Help answering a question

[steve threlfall]

I have a question that i am struggling to answer.

How is the role of cinema in the developing world different from that of hollywood?

Now i can think of a few things like the budgets availabe to make hollywood movies tend to be much greater than those available in developing nations. Also the politics of a nation may affect the role of film in its society but apart from that im stuck for ideas

If anyone can think of anything i would be very grateful if you could post it. Even just random ideas, anything would help me out.

Cheers

Steve

[TiG]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood

That may help

TiG

[ultim8um]

Don't forget that religion may also play a part in certain countries e.g. roman catholics probably wouldn't have too many films featuring abortion or contraception etc...

What about the people that can go and see films... In some countries there will almost certainly be racial or sexual biases preventing cinema going.

Places like North Korea will probably show only propaganda films...?

[Trippledence]

Think about what atracts people into the cinimar, with big budget spical effects not avalable what does world cinimar have to offer? Plot?

Where are hollyword seems to be the oppicite, with no plots big budget special FX is all they have to offer.

Two steriotypes? How much are they true.

[Konan555]

2001 vs Solyaris (no, not George Clooney ) might be an interesting one to look at.

[Oresa]

An easy way to approach it might be to investigate low-budget and arthouse films made in the western world. That'll give you an insight into the main differences money makes, and while it might not highlight the sorts of influences you may find in other countries (such as religion and politics) it should prove to be a good starting point.

Bear in mind also that religion is only one reason for not releasing films that contain controversial issues. If it costs 10% of your weekly earnings to go to a cinema in, say, Namibia, then the films you release have to be aimed at a more mature audience, who are more likely to have the disposable income available to see it.

[steve threlfall]

Great stuff guys. You have got me thinking. Thanks

[Twigman]

Hexus.Homework by anychance?
Good luck mate.

[chicken]

Hollywood often churns out mindless entertainment that keeps your brain in a happy semi-dozing state. Not bad stuff as such, just stuff to let you switch off, like watching Buffy after a hard day at work. Occasionally a good thinking film will come out, but not that often.

Developing nations' films are more likely to highlight and challenge aspects of their society, probably often incorporating western influences in an attempt to portray freedom from any oppression they may be under. Also I'd agree with the religion having a bigger influence.

[toomanycooks]

How about the role of film as propaganda?

Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, is obsessed with film. It is suggested that he has a huge movie collection.

Kim Jong Il is a movie fanatic, and is said to hav a collection of over 20,000 films. In 1978, in order to advance the North Korean film industry, he ordered North Korean agents to abduct the famous South Korean movie director Shin Sang Ok and his ex-wife, actress Che Eun Hui, and kept them for eight years while making them produce propaganda films. During that time, the two became very well acquainted with Kim Jong Il, and after escaping in 1986, they wrote a book exposing his decadent lifestyle.

Biog of Kim Jong-Il here

BBC article on the role of film in propaganda in North Korea here

Guardian interview with Shin Sang-ok, the director kidnapped to make Pulgasari here

Review of Pulgasari, his Godzilla-esque propaganda film here for which the original actor who played Godzilla was kidnapped, along with the director above.

Amazon.com have for sale his treatise on film here

Hope this stuff is interesting/useful.

Comments?

[toomanycooks]

PS: chicken, love your hoff.

[steve threlfall]

How about the role of film as propaganda?

Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, is obsessed with film. It is suggested that he has a huge movie collection.



Biog of Kim Jong-Il here

BBC article on the role of film in propaganda in North Korea here

Guardian interview with Shin Sang-ok, the director kidnapped to make Pulgasari here

Review of Pulgasari, his Godzilla-esque propaganda film here for which the original actor who played Godzilla was kidnapped, along with the director above.

Amazon.com have for sale his treatise on film here

Hope this stuff is interesting/useful.

Comments?

Very interesting stuff

"he liked one director, South Korean Shin Sang-ok, so much that he kidnapped him."

"As soon as the car door shut, someone suddenly put a sack over my head, and I couldn't see anything or even breathe properly," Mr Shin told BBC World Service's The World Today programme.

"Then they sprayed something inside the sack, and I started to lose consciousness."

"A short while later I was being loaded onto a big ship, having been wrapped in some kind of plastic sheeting."

"Kim Jong-il later confessed to me that the reason was that he wanted me to come and make films for him," he said.

This guy must be insane