Back To The Future Responses

1. What was the "New New Hollywood?" 

A generation of filmmakers who graduated from USC, and grew up with TV.

1. Which filmmaker came up with the concept for Back To The Future (1985) by visiting his parents' house?

Bob Gale

1. What does "turnaround" mean for a screenplay being considered for production?

Selling the film to another studio for the cost of development up to that point.

1. What was the production cost of Back To The Future (1985), and how much did it make in the first week? Was this a good or bad sign for the production and distribution companies?

It cost 19 million to produce, and made 18.48 million in 7 days. This was considered an ok sign, as a film was supposed to make back its cost of production in the 1st week.

1. What techniques did film production and distribution companies being to employ in the 80s to ensure a "blockbuster?" What were blockbusters expected to achieve in their opening weeks? What was the technique called that intended to accomplish this?

Companies launched huge advertising campaigns, making sure everyone knew about the film, and about who was behind it. Also, filmmakers included popular culture in films (like Power of Love in Back To The Future) to ensure success and notoriety. Blockbusters were supposed to make back production costs in the first week. The technique used was called front-loading.

1. Who chased Marty McFly around the parking lot before his time jump, and what did this character represent in the film? What is the trope, and how does it relate to the time this film was created? 

Libyan terrorists chased Marty around, trying to kill him. This is the "Anti-Anerican Enemy" trope, and it represents the xenophobia of the U.S. at the time, under Ronald Reagan.

1. What is the significance of the new/first television set in the dining room in 1955? Why do you think Zemeckis and Gale wrote that scene into the script?

That generation was the first to grow up with TV, and it was also the generation of the New New Hollywood filmmakers who created Back to the Future and Star Wars. I think the filmmakers wanted to reveal the heavy influence television had on their lives, and their choices in film.

1. What changed among major Hollywood studios in the 1970s that brought about the need for a new production and funding model? What was that new model? In your own words, explain in detail.

First, studios shifted towards creating single films, rather than multi-part productions. Also, many of the entertainment companies were then owned by large corporations without entertainment experience- and they demanded profit. This meant that films could not occasionally flop and make less than they costed. This caused a shift towards tried-and-true methods of making big money. The new model focused on high production value and spectacular events, and generating enough hype to sell enough tickets before the flaws in the film were discovered.

1. What company created the visual effects shots for Back To The Future (1985)?

Industrial Light & Magic

1. How was auteurism created and maintained in the "New New Hollywood," and why was it important to the filmmakers?

Auteurism was truly established by Spielberg in his efforts at his new company named Amblin. This company had its hand in a huge number of films, imprinting them with signature of their directors. In addition, studios began to include the names of the filmmakers in all of the advertising and branding of films.

The End (An Elijah DeVries Film)