''Film is not the art of scholars, but of illiterates''
- Werner Herzog
Federico Fellini was a script writer/ director who was born on 20th January, 1920 in Rimini. Fellini was one of the most influential directors of the 20th century and made a significant mark of the industry with films like 'La Dolce Vita' in 1960 and '8 and a Half' in '63. He also stressed that there was a lot more to Italian films than just the film itself. He mentioned the use of economics and historical references and to know the right audience.
Prima Visione - Upper class, sophisticated and the audience chose a film to watch
Seconda Visione - Middle class still as sophisticated as Prima the audience selects a film
Terza Visione - In less populated areas, cheaper tickets, audience goes to see a film out of habit.
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Old Italian cinemas from the '60s |
Italian cinema was much different in the 70s (Terza Visione) to how we are used to watching a film in the Uk, both in the 70s and now. Going to the cinema was a social occasion and people would talk eat and drink during the film and it would be essentially like going to a restaurant with a film in the background. People would just drop in at random times regardless of how much or little of the film was left. People would meet friends catch up and a lot of the time the film would be ignored but served its purpose as background noise.
The working class film industry was also needed a lot of films to keep it going which would mean that most people would go to the cinema every night. But as i said it was not to just watch films it was like meeting up at your favourite cafe for a drink.
Filone/Genre..
Giallo - detective novels
Spaghetti Westerns
Poliziottesco - police procedural.
These were the main genres around at the time and this was the case because this is what the public was most interested in. The 'Mafia/Mob' were always a shadow in italy and making films about these people means people can experience them without having to be killed by the mob.