The motion picture industry brings many great films and television programs to our screens for our enjoyment. There are six major motion picture studio’s dominating the industry and most are based in Hollywood, California.
With the worldwide availability and increasing popularity of the Internet, editing software and computer graphics, digital video recorders, and cable television, the demand has grown substantially for entertainment content. To fill the gaps, many independent filmmaking companies have formed and are producing made-for-television movies, commercials, music videos, filmed television programs, and feature films.
There are also other organizations that provide post-production services that a chairman of independent motion picture company can look into, such as film and tape transfers, closed captioning, special effects, computer-produced graphics, credits, titling and subtitling, editing, and animation.
Some video and motion picture companies produce films for specialized and/or limited audiences that include documentaries using interviews and film clips to chronicle educational films ranging from exercise videos to “do-it-yourself” projects as well as events with real people.
The industry also produces government, industrial, and business films that promote their image, aid in fundraising, worker training, or provide information on its products and activities.
Many of the short films can be released for public viewing through the internet and can provide excellent training for filmmakers who are just starting out.
While making movies can have its rewards, it is not so easily done and can be very risky. In fact, out of thousands of movies produced each year, only some will bring in box office receipts.
However, with digital technology in the picture lowering the production costs of small-budget films, many independent filmmakers are able to succeed and get their films nationally released.
The studios and other production firms may be responsible for producing, financing, distributing and publicizing films, but the film is actually made by numerous small businesses along with independent contractors, hired as needed by the studio.
These production companies provide a wide variety of services, such as special effects, lighting, costume design, and equipment rental along with a lot of the technical and creative talent that are included in film productions.
Many workers — especially those who are located in Los Angeles — make their living off working in the film industry. The industry also contracts with many other industries to supply support services to the crews while filming that include, the caterers, truck drivers, makeup artists, and electricians.
The establishments that operate theaters and display motion pictures as well as film festivals who show videos are also included in the film industry as they account for roughly one-third of the employees.
Employment in this sector mainly consists of lobby attendants, ushers, ticket takers, food service workers, and cashiers where the majority of jobs are entry-level positions that only require little training.
Since they began, motion pictures have been made on film and most of them still are; however, we reached a new era of computer-generated images and digital technology that are rapidly taking over the industry and is expected to transform the film industry in the near future.
