Film Production Research Articles

Predicting Movie Box Office Based on Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Statistical Methods

Abstract. The global film industry has been proved to impose a significant impact on both culture and the economy, with box office revenue serving as a crucial indicator of a film's commercial success. This study utilizes data from the Kaggle "TMDB Box Office Prediction" competition, encompassing 3,000 films released between 1990 and 2018, to predict movie box office revenue using Random Forest, XGBoost algorithms, and deep learning models such as Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bidirectional LSTM) and Simple Recurrent Neural Network (SimpleRNN). The goal is to develop a model that accurately predicts movie box office. By comprehensively considering multiple factors such as budget, popularity and film characteristics, this study not only significantly improves the accuracy of box office prediction, but also provides a scientific basis for the formulation of film market strategies. The results demonstrate that the Bidirectional LSTM excels in handling complex time-series data, showing strong trend-capturing capabilities, while XGBoost exhibits greater robustness in dealing with complex data and outliers. These findings can not only provide guidance for making more effective strategies on film production and distribution, but also provide new directions for future research, such as delving into the impact of social media on box office and developing more sophisticated predictive models to adapt to changing market dynamics.

The Effect of Doping Zinc Oxide Thin Films With (0.5 wt. %) Carbon Nanotubes by Vacuum Evaporation

The study included the production of nano-thin films made of zinc oxide doped with carbon nanotubes (ZnO:CNTs) at a doping ratio of 0.5 wt%. The materials are applied onto glass substrates using the vacuum evaporation process. The structural characteristics of the thin films of undiluted and doped ZnO were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the surface properties of the films were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The optical characteristics of the thin films were analyzed and described using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The ZnO thin films exhibited crystalline formations. The thin films exhibited significant orientations along the (100), (002), and (101) crystallographic planes, indicating their hexagonal phase structures. The crystal size of ZnO thin films exhibited a range of 30.87 nm to 19.96 nm after the process of doping. The study findings demonstrate that the addition of carbon nanotubes leads to an increase in the absorption ratio. Zinc-doped carbon nanotube thin films has features that make them suitable for many applications, such as gas detectors and UV detectors.

From Nollywood to the World: A Cultural Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis of Nollywood Films on Netflix

This study examines the transnationalization of the Nollywood industry in the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix. As nonwestern film industries begin to find global audiences beyond their local space, ideological underpinnings of these industries also continue to shift and become more apparent. The need to compete for global capital while retaining the cultural flavor of the South has been a major challenge of many transnational media industries. Taking Nollywood as a case study, this study argues that the production of Nollywood films on Netflix goes beyond the quest to find global market, instead economic interest, the need to appeal to global audience by producing multicultural relevant content and promulgating a Nigerian identity that non-African audience can understand are important areas that should be considered. Contextualized within the theories of cultural studies and political economy and the method of critical discourse analysis, the study accentuates the changing discourse of the new Nollywood cinema and what it means for critical cultural scholarship of media and communication, especially in the Global South.

Personalized movie recommendation in IoT-enhanced systems using graph convolutional network and multi-layer perceptron

Exploring the optimization of communication strategies for animation films in the context of cross-cultural communication, this research integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) and convolutional networks. The research constructs a collaborative filtering (CF) movie recommendation model based on a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) and investigates its application in cross-cultural communication. The fusion of IoT and convolutional networks in movie communication is also analyzed, and the effectiveness of the proposed GCN-CF model is validated through comparative experiments. The results indicate that, compared to other models, the GCN-CF model achieves the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) on the MovieLens 100 K and MovieLens 1 M datasets, with values of 0.8762 and 0.8275, respectively. Compared to traditional models, the GCN-CF model exhibits significantly superior performance in terms of RMSE, with reductions ranging from 0.6 to 5.2%, highlighting its heightened detection accuracy and overall performance. Moreover, the performance of the GCN-CF model is enhanced after introducing attention mechanisms and auxiliary information on both datasets, showing an improvement of 0.4% compared to the scenario without these additions. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of attention mechanisms and auxiliary information. Finally, the research presents an animation film communication strategy based on IoT and convolutional networks, offering novel insights for film production and communication, along with positive implications for cultural exchange and the advancement of the global media industry.

