UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

The medium of film has a larger impact on the world than many realize. The messages they project onto audiences have a multitude of consequences. The research begins with an exploration of what makes a film a film and eventually arrives upon its agreed definition. Different genres of film often hold different sets of meaning, and the stories presented have the potential to mirror real-world sentiment in relation to massive world events, such as wars. This research dives into the implications of these films, and how the things they display can change a society. These movies demonstrate the capability of socializing audiences, teaching them learned behavior and stigmas against various groups of people, such as the sexually inexperienced, or individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to the films themselves, this research takes a look at the actors that promote and work in these movies, deducing whether or not their presence held significant economic returns, and if their influence is truly that powerful. Research found that while actors themselves did not lead to the guaranteed monetary success of a film,there was a correlation between the popularity of the actor and the paycheck they received. The paper also includes an analysis of modern films and the highly tailored fictional worlds they sell to viewers. The research concludes with a synthesis of all these topics, demonstrating the importance of an educated consumer, one that understands the capitalistic enterprise that is the modern film industry.