Behind the Screens: Hollywood goes Hypercommercial 3 of 5

Summary:

Hollywood movies are rapidly becoming vehicles for the ulterior marketing and advertising motives of studios and their owners, rather than entertainment in their own right.

Behind the Screens explores this trend toward "hypercommercialism" through phenomena such as product placement, tie-ins, merchandising and cross-promotions. It combines multiple examples taken directly from the movies with incisive interviews provided by film scholars, cultural critics, political economists, and an Oscar-nominated screenwriter.

Behind the Screens presents an accessible argument designed for school and college-age audiences-- precisely the demographic most prized by both Hollywood studios and advertisers alike. It features examples drawn from movies such as Wayne's World, Forrest Gump, The Lion King, Summer of Sam, and Toy Story. Interviewees include Jeremy Pikser, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of the Warren Beatty film Bulworth; Mark Crispin Miller, Professor of Communication at New York University; Susan Douglas, Professor of Communication at the University of Michigan; Professor Robert W. McChesney of the Univeristy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Professor Janet Wasko of the university of Oregon.
Logistical Information:

Directed by Matt Soar & Susan Ericsson
Produced by Matt Soar
Edited by Susan Ericsson
Executive Producer Sut Jhally
Copyright 2000
Source:http://www.mediaed.org/videos/CommercialismPoliticsAn dMedia/BehindtheScreens (more)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• hollywood
• propaganda
• product
• media
• advertisement
• corporation

[stopcallingmekevin]

thums up if MMC @ Florida State with Dr. Bunz brought you here!

[oHelmslyo]

I'm not against basic commercialism, say a music group making a few isolated commercials at the height of their success; I just think society's gotten TOO commercial! There's such a thing as crass commercialism rather than just commercialism.

[llmatticusll]

@Hudsucker94 same with Meehan.

[llmatticusll]

@Hudsucker94 McChesney is a highly credible source in the field. He is well respected by everyone who studies the political economy of media. Very intelligent man.

[Quex01]

@HUNTPIECENIGGA not nessesary if you're not addicted to plastic crap

[Hudsucker94]

here's what someone should be asking, what about people who WANT to buy the products? ever consider that? sure, some idiots will buy it cause there told too. also, look at it like this, while this documentary has it's points, it seems like the people they talk want to take down the system. instead of just letting it be and letting people decide what they want.

[Hudsucker94]

This is a great documentary with some great points, but do ya think they could have found some people who are little less condescending/intellectually snobby sounding to talk to?

[Lobos222]

Must be difficult to be you when the only way you manage to get any attention is to be a moron online...

[HUNTPIECENIGGA]

you just got way advertised to by this film isnt that ironic

[HUNTPIECENIGGA]

probably, commercialism?

[HUNTPIECENIGGA]

yeah that movie sucked get a real job