Comparison of Bollywood and Hollywood - Case Study Example

Industry Comparative Study Name Institutional Affiliation: Industry Comparative Study: Bollywood vs. Hollywood Introduction The industry of the film is one of the common worlds of dreams. The industry has been growing and expanding enormously. Films show what cannot be shown in real life. It involves creativity and fantasy. The industry is growing fast characterized by different types on films being released. Hollywood is the film industry of America. Bollywood is India’s film industry and is next to Hollywood. Bollywood produces its films in Hindu. The international film scene recognizes both film industries of Hollywood and Bollywood. Both descriptions and labels refer to the film industry or associated actors, movies and practices. Hollywood refers to the whole industry of movies in America, which supplies movies across the world. Bollywood is not based on any city or place. The movie center was developed in the 1930s producing its movies on a grand scale. While Bollywood movies are always two hours in length, they use different styles, plots and themes, Hollywood movies are more advanced in techniques and technology where most of them make use of distinctive effects in their production (Ciecko, 1996). Bollywood and Hollywood are the two main sites where art and commercial films are produced. Bollywood makes almost 98% of commercial films while the art films take up the remaining 2%. On the other hand, Hollywood produces approximately 80% of commercial films while the art films take up 20%. Art and commercial cinemas are two different types of films. There are many divisions of commercial films. Commercial films comprise of a hero, a villain and a heroin while art films only uses common characters, which are always close to real in nature. Production of art films involves low costs while production of commercial films involves high budgets. Art films are mostly close to reality and daily life (Chapman, 2006). Industry Comparison The international film scene recognizes both film industries of Hollywood and Bollywood. Hollywood refers to the whole industry of movies in America, which supplies movies across the world. The name originated from a district in Los Angeles where most movie studios were centered. Since its establishment in early years before the WW1, Hollywood has been highly rated and is considered as the most influential and leading film industry in the world. Hollywood has the most experienced and highly influential international stars derived from different nationalities and ethnic groups. Many people around the world recognize both stars and movies form Hollywood (Artz & Kamalipour, 2007). On the other hand, Bollywood is regarded as a section of the Hindu cinema industry. The name was created in the 1970s during the introduction of the Hindu cinema in Hollywood. The name is a merger of Bombay and Hollywood. Hollywood movies are more advanced in techniques and technology, and most of them make use of distinctive effects in their production. Hollywood movies are produced in English with elements of extreme emotions, blood, sex, violence, and some controversial themes. The centre tickles different ranges of movies such as local and international social and politics (Asian Cinema Studies Society, 2000). Bollywood Centre Movies are mostly family-oriented, take about three hours inclusive of an intermission. These movies are dominated with dance sequences, several songs, and large casts. The movies use drama as a constant theme, and they produce movies in Hindu or a combination of English and Hindu. Consistent and usually predictable plot characterize these movies. The plots of the movies also lack escapist entertainment as well as creativity. Critics of these movies argue that they replicate plots from original Hollywood films. Concerning issues of finances and revenue, Hollywood dominates the section of sales. The film industry obtains most of its revenue using a franchise system to distribute its movies at the same time obtaining significant revenue from the actual films. The industry normally ties the movie with different media like home videos, TV networks, and magazines. Movies from Hollywood are often given international premieres. Considering production, movies from Hollywood are expensive in both technology and other movie production elements. In terms of global cinema, Hollywood obtains 75% of the total movie revenues (McPhai, 2010). On the other side of Hollywood, the centre produces and distributes films across the entire world. However, movies produced from Bollywood do not get as much attention as movies from Hollywood. The film industry has some direct consumers of film. At Bollywood, producers create more films, but they do not spend much on production. The success of any movie depends on the revenues of the theatre and music videos produced by the movie. Almost half of the movies produced at Bollywood are never released to the public. Both Bollywood and Hollywood promote their stars and films highly. Compared to Hollywood, the production of films at Bollywood Center is governed and owned by the government (Elmer & Gasher, 2005). Trends and issues comparison Hollywood’s Domination Many people around the world do not know that Bollywood exists. They are only familiar with Hollywood. Stars who work at Bollywood can act in as many films as they want at once. This is unlike in Hollywood. Currently, theatres in America are playing more moves of Indian origin whereas it is not common for theatres in India to play American movies. Indian cinemas always lack creativity and make use of one plot line from the beginning to the end. There are several Indian movies, which have used similar story lines for generations. They have been criticized for copying Hollywood styles and cinemas. Movies produced in Hollywood have entered and won most awards while none from Bollywood has ever been considered to enter into the Academy Awards. This is coupled by the fact that these movies are just produced, but they never get to the public audience (Chapman, 2006). Bollywood makes half the total revenue made by Hollywood. Hollywood’s market is extremely saturated while the population in India is still struggling to come up above the line so that it can support the industry. Although almost a third of movies distributed around the world are produced at Hollywood, the center pockets 75% of the total revenues in the industry. It obtains half of its revenue from external markets; on the other hand, Bollywood only garners 20% of the total revenues. Internationally, Hollywood enjoys its high degree of domination among the top grosser. The center produces almost the world’s top 50 movies. In fact, all the other film industries in the world have been eclipsed by Hollywood apart from Bollywood (Asian Cinema Studies Society, 2000). Spiraling Production Costs and Risks The average costs involved in the marketing, distribution and production of a single Hollywood movie is over US$60 million, but $20 million in Bollywwod. However, movies produced by