StudioSystem

The studio system refers to the practice, dominant in Hollywood filmmaking from the 1920s to the 1950s, whereby a small number of major film studios controlled all aspects of the film industry, from production and distribution to exhibition. These studios, often referred to as the "Big Five" (MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and RKO) and the "Little Three" (Columbia, Universal, and United Artists), operated with a factory-like model of filmmaking. They owned their own sound stages, back lots, equipment, and vast pools of contract players, writers, directors, and technicians.

Under this system, actors, directors, and other creative personnel were bound by long-term contracts, often for seven years or more. Studios could assign them to any project they deemed fit and dictate their appearance and performances. This provided stability for talent but also limited creative freedom and individual career choices. The studios' vertical integration meant they owned cinema chains, ensuring their films were widely distributed and screened. This control over production, distribution, and exhibition allowed the studios to dictate terms and maximize profits. The studio system fostered the creation of many iconic films and established Hollywood as a global entertainment powerhouse, but it also faced criticism for its monopolistic tendencies and its stifling effect on artistic individuality. The system began to decline in the late 1940s due to antitrust rulings and changing audience tastes, leading to a more fragmented and independent film industry.