Olive pomace upcycling: Eco-friendly production of cellulose nanofibers by enzymatic hydrolysis and application in starch films.

Olive pomace (OP) waste, produced in large quantities, contains significant amounts of cellulose and fibers, making it a valuable resource for developing reinforcing ingredients in biodegradable packaging materials. This study aimed to produce nanofibers from OP using enzymatic hydrolysis with hemicellulases and cellulases, and to incorporate these nanofibers into starch films as a reinforcing agent. Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by alkaline pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis (with hemicellulases and cellulases) from olive pomace and applied as reinforcement in starch films in concentrations of 0.5%-5% (w/v). The nanofibers were analyzed according to composition, structural, and thermal properties. The nanofibers' suspension presented a cloudy and white color in aqueous suspension, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the increase of crystallinity, and the fibers' range was no wider than 100nm (according to Scherer equation). The composition analysis showed the decrease of carbonyl groups of hemicellulose and lignin. The starch films presented a homogenous surface. The solubility from these biodegradable films significantly reduced after the incorporation of CNF, and the nanomaterial's presence improved the degradation temperature (from 310°C to 322°C) and the mechanical resistance because the tension of rupture increased from 3.79 to 6.21MPa. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The utilization of waste from the olive pomace for cellulose nanofiber production holds promise, given the nanofibers' ability to readily integrate into various materials, including starches used in biodegradable film production. Within these matrices, nanofibers act as structure reinforcers and significantly reduce the solubility of films. Although biodegradable films ensure the shelf life, safety, and quality of food, their properties currently do not match those of traditional petroleum-based materials at an industrial scale, indicating a need for further enhancement.

Analyzing the Commercial Success of the Film Barbie

Abstract: The movie "Barbie" was released globally in 2023 and has garnered a large fan base worldwide, achieving significant artistic and commercial success. This article focuses on analyzing the reasons behind "Barbie's" commercial success, primarily covering the global influence of the Barbie IP, its alignment with current pop culture trends, the feminist core of the film, and aspects of its production, including the cast, music, set design, and scenery. Through this analysis, the article confirms Barbie's success in the global box office market. The success of "Barbie" has resonated with a wide range of social groups and has encouraged the spread of feminism. The social impact of "Barbie" is substantial enough to leave a mark on the milestone of film production for the movie and its production team. This commercially successful film with a feminist core is also set to spark a wave of thought in Hollywood and worldwide, encouraging and promoting the flourishing of feminism and feminist films.

Digital Dissemination of African Films in China: A Case Study of the Bilibili Platform

Cultural communication is of great significance to countries in shaping their national image and enhancing their national soft power. However, due to the influence of African politics and economy, African films always face the situation of insufficient production capacity in the film industry, internationalization experience, and film professionals. As a result, its culture has been discounted in the process of dissemination. In particular, African films have for many years relied only on video and other channels of dissemination, making it difficult to compete with the production and wide dissemination of films from Europe and the United States. Therefore, African films have only accounted for 4% of the African film market share in their home countries.

Digital Dissemination of African Films in China: A Case Study of the Bilibili Platform

Cultural communication is of great significance to countries in shaping their national image and enhancing their national soft power. However, due to the influence of African politics and economy, African films always face the situation of insufficient production capacity in the film industry, internationalization experience, and film professionals. As a result, its culture has been discounted in the process of dissemination. In particular, African films have for many years relied only on video and other channels of dissemination, making it difficult to compete with the production and wide dissemination of films from Europe and the United States. Therefore, African films have only accounted for 4% of the African film market share in their home countries.

