Today Hollywood films are classed as "mainstream", they follow specific standards and use specific techniques. This much so that you can spot a Hollywood film just by the actors used, the storyline made and camera techniques.
A set of films which decided to reject the Hollywood system are Dogme 95 films. This new wave of films was started by Lars Von Triers and Thomas Vinterberg in 1995, they both met up and made a VOW OF CHASITY to making films which was then unveiled at the 100th anniversary of cinema.
In total, 31 Dogme films were made before the Dogmesecretariat closed down in June 2002. The Dogme films were almost like a rebellion against Hollywood/ mainstream films, using handheld cameras and no added lighting or sound. Even though the films were a success, the Dogme films didn't want to be seen as a genre hence why they shut down in 2002. Filmmakers today are still encouraged to go on taking the VOW for historical purposes.
This was a revolution in film making subverting mainstream standards but there are many films that conform to these standards. With mainstream films you can usually predict the plot as a lot of them have the same storyline and characters, a film which subverts the mainstream and Hollywood film making standards is Bunny and the Bull.
Bunny and the Bull is a British film directed by Paul King. The storyline features a man called Stephen Turnbull who hasn't left his house in months due to an unforeseen circumstance. The film goes back to a road trip with his friend Bunny. During his flashbacks the set is made out of things from his flat, for example milk bottles make a bar wall and a Ferris wheel being made out of the inside of a clock to signify that it is in the past. The storyline is also very unpredictable with a sudden turn towards the end. These characteristics help this film to identify as a subvert to the Hollywood and mainstream system.
Going from one extreme to the other, a film which conforms the mainstream standards is the well known romantic comedy Pretty Women. This film conforms to the standards of Hollywood through many characteristics. Number one is the films choice of actors, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Big actors sell films. As well as this the storyline of Pretty Women is very predictable, Roberts plays an unconventional part as a hooker where Gere plays the typical male role as a rich tycoon. They meet and end up falling in love, the film comes to an end with a typical fairytale ending leaving the audience content. Mainstream films, depending on genre tend to have the same plot. The big named actors and predictable storyline help to identify this film as a mainstream film.
These are just two films and a few examples that demonstrate how films can conform to Hollywood standards and how they can subvert these standards.
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