The Past and the Present
From bulky cameras and videotapes to high definition video and CGI. The film industry has evolved a lot since it started back in the 1890s. Below, you can discover some of the ways that the film industry has changed to what it is today, in the year of 2019.
Marketing
Then
With things like television being fairly new, most advertisements and marketing were done through newspapers, posters, and banners, with few TV commercials. Movie producers didn't spend a whole lot of money on marketing and advertising.
Now
With so much rise in competition, movie producers are spending millions on dollars on marketing alone. Many times, the cost of marketing can double the overall cost of making a movie.
Learn More About Marketing and Competition
Cameras
Then
Popular camera types back then were the Parvo and Mitchell Standard. The bad thing about these cameras were that they were really heavy and bulky, making hard for them to be moved around. Not only that, but these cameras used film. Cameramen would have to frequently replace film during the making of the movie, and there was little room for mistakes since there was only a limited amount of film.
Now
Most cameras used today are digital single-lens reflex cameras. They are lightweight and easy to carry around the set. Not only that, but they are able to film in much higher quality. These digital cameras are also able to provide instant playback, meaning that cameramen can instantly show actors/actresses the video they took, and provide feedback on their acting.
Animation
Then
All animation back then was hand drawn. This was time consuming and could only be done in 2D.
Now
Nearly all animation today is done through computers and professional softwares. It is now possible to create both 2D and 3D animation using computers. This is commonly referred to as computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Props and Sets
Then
All props and set items had to be carefully crafted and created. More complex scenes sometimes required the use miniature replicas of props and items.
Now
Most handmade props and sets can now be easily replaced with green screens or CGI. This, however, doesn't stop movie producers from continuing to use handmade props.
Jobs
Then
Jobs like director, camera operator, and actors have always existed in the film industry. There were a fair amount of jobs to choose from.
Now
With rising demands for better movies, the jobs in the film industry have grown significantly. With the rise of new technology, newer jobs appeared in special effects, prop making, and more.
Budget
.png)
Then
Movie budgets were usually around $100,000. This is mostly because money had a higher value in the past than it does today. The reduction of the "purchasing power" of money is known as inflation.
.png)
Now
With growth in the movie industry, budgets have gone way up as well. Now, movie budgets range from $100 million to $400 million, with $140 million being the average.