What makes a B movie a B movie?

[Spirit Juggler]

Sci-fi & fantasy do seem to very easily fall into the 'b' movie category. I think a big part of the reason for this is because the props and costumes for sci-fi & fantasy are so difficult to get looking good without some budget going into them. And then if you're trying to do special FX on a less that groundbreaking system with a less than groundbreaking team it will never look as clean and realisitic as the current cinema a list movies.

I think another problem or perhaps symptom of the b movie *particularly todays 'b' movies* is the massive over acting. The innability of actors to fine tune their performances to offer any kind of subtlety in expression or voice. And when every member of the cast is doing the same it tends to look aweful.

 

[terryr]

The Writers Guild registers about 50,000 scripts every year, for 20 bucks a pop. [ka-ching]
And yet there are less original ideas every year.

 

[WarPig]

My views, for what they're worth...

As stated before, the original meaning was a movie that cost less to produce, had lesser or unknown stars, and were used as a vehicle by the studios to promote those stars.

These days, the stars that are "past their prime" (in the eyes of the industry) are usually the headliners, with the rest of the cast virtually unknown.

A "true" B-movie (for me) is a movie that's low budget, but has some redeeming factors. Whether it's unintentionally bad acting, writing or Fx (or unexpectedly good of same), if I can say "well, *that* was entertaining!" when it's over, it was a good B-Movie. In addition, I do not feel obligated to watch the entire thing if it sucks - unlike some big-budget films that I watched hoping it would get better.

B-Movies are best enjoyed with people; the more the merrier. Some adult beverage can make them even more fun (who needs MST3K if you have a couple of wise@$$ friends?).

This topic would be fun to discuss in the chat room, or at a gathering.

 

[Krel]

B-movies used to serve many purposes during the studio era. The movie studios used to own their own theater chains, so it put product in the theaters. It served as a training ground for the studio talent. Producers, directors, writers, camera operators, the whole spectrum of people needed to make movies, received training in the B-movies. It kept the studio workers employed, so that the different departments always had something to do.

Now, the independents seem to serve that purpose.

David.

 

[Spirit Juggler]

B-movies used to serve many purposes during the studio era. The movie studios used to own their own theater chains, so it put product in the theaters. It served as a training ground for the studio talent. Producers, directors, writers, camera operators, the whole spectrum of people needed to make movies, received training in the B-movies. It kept the studio workers employed, so that the different departments always had something to do.

Now, the independents seem to serve that purpose.

David.

The problem with that is that there are so few independents now. Virtually none in the UK, so there's nowhere for up and coming film makers, writers, camera men to get their work shown.

Who knows though, we're already starting to see a shift away from big block busters as they simply aren't sustaining the film industry enough. We're starting to see a few more less budget FX oriented and more acting. Things like The Kings speach & marigold hotel. Things to draw older cinema goers back to theatres.

So who knows. Maybe the next step of that is to bring back the b movie reel into film showings as well.

 

[Krel]

The problem with that is that there are so few independents now. Virtually none in the UK, so there's nowhere for up and coming film makers, writers, camera men to get their work shown.

That is a problem in the U.S. also, and has been for quite awhile. Back in the 80s and 90s, there were direct-to-video films. I don't know how the market is for that now, as all of he video stores around me have gone under. Some films were sold to the cable movie channels, but that never was a very big market.

Thinking about it, I don't believe that the problem is a lack of independents. If there was a market, then you would see independents, I think that the problem is distribution. There is no distribution for the independents. There are a lot less movie theaters in the U.S. then there were 20 years ago, so less theaters for independent films. Now, just about the only hope is that one of the big distributors will become interested in your film enough to book it into some theaters.

David.

 

[terryr]

I think Hollywood is like General Motors of the 1980s; Old and top heavy and set in their ways.
Cut out thousands of B.S. Execs and prices will drop right there. Actual results will be needed for the remainder, not 'failing upward'.

With digital film making Hollywood is not really necessary, but financing still may need some 'central focus point'.