Common Aspects on Nz Film

The International Film Industry is primarily a business that entertains. To be successful it attempts to follow traditional, tried and proven methods; the Hollywood ‘block busters’ with known stars, directors and sensational (yet familiar) story lines, perhaps with a new twist. Within the genres’ the tools most often used are sex, violence and tension. Unfortunately, this methodology and repetition has developed a Hollywood film culture that perpetuates stereotyping and myths: good triumphs over evil, the happy ending, the rewards of capitalism, the white male hero, the need to be protected female, her vulnerability and sexuality. Wether this is a reflection of societal attitude, desires, fantasy and / or that of the film machine itself. Nevertheless, they generate and reinforce stereotypes. This is particularly noticeable in the way woman and ethnic minorities are portrayed in many films and treated in society.

New Zealand is very much a film going nation and audiences have been bombarded with the Hollywood stereotypes and myths since the early 1950’s. This has not only created myths but also reinforced many of the embedded perceptions left from early colonialism. WhiThe International Film Industry is primarily a business that entertains. To be successful it attempts to follow traditional, tried and proven methods; the Hollywood ‘block busters’ with known stars, directors and sensational (yet familiar) story lines, perhaps with a new twist. Within the genres’ the tools most often used are sex, violence and tension. Unfortunately, this methodology and repetition has developed a Hollywood film culture that perpetuates stereotyping and myths: good triumphs over evil, the happy ending, the rewards of capitalism, the white male hero, the need to be protected female, her vulnerability and sexuality. Wether this is a reflection of societal attitude, desires, fantasy and / or that of the film machine itself. Nevertheless, they generate and reinforce stereotypes. This...