History Bites, SERF Facility, Tuesday Evening[7/24]
The SERF Facility's door opens to reveal a haunting, moonlit scene deep in the Carpathian mountains. Crumbling stone steps lead up to a darkened doorway. An air of mystery and menace hangs thick in the air. Suddenly, a bat flies in, zigzagging crazily across the scene until... its wire snaps and it falls to the floor.
"CUT! Clean that up, please!"
"Sorry, Mr. Browning!"
"Alright, everyone. Take ten."
In front of the haunting moonlit scene is a chaotic sea of props, costumes, grips, gaffers, actors, make up artists, camera men, and various other assistants. Each of them seem to think that 'take ten' means do every single thing you've got to do, right this very minute.
"Try that laugh again, Mr. Frye?"
"Ah-ha-ha-ha..."
"Er... not quite there... Little more crazy little less... er. You know what I mean."
"Hehn...hehn...hehn..."
"Yes! Perfect! Do that!"
Professor Blenner sits off to the side, in his own little oasis of calm. He's dressed more casually then most of his students would be used to seeing with his simple trousers and suspenders, his tie loosened and his shirtsleeves rolled up. He does look a bit fatigued. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks are a touch hollow. But, he's conversing with the man sitting across from him in a language that sounds like a strange mix of Russian and Italian, and they both seem to be enjoying themselves. Blenner breaks off, laughing and switches to English as his students file into the room.
"'Dracula is only to attack women'? The memo really said that? How...monotonous..."
He looks up, an amused smile still playing over his lips.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to class.
The years between 1930 and 1940 is commonly referred to as Hollywood's 'Golden Age'. This decade that saw the Great Depression and the lead up to World War Two also saw the formation of new film genres (such as B-Films and full length animated features), the birth of now legendary stars, and the rise of the mammoth studio system which would see 95% of all American movies produced by eight corporations.
From 1930 to 1945, Hollywood released 7500 seperate, full-length features. 80 million people took in at least one movie per week. Many believe that this golden age has not got as much to do with the quality of the movies being made as it does with the hardships brought on by the Great Depression. Jaded, tired masses needed an escape, a fantasy world to sooth their minds and spirits.
In fact, President Roosevelt, himself, said "During the Depression, when the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time, it is a splendid thing that for just 15 cents an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles."
Now, the Depression was a grim time, indeed. But, it was not the first such era that humanity has faced. But, it was the first in which this sort of cinematic escapism was widely available. Now, ladies and gentlemen, do you believe this was a good thing or a bad thing? For the citizens? For the movie industry? For the art of film making itself? I shall be very interested to hear your opinions.
But, please don't hesitate to explore the movie set. The production is Universal's 1931 horror 'masterpiece' Dracula. It was a slipshod little production, utterly chaotic, and filmed in sequence to save money since Stoker's widow demanded an astronomical $200 000 for the filming rights. Do enjoy yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. And if you've got questions, please don't hesitate to ask."
[Come play! I shall be afk this evening, so slowplay for... awhile.]
"CUT! Clean that up, please!"
"Sorry, Mr. Browning!"
"Alright, everyone. Take ten."
In front of the haunting moonlit scene is a chaotic sea of props, costumes, grips, gaffers, actors, make up artists, camera men, and various other assistants. Each of them seem to think that 'take ten' means do every single thing you've got to do, right this very minute.
"Try that laugh again, Mr. Frye?"
"Ah-ha-ha-ha..."
"Er... not quite there... Little more crazy little less... er. You know what I mean."
"Hehn...hehn...hehn..."
"Yes! Perfect! Do that!"
Professor Blenner sits off to the side, in his own little oasis of calm. He's dressed more casually then most of his students would be used to seeing with his simple trousers and suspenders, his tie loosened and his shirtsleeves rolled up. He does look a bit fatigued. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks are a touch hollow. But, he's conversing with the man sitting across from him in a language that sounds like a strange mix of Russian and Italian, and they both seem to be enjoying themselves. Blenner breaks off, laughing and switches to English as his students file into the room.
"'Dracula is only to attack women'? The memo really said that? How...monotonous..."
He looks up, an amused smile still playing over his lips.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to class.
The years between 1930 and 1940 is commonly referred to as Hollywood's 'Golden Age'. This decade that saw the Great Depression and the lead up to World War Two also saw the formation of new film genres (such as B-Films and full length animated features), the birth of now legendary stars, and the rise of the mammoth studio system which would see 95% of all American movies produced by eight corporations.
From 1930 to 1945, Hollywood released 7500 seperate, full-length features. 80 million people took in at least one movie per week. Many believe that this golden age has not got as much to do with the quality of the movies being made as it does with the hardships brought on by the Great Depression. Jaded, tired masses needed an escape, a fantasy world to sooth their minds and spirits.
In fact, President Roosevelt, himself, said "During the Depression, when the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time, it is a splendid thing that for just 15 cents an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles."
Now, the Depression was a grim time, indeed. But, it was not the first such era that humanity has faced. But, it was the first in which this sort of cinematic escapism was widely available. Now, ladies and gentlemen, do you believe this was a good thing or a bad thing? For the citizens? For the movie industry? For the art of film making itself? I shall be very interested to hear your opinions.
But, please don't hesitate to explore the movie set. The production is Universal's 1931 horror 'masterpiece' Dracula. It was a slipshod little production, utterly chaotic, and filmed in sequence to save money since Stoker's widow demanded an astronomical $200 000 for the filming rights. Do enjoy yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. And if you've got questions, please don't hesitate to ask."
[Come play! I shall be afk this evening, so slowplay for... awhile.]