NFB and Canadian Film essays

NFB and Canadian Film essays The turn of the century brought along many new innovations that would revolutionize the way we live. There were many new technologies that would bring forth an era of industrialization, but potential uses remained uncertain and applications were left to be discovered by the marketplace. Among the most promising inventions was Thomas Edisons Vitascope, an invention with the ability to record time and motion. Moving pictures were soon to become the most popular form of entertainment, and most prominent of cultural attractions. As film industries began to emerge, America seized the opportunity to commercialize film as a form of mass entertainment. Canada found itself immersed in the wake of American productions. It was not until the formation of the National Film Board that Canada was able to establish an indigenous film industry. This allowed the government to create an industrial filmmaking infrastructure reflecting its own cultural image. The NFB has taken steps that have failed to c reate an industrial filmmaking infrastructure similar in style to Hollywoods. Market competition with Hollywood; focusing on nationality over entertainment, and depending on foreign investment and government subsidies has made it difficult for the NFB to create a successful Hollywood style film industry. Lack of regulation in the early years of the industry crippled Canadas ability to produce, distribute, and exhibit feature films successfully. Canada began using film as a method of attracting immigration. The CPR hired James S. Freer to tour Britain and show realistic films of life in the Canadian west. Promotional films for lumbering, fishing, mining, and agricultural machinery industries were produced, and focus on the entertainment aspect of filmmaking was left to Americans. Canadian culture was primarily interested in the growth of rudimentary industries, and sought manpower to build our nation. Other government films were produced ...