Effect of solutions acidity on Haacke’s Figure of Merit of ZnO and ZnO:F thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Fluorine-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:F) thin films are valued for their potential as transparent conductive materials, particularly in optoelectronic applications. In this work, the deposition of highly conductive and transparent fluorine-doped ZnO thin films, deposited by chemical spray on glass substrates is reported. The effect of acetic (AcAc) in the initial fresh solution on Haacke’s Figure of Merit (Φ) of both zinc oxide (ZnO) and fluorine-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:F) thin films was studied. The substrate temperature was fixed to 450°C, and two deposition times (8 and 14 min) were tested. Accordingly, the optical and transport properties, as well as the structural and morphological characteristics of the films were measured. The results indicate that the samples are polycrystalline in all cases and exhibit a wurtzite-type structure of ZnO. The variation of AcAc in the starting solution causes a switch in preferential growth from (002) to (001). As the AcAc content increases, the surface morphology of the films reveals the formation of well-defined hexagonal grains, and the grain size increases. Conversely, the transmittance decreases as the acetic acid increases, which can attributed to carbon incorporation into the film. In addition, the band gap values of the films varied from 3.2 to 3.4 eV. Also, as the acetic acid concentration increased, a drop in the electrical resistivity of ZnO thin films on the order of 0.016 Ω⋅ cm was found for the ZnO:F films deposited with fresh solution for 14 min. This can be ascribed to a dense acetic cloud formed during the synthesis process, trapping volatile F species that incorporate into the ZnO lattice. This enhances Haacke’s Figure of Merit of ZnO:F films deposited with a fresh solution, demonstrating their potential use for application as transparent conductive films. This contrasts with other synthesis methods that require longer aging time in the precursor solution, making these findings useful for large-scale and more efficient production of transparent conductive films.

Precarity in Portuguese cinema

ABSTRACT Although perhaps not clear for someone unfamiliar with the history and the aesthetics of Portuguese cinema, the title of this paper is polysemic and thus refers to several layers of meaning. Indeed, this research will provide a historical overview and deal with precarity in two different ways that coexist and coincide in Portuguese cinema: the intra-cinematic, i.e. the representation of precarity on screen; and the extra-cinematic, i.e. the material circumstances that have characterised the Portuguese film production milieu. On the one hand, this paper will analyse the history of Portuguese films through the lens of precarity to uncover the different approaches its representation received, from the musical comedies of the 1940s to the peripheral-city dramas of the 1990s. On the other hand, we will provide an account of the evolution of the conditions in which Portuguese cinema subsisted. As this paper will argue these two situations are not entirely dissociated; the material circumstances that have determined the lifecycle of the Portuguese film production are, to a certain degree, related to the versions of precarity addressed. The point this paper proposes by bringing the topic of precarity to the fore intends to add to the literature on Portuguese cinema studies and help frame Portuguese cinema within the subarea of precarity studies.

Shifting Narratives: Gender in Moroccan Cinema

This paper endeavours to examine four cinematic works crafted by directors from Morocco, specifically Farida Benlyazid’s Women’s Wiles (1999), Yasmine Kassari’s The Dormant Baby (2004), Latif Lahlou’s Samira’s Garden (2007), and Hamid Zoughi’s Kharboucha (2008). Through the lenses of feminist theory and discourse analysis, this exploration delves into how contemporary Moroccan cinema has been reshaping the narratives surrounding femininity and masculinity. This cinema has not merely offered new avenues for representation to women directors; it has profoundly challenged and transformed conventional portrayals in film production. The Moroccan filmmakers in question emerge as active agents in challenging local cultural and social limitations, striving to play a crucial role in the “liberation” of women while also portraying masculinity in a state of turmoil.

Centre as periphery: learned coloniality in colonial Korean filmmaking

ABSTRACT In 1939, with the implementation of a new film law in Japan, Korean filmmakers in colonial Joseon Korea were seeing a preview of the regulation that their own industry would face come 1940. By examining the roundtable debates, editorials, and articles by Joseon film directors and producers at this time, we can observe not only the predicament of film workers, but also the predicament of producing films as a colony within an empire. In close-reading these film workers' writings on cinema across the empire, I triangulate the different positions of the colonial film industries and the film industry of the metropole, in terms of film control, production, and market. In doing so, I attempt to illuminate the way that colonial filmmakers in Korea understood the varied power dynamics of film production in the empire, and through their perspective, reconfigure conventional notions of power, colony, and representation.

