Working in the Cultural Industry - Coursework Example

Working in Cultural Industry Cinema is a visual aid for learning. It is one of the most influential media of communication, entertainment and education. The reason is that it is seen by mass and so cinema is the one of the cheapest means of reaching to the geographically dispersed mass. It is the effective way to learn the people. That is the reason why the Film industry is one of most popular industries. The base of cinema is entertainment Cinema’s has a tremendous impact on the minds of the people and the stars and actors are like Gods for them. The social, political, economic, cultural fields are closely connected with the film industry. First of all let’s have a look at the political, economic and cultural condition that affect the industry. Film Industry and Political scenario: Film industry and political scenario of the country influence each other significantly. Rather cinema is the reflection of the society and some time the political situation is shown in cinema. For example there are many movies which are based on the wars which had taken place all over the world, example: Pearl Harbor (Based on Second World War), Three Kings (1999, Iraq War), Apocalypse Now (1979, based on Vietnam War) and many more. There are also lots of movies on the life of the influential political leaders. Gandhi was the movie which unfolded the life of Mahatma Gandhi, The greatest freedom fighter and one of the most influential philosophers of the world. The role of the protagonist was acted by Ben Kingsley. The movie was produced and directed by British producer and director Richard Attenborough. It was the full biography of the great political philosopher. Some movies are based on the terrorist attack. The movie Wednesday was based on the terrorist attack of Mumbai on 26th November 2008. Film Industry and Economic Scenario: The economic conditions also affect the film industry because it is after all a business. It has been affected by the recent global recession. The collapse of share markets all over the world directly hampered the film industry and it became impossible for this industry to generate the funds for making films. On the contrary, sometimes the film industry shares significantly in the rapid economic growth of the country. Basically it happens when the domestic films are recognized abroad. “Bollywood (Hindi Film Industry) superstar Amitabh Bachchan feels that Indias rapid economic stride is largely responsible for the recognition that Indian films are getting in foreign countries.” [1] Cultural factors and Film Industry: As mentioned before Cinema is the reflection of the society in which it is made. It has to reflect all facets of the cultures of the concerned community or society. The folk art, the language, the lifestyle of the people, their morals and the principles, sets of values, the dress, cuisine everything is reflected in the film. It is the mirror of the society. Subject and the themes of the cinema directly come from the culture. The theme of most of the Bollywood movies for instance is family oriented. It is because the family is at the centre of Indian culture and family values are supposed to be most important factor in India. So basically movies based on family values become super hit on the box office. Thus the culture of the particular country is represented by its films. Life of the people seeking employment in Film Industry: Film Industry is the industry which has the turnover of billions of dollars every year. The youngsters are being allured by the glamour and razzle-dazzle. Getting entry into this industry is the dream of every person. In this article the film industry in India, that is called Bollywood industry is taken for granted. Bollywood is the major attraction not only in India but the films from Bollywood are popular in Pakistan, China, and Russia and other countries also. Getting opportunity to act in Bollywood movies is supposed to be the highest opportunity. Here the celebrities, film stars earns in million. So it has been centre of attraction for the common man. The film industry in India is located in Mumbai, (formerly known as Bombay) India’s financial capital, most crowded and India’s no. 1 city. It is one of the largest centers of film production in the world. Naturally the youngsters from all parts of India come to Mumbai to try their luck in film industry. It is estimated that around 2000 aspiring people come to Mumbai everyday for entering in this field. The competition is very tough. If there is one role, there are 50 people coming for the audition. The film industry is so glamorous that the young individuals from rural parts of this vast country attract towards the industry and come to Mumbai, the city of dream with the hope to make their dreams come true. It is a field where one can get immense opportunities. This field is offering opportunities to variety of skilled and creative people to shape their career and to gain lots of income. Opportunities in Cinema: Cinema is not just the mean of entertainment but it educates and makes the people aware of various aspects of life. One major and crucial role played by cinema is availability of lots of employment opportunities to the people. Loads of fields are available in film line. Among them are producer, directors, actors, choreographers, writers, musicians, lyricists, singers etc are among the non technical employments whereas photographers, cinematographers, editors, camera operators, are the