentences make it quite evident that the studios held complete power. Over everything from film distribution to star loans to role assignments—good or bad—regardless of the players' requests. So, the assertion is accurate.

Answer: Vertical integration
Supporting Sentence: The major studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production (making the film), distribution (getting the film out to people), and exhibition (owning the theaters in major cities where films were shown first).
Keywords: Vertical Integration, Production, Distribution, Exhibition
Keyword location: Paragraph C, lines 2-7
Explanation: The major studios understood they could enhance their earnings by managing each stage of a film's life. Production (creating the picture), distribution (getting it out to consumers). And showing (owning the theaters in major cities where films were shown first). Through the late 1940s, five studios known as "The Big Five" attempted to achieve vertical integration. While also accumulating huge amounts of land on which to build complex sets. The precise terms of movie release dates and schedules are also determined by these corporations. These sentences imply that through the process of vertical integration, the studios with oppressive and dictatorial control took all decisions regarding a film released under their studios' names under their control.

Answer: Movie moguls
Supporting Sentence: During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part to long-term management heads – the infamous ‘movie moguls’ who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists. At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades.
Keywords: Movie Moguls, MGM, Warner Bros, Columbia
Keyword location: Paragraph D, lines 1-4
Explanation: The fabled "movie moguls," who controlled their kingdoms with an iron grip, were long-term management leaders of the studios throughout the Golden Age. And they are much to thank for the companies' remarkable consistency and stability as businesses. The same men oversaw the studio operations at MGM, Warner Bros., and Columbia for decades. According to these lines, "movie moguls" were the individuals who controlled the movies and the actors who appeared in them. These were the individuals who exercised their power in a totalitarian and dictatorial manner.

Answer: Divestiture
Supporting Sentence: In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year, the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ – opening the market to smaller producers.
Keywords: Paramount, Divestiture, smaller producers
Keyword location: Paragraph F, lines 2-5
Explanation: The studios were required to divest themselves of their cinemas in the United States versus Paramount government ruling of that year. Which is known as "divestiture," allowing smaller producers access to the market. This shows that in 1948, these studios' power and monopoly came to an end after they were made to go through the divestment process. Which required them to make markets available to the smaller, aspirational film firms.