Canvassing Taboo: African Sexuality as Post-Cultural Discourse in the Kenyan Disconnect 2 and Nafsi Films

Sexuality narratives in the Kenyan film industry play a crucial role in directly and indirectly shaping narrative interests, addressing stakeholder concerns, and delivering effective messaging. Locally, these narratives are closely monitored, regulated, and classified due to their sensitive nature, compounded by their evolving nature as newer sexuality concepts integrate with traditional paradigms. This study aims to explore the social conceptualization of African Sexuality as a Post-Cultural Discourse in the Kenyan films Disconnect 2 and Nafsi. Utilizing film analysis and key informant interviews with industry professionals, the research reveals that post-cultural sexuality narratives are presented as non-threatening sexual ideals and practices that can coexist harmoniously with traditional sexual paradigms. Recommendations include establishing a structured hierarchy for sexual narratives in film production to depict both traditional and post-cultural themes effectively. By incorporating consequences within the post-cultural discourse, audiences can better engage with and understand the complex sexual ideologies presented in these films.

Managing Language Development in Film Production: Leveraging the Metaverse and VR for Enhanced English Proficiency and Workforce Efficiency

Managing Language Development in Film Production: Leveraging the Metaverse and VR for Enhanced English Proficiency and Workforce Efficiency

Preparation of High Thermal Conductivity Graphene Films by Rapid Reduction with Low Energy Consumption.

In the domain of smart electronic devices, graphene films play a pivotal role due to their flexibility and high thermal conductivity. Within the realm of fabricating highly thermally conductive graphene films, Joule heating technology has garnered significant attention because of its capability for rapid temperature elevation and reduction of graphitization duration. However, substantial gas emission occurs during the reduction of graphene oxide films using this method, leading to immediate combustion and film fracturing, thereby limiting the rapid and uninterrupted production of graphene films. To address this challenge, a rapid reduction preparation process is introduced. This process initiates with a two-step reduction of graphene oxide films employing a reducing agent to establish gas escape pathways within the graphene films beforehand. Subsequently, the film is pressurized and Joule-heated using a graphite plate, with the entire heating process lasting only 800 s. The resulting graphene film exhibits a remarkable thermal conductivity of up to 1012W/(m·K). This method enhances the production efficiency of high thermal conductivity graphene films and is expected to further reduce production costs.

Generic overlap as a mode of (social) production in Portuguese silent non-fiction film: the case of A Covilhã Industrial, Pitoresca e seus Arredores (1921)

ABSTRACT The article offers a contribution to the international debate on non-fiction film genres in the silent period by proposing a historically and socially informed analysis of ‘generic overlap’ in the Portuguese documentary A Covilhã Industrial, Pitoresca e Seus Arredores (1921) [Industrial and Picturesque Covilhã, and Its Outskirts]. Made by Artur Costa de Macedo (1894–1966) for Invicta Film, a short-lived but prolific production company based in the North of Portugal, the film is a composite of different genres, such as the travelogue, the scenic view, the actuality, the industrial process film, and the local film. While in keeping with well-established international film practices, this kind of generic overlap also reflects the specific set of constraints and opportunities that the filmmaker encountered (and, respectively, sought to overcome and take advantage of) when he took on this film commission. Local newspaper research, though selective and incomplete, was crucial for gaining a deeper knowledge of this film’s local and regional underpinnings. The article also discusses the film’s 2002 restoration in light of its generic overlap, considering how genre-bound and genre-blind decisions resulted in a ‘new version’ and a ‘new original’ that sought to address a new set of concerns and scale configuration. It concludes that filmic genre has played (and continues to play) an active role in creating and sustaining social goals and relations in both silent filmmaking and film restoration projects.

The Role of Cultural Heritage in The Development of Tourism and Some Cultural Industries in Vietnam

Many nations now view the cultural industry as a significant role in the country's cultural life and as a vital economic sector supporting sustainable development. Vietnam has an affluent cultural history with diverse cultural identities and is valuable in every way. The development of various cultural industries benefits greatly from the resources provided by cultural heritages. In order to elucidate the significance of cultural heritage in the growth of particular cultural industries, such as music, film, and cultural tourism, we employ synthetic analysis techniques and field research in this article. According to the research findings, cultural heritages are becoming important resources for the growth of cultural tourism, giving travellers motivation to travel, learn, and carry out research. Cultural heritage also provides resources and inspiration for music and film production, meeting the public's needs for cultural entertainment. The article makes inferences about the value of cultural heritage; development constraints, and potential solutions for preserving and enriching cultural heritage within the cultural industry. It also provides ways to improve human resources in the fields of music, film, and cultural tourism.