technical people involved in film line. Apart from that makeup-man, dress designers, beauticians, dieticians are also indirectly related to the film industry. But the picture is not as easy and glossy as it seems to be. The life is very hard here and one has to face immense adversities. There is cut throat competition and settling down in this field is very difficult especially for the strugglers who have no experience of this field and so likely to be mentally or physically tortured by the established people this line. Challenges and hardship: At the initial stage of their career these people have to struggle very hard and they have to face countless difficulties while staying in Mumbai. As far as Bollywood Film industry is concerned the strugglers especially have to face very serious problems in establishing themselves in this industry. People from all over India come to Mumbai. Mumbai is the city of dream for everyone who wants name and fame. Life is very hard for the new comers not only in film industry but also in the capital of entertainment. This city is overcrowded and it is an abode of more that 15 million people. The life is ultra fast and that is the major challenge for the people coming especially from rural places. The first thing they have to learn here and that is how to adjust with the fast life of the city. Due to such a heavy population it is very difficult to get accommodation here. The strugglers have to share the houses. Sometime more than 10 people live in a very small single room. Or they have to share rental flats in the cheap apartments. Though the public transport system is very excellent in this city, it is difficult for the new comers to travel by an overcrowded locals or city buses. When these people are not popular and strugglers they can travel by public transport but once you become popular then it is hardly possible to travel by public transport. When the person come to Mumbai to make the career in film industry in the first phase of his life he or she has to find the source of income first and then only he or she can think of her core career. It is again a great challenge to assure the income for fulfillment of basic needs. The people who are staying there for many years and whose hometown is Mumbai, for them the life is easier because at least they don’t have to face the problem of accommodation and food. The second advantage for these people is that their family is with them so they feel secure. But those people live their hometown are bound to be homesick at every path of their career and feel insecure in the endless ocean of the people. Coming to Mumbai, means that sacrificing your peaceful life, for the sake of gaining of stardom. The fact is that it is possible for every struggler. At the initial stage the person has to do any type of compromise to set in this field. In case of the young girls, the chances of sexual molestations are high. She is forced for sexual relationship with anyone who helps her to climb the ladder of success. He or she has to do any types of roles. It is the question how many of them have really succeeded? The second major question is what has happened to those who have to face failure. What do they do? Where do the end up? Do they leave Mumbai and go back to their native place? Or do they stay there and wait for the second chance? There are many such incidents in which these strugglers have gone to depression and committed suicides due to the failure. When the aspirants come to Mumbai he has to go from one production to another for getting the job. Sometimes he joins acting schools. The strugglers cannot directly meet to the established producers and directors. They meet the cast guy who gives them the small role. The role of main hero and heroine are left on the film’s director. It is also the major challenge before the aspirants to increase public relations, contacts through effective communication. Financially it is not affordable for everybody to stay in this city. Everything is very expensive and to meet both ends meet they have to work hard and hard. They experience many sleepless nights and a dark future. Sometimes apart from being successful in this field the actress for example remains the puppet in the hands of her so called God Father and she has no right to take decision of her own career. Some strugglers before establishing act in the field as extras. They play the role of the dummies of the celebrities also. Conclusion: Cinema is the most influential field it is not at all easy for everybody. One can have immense opportunities available. What you need is hard work good rapport with the people and public relation skill. Though in this article the negative shade of the film is highlighted there are bright sides also. The strugglers first have to keep in mind that they should not be persistent about a certain role, i.e. hero or heroine because apart from acting other opportunities also are available in which they can successfully make their career. What one need is to recognize the skills? And potential and accordingly develop the skill. Life on screen is totally different from the life off screen. Everybody has the right to dream but for fulfilling those dream one should learn how to find the proper track for the dreams to get fulfilled. Source: [1] Global News: Bollywood’s Global success related to India’s Economic Growth, website: http://indianbabynames.bharatwaves.com/news/Bollywoods-global-success-related-to-Indias-economic-growth:-Amitabh-5563.html) Read More