Hollywood in the Information Age

This book is a major new assessment of the American movie industry in the 1990s. Wasko focuses on the development of new communication technologies, such as cable and home video, and examines their impact on the production and distribution of motion pictures - the traditional foundation of Hollywood entertainment. How have the structures and strategies of corporate Hollywood changed in response to these technological developments? Who is making the decisions about which new technologies will be introduced, and what products will be delivered by them? And is the public being offered more choice and better quality entertainment, or just more of the same? To answer these questions, Wasko offers a brief historical account of the development of the Hollywood entertainment industry and then concentrates on the impact of technological developments from the 1970s to the 1990s. She examines in detail the impact of new technologies in the spheres of production, distribution and exhibition, using case studies to illustrate these technologies in action. Hollywood's marketing and merchandising strategies are detailed, and its global activities are discussed. The result is a wide-ranging, up-to-date account of the transformation which is taking place in what remains one of the most important entertainment industries in the world today. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the current state of the film industry, and it will become a key text for students in media and film studies.