Production of bioplastic films from wild cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) starch

This study tackles the pressing environmental challenges resulting from the rapid and ongoing use of conventional plastics by investigating biodegradable alternatives derived from wild cocoyam starch. The bioplastics developed from various formulations, incorporating gelatin, glycerine, vegetable oil, and vinegar, were systematically evaluated for their mechanical, chemical, microstructural and biodegradability properties. The addition of glycerine and gelatin enhanced the moisture content and flexibility of the films while vegetable oil improved water resistance, reducing water absorption. Th sample that contains 3 g of gelatin and 3 ml of glycerine exhibited the best overall performance with a tensile strength of 6.5 MPa and an elongation at break of 77 %. This sample also achieved an impressive biodegradation rate of 70 % within 7 days. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed a uniform and smooth morphology, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of key functional groups responsible for the material's performance. These results establish wild cocoyam starch as a promising resource for producing biodegradable bioplastics with considerable potential in various industries, particularly in packaging and agricultural applications. The excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability of the materials along with its natural abundance, offer an eco-friendly solution to the plastic waste problem. The study also opens new avenues for optimizing bioplastic formulations to enhance specific properties like thermal stability and moisture resistance, further broadening their practical applications. This research contributes to the sustainable materials landscape and represents a step toward reducing reliance on fossil-based plastics, advancing the global effort to mitigate environmental pollution.

Research On the Impact of Pop Music In 2000s Films: Shaping Youth Culture Through Soundtracks

This research delves into the profound impact of pop music on youth-oriented films of the 2000s, examining aspects such as cultural representation, emotional connection, and financial gains. The introduction underscores the critical importance of this topic in understanding how media shapes youth culture and influences societal perceptions. By focusing on iconic films like "High School Musical" and "Mean Girls," the study illustrates how pop music is used to enrich narratives and captivate audiences, making it an integral part of the storytelling process. The analysis reveals several key issues, including cultural homogenization, the reinforcement of stereotypes, and the prioritization of commercialization over artistic integrity. These challenges highlight the need for a more thoughtful integration of music in films to avoid superficial portrayals and promote authenticity. To address these issues, the research recommends expanding the range of musical themes to reflect diverse cultures and experiences, breaking away from stereotypes to foster more nuanced character portrayals, and balancing commercial objectives with creative expression in future film productions. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of this research in guiding media practices toward greater cultural diversity in youth-oriented entertainment. By adopting these recommendations, filmmakers can create richer, more diverse content that resonates emotionally with audiences while also contributing positively to the cultural landscape.

Thin film synthesis and photovoltaic performance of polypyrrole@cobalt hydroxide composites for solar cells and optoelectronic devices

Mono-nanocomposites (MNCs) comprising polypyrrole (PPy) and cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles (Co(OH)2 NPs) are emerging as highly favorable contenders for applications in solar cells and optoelectronic devices, owing to their distinctive attributes encompassing robust light absorption, elevated conductivity, and commendable chemical stability. This investigation delves into the production of a thin film [PPy@Co(OH)2]MNC utilizing the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. The structural and morphological characteristics of the [PPy@Co(OH)2]MNC thin film were scrutinized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical properties, namely reflectance (R), absorbance (Abs), and transmittance (T) within the UV–vis–NIR spectrum, were precisely gauged at room temperature. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations and optimizations were conducted to analyze the geometric parameters, while the refractive index dispersion was probed using the single oscillator Wemple-Didomenico (WD) model. Additionally, the energy of a single oscillator and the energy of dispersion were quantified. The [PPy@Co(OH)2]MNC thin film exhibited pronounced light absorption across the UV–vis–NIR spectrum, characterized by a bandgap of 1.6 eV. The Au/[PPy@Co(OH)2]MNC/p-Si/Al heterojunction device demonstrated a power conversion efficiency and fill factor (FF) of 2.6 % and 55.07 %, respectively, under an irradiance of 100 W/cm2. The findings of this investigation underscore the potential of [PPy@Co(OH)2]MNC-based thin films as auspicious candidates for deployment in solar cells and optoelectronic devices.