Producer-Unit System

PRODUCER-UNIT SYSTEM (1931-1940) -Central producer still maintained high degree of control over all of the film production at a given studio, but it was difficult to keep tabs on the growing number of films. It is also difficult for central producer to be an “expert” in every genre - Various studios’ central producers began assigning assistants to take over a degree of control over smaller groups of film. - Specialisation increased -Different directors under central producer specialised in various genres of films

-Films of a particular studio beginning to all “look alike”, influence of central producer decreasing the individuality of the films -Central producer replaced by a number of producers ( “associate producers”) -Desire to decrease costs; with a smaller number of films for each producer to supervise, he could keeper tighter control over costs -More different kinds of movies produced; producers made movies within their Specialisations

- Producer-Unit system adopted by all Big 5 studios, which allows them to make more film more efficiently than during the silent era. - Part of general increase in Specialisation & departmentalization at the studios - Increased the division of labor. Jobs in other departments also became more specialised. New jobs created by new technologies of sound & color (technicians, dialogue writers, voice coaches)