Film outline

Intro:
1. I will begin with giving personal experience of the perceptions of America/American's outside of the US based on what people view in movies produced here.

2. The US is the greatest consumer of movies with 1.48 billion tickets sold in 2001.

3. Even though many countries around the world view American movies, these should not be required to compromise their creative voice in order to be more globally acceptable.

Body:
1. I will begin by comparing film industries and consumption of films from around the world. US v. Western Europe, US vs. Bollywood, and the Latin American Film Industries. I will talk about the economic and cultural impact on India and Latin America as well. The majority of films viewed around the world are from the US.

2. From that I will talk about how many perceptions from within movies have affected people around the world. i.e. Germans in WWII movies (Oscar Schindler is non-stereotypical). Anorexia in Fiji because of american media. "How the movies made a President" perceptions of African Americans and their roles as leaders prepared the national public for a black president.

3. An example of how globalization is affecting the way films are made within the US. GI Joe no longer "General Issue"

4. The Barry Jenkin's interview where the point of view of a filmmaker is presented. The effect films can have on individuals and the "American experience as a global commodity."

5. How film and media sources can be used to change the perception of reality. i.e. the use of propaganda films by Hitler and, within our own country, the Iraq war.

Conclusion:
My own view is that filmmakers should be respectful to not misrepresent something but at the same time not change their own ideals to appease the world because it might not be their intended audience. Though I concede that films produced can have damaging effects on the perceptions of cultures and/or people, I still maintain that it is the responsibility of the audience to reach their own conclusions. For example, any source of media, be it film, television, newspaper, etc. will have an argument presented within and the audience should be as aware of it within movies as they are with opinion editorials. Although some might object that movies are viewed as an escape and not a venue for public discourse, I reply that even the movies that are for “fun” have a message within that the director wants the audience to leave with. This issue is important because movies are viewed around the world and the effects of film on cultures is real, but it is the individuals, not the films, that make the change.