It speaks volumes of my love of cinema that despite being a ‘Trivandrumite’, this was my maiden experience of IFFK. My movie-watching is mostly confined to mainstream Malayalam movies, and the odd Hollywood flick I happen to catch on TV. And hence, I was at a loss to choose the right films to watch at the fest, eventually deciding to watch movies at random and at theatres that are convenient to reach and less crowded. In the end I managed to watch only ten films, a measly number when put against the numbers stacked up by most of the festival goers. In fact, a fellow student of mine at Press Club, I was told, managed to watch 32 films at the eight-day-long festival. Astonishing! Favorite Haunt The favorite haunt of most festival-goers, especially youngsters, was the steps leading up to the entrance of the main venue, the Kairali-Sree-Nila theatre complex. The reasons vary. For some the steps offered the best vantage point to check out celebrities who streamed in and out of the venue; for serious movie buffs, it was a place to discuss movies and decide which movies to watch. Being the main venue, some of the best movies, including most of the films under competition category, were screened there. So, groups of friends would huddle together on the steps and chat to while away time as they wait for the next screening. However, I kept clear of the hustle and bustle of the main venue, choosing instead to watch movies mostly at Dhanya-Remya theatre complex because firstly, it is barely a ten-minute walk away from my home, and secondly, it was relatively less crowded. Watching ‘The Rocket’ When The Rocket’s first screening won rave reviews, it was but natural for its subsequent screening to witness a huge rush. I remember my father o... ... middle of paper ... ...nd book, while paying tributes to veteran filmmaker Hariharan, who has given Malayalam cinema some of its finest movies, makes note of the fact that mainstream cinema has always been frowned at and belittled by film thinkers and organizers of film festivals alike until very recently, and hence generally deemed forbidden at festival circuits. Around seventy percent of the movies, especially those screened under the world cinema category, at IFFK were art house movies or – as some derisively calls it – award movies that are a far cry from the kind of movies that ordinary movie buffs like to watch at the cinema. It is hardly surprising that the movies that struck a chord with the festival goers were simple and engaging movies like The Rocket and Television, while some of the other movies that bagged awards at various other film festivals were scoffed at by the audience.
Theatres and How We Had Fun." Little, Brown, and Company. (Boston, Toronto, London); 1991. P. 139, 144.
The theatre can hold up to 1500 and more people, so each performance is in front of a huge audience. Many members of the audience can watch from the grounds directly in front of the stage. Up to 3000 people can stand there to be exact.
Coming into this course I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was simply the description of Dr. Bernard’s syllabus that held me interested and wanting to learn more. I was never a big movie follower, so I thought it would be interesting to see some of the films that do hold enormous fan based festivals and conventions. Throughout the past several weeks I have not only experience many films that I have not seen before, but I also gained the knowledge of the meaning behind what a cult film is. In the first few weeks we went over the concept of “cult” and how it is usually done in sets of different types of rituals. The likings and awareness of and for these cult films are relatively small in size due to it’s opposition to mainstream. Cult films have many different spins and twists to them, therefore they come with special followings and groups.
Small, Pauline. (2005) New Cinemas: journal of Contemporary Film Volume 3, Queen Mary, University of London
Movies have been one of the most popular pastimes for Americans for decades. They are the topics of conversation, a place for lovers to go on dates, and an industry that the general public seems to have a fascination for. However although we think of movies as another entertainment source, they were not always as socially accepted by the people. In 1904, Harry Davis opened the first freestanding moving-picture theater. Although he was met with much skepticism, his idea would have a lasting effect on America's culture. When they first opened, the people were not immediately accepting. Safety, cleanliness, and price were a few of the concerns the public had. After a few changes however, the "nickelodeons", as they were called, started booming. Flashing lights were put up wherever there was room on the façade of the buildings. Ventilation systems assured people that they were br...
The cinema of attractions is an idea that Tom Gunning and Mr Gaudreault developed and over time coined as a term to describe the capabilities of film. They had a different idea of the early days in film history and wanted that to ...
When the lights come up the audience is immediately thrown into an old and dingy movie theatre complete with popcorn strewn across the floor. It is within this set that deep social commentary is made throughout the
Here we find the old Duke of York, considered the first purpose built cinema in Europe and one of the few that still offering the increasingly popular option of going to a movie in theaters. Almost in its original state struggling to survive in an industry that not only has the giant UK film companies and internet. After
The movie was declared a hit and a blockbuster both in India and overseas fetching it almost all the awards of that year including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best
Over the years, Bollywood has emerged as its own distinct identity in the global film industry. Bollywood is the global leader in production of movies with a staggering 27,000 featured films and thousands of short films. (Pillania 1) However, Hollywood is still the leader in revenue generated. Due to the growth of the Indian market and globalization, Bollywood has made its way to the international markets.
Hundreds of thousands of Hollywood's most famous celebrities have graced the halls of the Chinese Theatre, at movie premieres and ceremonies. In the Book Hollywood Cinema written by Richard Maltby, he says“it was once stated ‘To visit Los Angeles and not see the Chinese Theater is like visiting China and not seeing the Great Wall’ [Grauman’s] Chinese Theater has been a part of Los Angeles history for over seventy five years”. The Chinese Theater, in Holl...
Fifteen years ago, South Korean cinema was in precipitous decline. It was facing deadly competition from Hollywood as import barriers were dismantled, and had almost no export market. Today, South Korean cinema is widely considered the most successful and significant non-Hollywood cinema anywhere in the world today. It is successful both in the domestic market, and internationally. This essay sets out to understand this phenomenon. First, it attempts to trace South Korean cinema’s comeback story. I feel a need to do this because I find that so many of my South Korean friends and colleagues are reluctant to admit this, or focus solely on the problems the industry is facing in the future. There may be worries about the future and there may be “ifs” and “buts” about the present state of the South Korean film industry. But we should start out by acknowledging its success.
The motion picture, created by Sangeeta Ahir, appears to have been increased in value by numerous individuals who have seen its surges. The group as of late had the attention shoot and from what we listen, Sanford Pan itch, the Hollywood official of Fox Star Studios
Nevertheless, the question at hand is whether theatre will have a role in the society of the future, where cinema, digital television, and computers will continue to expand and grow. The answer to this question is yes. Heading into the 21st century, theatre will only be a fraction in a solid media industry. However, despite all the excitement technology brings with it, they will never replace theatre because it has something that can not be recreated or offered anywhere else. The cinema and its larger than life world appeals as an affordable alternative. Digital television provides digital interaction between the viewer and the producer. Theatre on the other hand, and its contents may take on a larger dimension, but we receive it directly in flesh and blood – one to one. The magical atmosphere between an actor and spectator who are constantly aware of each other and the theatre’s level of engagement is fundamentally more human and far more intimate.
The introduction of films began in the early era of 1920s and since then technology in many forms as such Televisions which featured documentary and made films more popular with in audiences, according to commentators it is said that film has become the most global and popular seen and followed form of culture. (Shiel, 2001; Urry & Larsen, 2011). Furthermore in late 1960s cinemas and theaters were popular among people also due to entertainment and transformation of different cultures, it has since then captured a large number of tourists. Today that trend has changed into television viewing, which is hence said it is the major leisure activity among people. In addition to that seeing films...