Bollywood are never released to the public audience and any movie that is released only generates losses (Cooke, 2009). Research reveals that the young audiences from India are slowly shifting from the conventional films because they are seeking for creativity and variety. This is a proof that Hollywood movies are the best-produced movies. Another worrying factor is that Indian directors are only interested in commercial aspects of producing films. They do not value seeking for new actors and directors. As a result, the existing actors have to mould and transform themselves so that they can fit into different thoughts of the producers. At the same time, these producers do not care about anything regarding the artistic aspect of movies. This led to the use of skimpily clad women and item numbers in the Indian films. Producers of the Indian films will require an entire consensus so that they can catch up with films such as those produced in Hollywood, which have been credited tremendously to be best in both commercial, and art (Ciecko, 1996). Since the meeting between Bollywood and Hollywood, Indian films are becoming more entertaining to American audiences. This has been backed up by the success of some Indian films. The films have attracted a considerable amount of audiences and more funding by western producers. Some Indian films have been successful in the western film industry purely based on their production without any indications of Bollywood influence. The western films are increasingly hiring Indian actors and giving them key roles in western films (Elmer & Gasher, 2005). There have been issues of violations of copyrights resulting from accusations that Bollywood is plagiarizing from Hollywood. The two locations have spent some quality time in the courts trying to find a solution. Bollywood is scared of buying the rights because of the enormous costs involved. At the same time, Indian cinemas are increasingly becoming more westernized. Bollywood has been strong in this trend. Some latest films from Bollywood are apparent with western actors. This means that Bollywood is trying to meet the standards of western films in their production. In addition, Bollywood is conducting films in overseas countries and integrating some elements of production used in western films. Technology and Techniques Bollywood has addressed its challenges and improving its fame in the industry and a threat to Hollywood. In terms of revenue, movies from Hollywood do not solely depend on selling tickets. It uses the latest trend of franchise formula. In addition, Hollywood obtains some of its revenue from other segments such as magazines, TV networks, and home videos. It is obvious that Bollywood is copying the same trend, but it is not yet successful. The Bollywood movie centre derives its revenue from liquid cash obtained from traders who sell the movies in real estate, selling jewelry and the underworld of Mumbai. There have been significant improvements in the industry but Bollywood financing still remains shady largely depending on non-organized sector and receives no finances from the banking industry. Unlike Hollywood, the movie center is treated like a well-established network by organized sectors and production studios (Mehta, & Pandharipande 2010). The principal difference in trends between Hollywood and Bollywood is the use of dance and song routines that are dominant in Bollywood movies. Professional singers sing the songs and then actors lip-sync them on the screen. This is typically meant to add a certain mood to the film and carry the theme forward. Looking at Hollywood stories, they do not have songs and have a taut screenplay. Bollywood movies draw almost 20% on songs and narrative. On the other hand, Hollywood seems to be in line with the trend of encompassing music heavily with themes to bring out the emotions with an aim of accompanying the reemerging trend and direction of movies. In addition, Bollywood movies are lengthy, and they take a maximum of three hours inclusive of all the intermission. Most of them are sentimental and melodramatic, but some feature comedy, romance, suspense and action. Bollywood is famous for producing a unique genre of movies called melodramas and musicals. Hollywood produces movies that are of different genres and rarely creates the musical genre movies. Movies from Bollywood are more appealing to the sentimental part of real life while Hollywood movies are more adventurous and tickle the human spirit (Ciecko, 1996). Summary: The industry has to take up measures that will enable it deal with the key issues and trends. This is because the technology used in the industry is changing rapidly. The processes of production and post-production are also changing. If the industry does not react to such issues, it will be affect the heart of film production. In order to deal with such issues, the industry will adopt new cameras that allow directors of movies to obtain shots that are more flexible. Such cameras will help them to obtain hand-held shots that are effective in the industry. Film directors are closely following on new production technology. The industry will use high definition cameras to record images on DVD’s or hard drives. The use of such improved technologies will help in eliminating unwanted material while editing. They will also assist in reducing the costs of production involved (Elmer & Gasher, 2005). Another way for the industry to deal with the issues and trends is through digitization. Films producers seem to be getting used to the progression towards a digitized form film production. They have developed new modes of exhibition, post-production and audio production. Current trends in the industry have prompted filmmakers to move to current filmless DLP systems of projection. Editing, titles, and visual effects are being developed at the desktop level because of advancement in technology. In addition, developments in technology have enabled lovers of films to enjoy home videos as they are delivered in internet and DVD’s. References Artz, L. & Kamalipour, Y. (2007). The Media Globe: Trends in International Mass Media. Michigan: Rowman & Littlefield. Asian Cinema Studies Society (2000): Asian cinema: a publication of the Asian Cinema Studies Society, Volume 11. Indiana: Asian Cinema Studies Society. Chapman, J. (2006). Cinemas of the World: Film and Society from 1895 to the Present. Washington: Reaktion Books. Ciecko, A. T. (1996). Contemporary Asian Cinema: Popular Culture in a Global Frame. Oxford International Publishers. Cooke, C. (2009). Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood. Edinburgh: Taylor & Francis Publishers. Elmer, G. & Gasher, M (2005). Contracting Out Hollywood: Runaway Productions and Foreign Location Shooting. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield McPhai, T. (2010). Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and Trends. California: Blackwell Publishing Company. Mehta, R. B. & Pandharipande R. (2010). Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora. Indiana: Wimbledom Publishing Company. Read More