Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 42 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 9: Arts and Media

How did Hollywood begin?

In the early twentieth century, a small area of California became the centre of the world's film industry. Learn to add extra information with non-defining relative clauses and with which.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Film and the industry

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. How often do you go to the cinema?
  2. Do you prefer cinema or streaming?
  3. What was the first film you remember?
  4. Have you ever seen a silent film?
  5. Who is your favourite director?
  6. Would you like to work in the film industry?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about cinema.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. A company that makes films is called a film .
  2. The decides how the film looks and guides the actors.
  3. The finds the money and organises the making of a film.
  4. The text of a film, with all the dialogue, is a .
  5. California offered varied natural , from beaches to mountains.
  6. A legal right to be the only one who makes an invention is a .
  7. All the companies that make films together are called the film .
  8. A very successful and expensive film is called a .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a studio is a place where
  2. a producer organises and
  3. scenery = natural
  4. a patent = a legal
  5. silent = without
  6. a blockbuster is a very
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to add extra information.

  • Hollywood, which is...Голлівуд, який...Hollywood, which is part of Los Angeles, became famous.
  • Edison, who...Едісон, який...Edison, who held many patents, controlled much of the business.
  • California, where...Каліфорнія, де...California, where the weather was sunny, attracted filmmakers.
  • a director, whose...режисер, чиї...D. W. Griffith, whose films were influential, worked there.
  • ..., which meant that......, що означало, що...Films could be shot all year, which meant lower costs.
  • ..., which is why......, ось чому...The climate was good, which is why many studios moved.
  • ..., which surprised......, що здивувало...The industry grew fast, which surprised many people.
  • The film, which was...Фільм, який був...The film, which was silent, lasted an hour.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The beginning of Hollywood

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

How did Hollywood begin?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, most American films were made on the East Coast, in New York and New Jersey. The inventor Thomas Edison, who held many patents on film equipment, and the companies connected with him tried to control the business. Many independent filmmakers, who did not want to pay, looked for a new place to work.

California, where the weather was sunny almost all year, seemed a good choice. It also had varied scenery: beaches, mountains, deserts and forests, which meant that many different stories could be filmed in one region. The distance from the East Coast, which is often mentioned as another reason, made it harder for the Edison companies to check what was happening, although historians do not agree on how important this was.

By the early 1910s, several studios were working in the small area of Hollywood, which later became part of Los Angeles. One film that is often described as the first full-length feature made there, "The Squaw Man", was made by Cecil B. DeMille in 1914. During the following decades, the area became the centre of what was called the studio system, in which big companies employed directors, writers and stars.

Hollywood, whose name is now known all over the world, is still a place where films are made, although today filming also happens in many other countries.

Which old film would you like to see?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Early American films were mostly made on the East Coast.
  2. Edison's companies were happy to let others use their equipment freely.
  3. Historians agree on exactly why studios moved.
  4. By the early 1910s, studios were working in Hollywood.
  5. The text says Hollywood is no longer used for films.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Why did the weather matter so much for early films?
  2. Is it good when one place controls an entire industry?
  3. Which countries make the most interesting films today?
  4. What was lost when films got sound?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Non-defining relative clauses

A non-defining clause adds extra information that is not essential. Use commas. Use who for people, which for things, whose for possession, where for places. You cannot use that, and you cannot leave out the pronoun.

Edison, who held many patents, controlled much of the business. Hollywood, which is part of Los Angeles, became famous. California, where it was sunny, attracted filmmakers.

Which for a whole idea

Which can refer to a whole idea in the main clause. Put a comma before it. It often means "and this".

The weather was good, which meant that films could be shot all year. The industry grew fast, which surprised many people.

Block 9 review

Use the grammar from this block.

defining relative clauses (L41)

Common mistakes: commas in non-defining clauses, no that after a comma, and which for a whole idea. ✗ Hollywood, that is in California → Hollywood, which is in California. ✗ The film who was long → The film, which was long, …

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. Edison,
    held many patents, controlled much of the business.
  2. Hollywood,
    is part of Los Angeles, became famous.
  3. California,
    the weather was sunny, attracted filmmakers.
  4. D. W. Griffith,
    films were influential, worked there.
  5. The weather was good,
    meant films could be shot all year.
  6. The industry grew fast,
    surprised many people.
  7. The film,
    was silent, lasted an hour.
  8. The director,
    I met in Rome, was friendly.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. Hollywood, that is in California, is famous. →
  2. The film, who was long, was boring. →
  3. The film, which it was silent, lasted an hour. →
  4. The studio grew fast, what surprised everybody. →
  5. Edison, who he held many patents, was powerful. →
  6. The sun shines all year, that is why they went there. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use non-defining relative clauses with who, which, whose and where.

  1. Tell me about your hometown, which you know well.
  2. Who is a director whose films you enjoy?
  3. Tell me about your city, where you live now.
  4. What is a film that you saw recently?
  5. Describe an actor whose work you like.
  6. What do you do on Sundays, which is your day off?
5

Three views on early cinema and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on early cinema

Three people talk about early cinema. Compare their views. Who loves silent films? Who knows the most about the business? Which film would you like to see first?

Person 1

Maya, 30

  • Is a film student
  • Writes about early cinema
  • Loves silent films, which she watches at festivals
  • Admires the early directors
Person 2

Mr Brandt, 70

  • Worked in a cinema, where he sold tickets
  • Remembers the old studios
  • Says film was cheaper then
  • Misses the big screen
Person 3

Jess, 26

  • Is a producer, who works in a small studio
  • Says money is the biggest problem
  • Mentions the new streaming business
  • Dreams of a big blockbuster
5.2

Mini-talk: a place, a person and an idea

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a place and add extra information with where or which.
  3. Part 2: describe a person with a non-defining clause (who, whose).
  4. Part 3: give an opinion and add a comment with which (..., which means...).
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is the cinema in your town like?
  2. Which film would you watch again?
  3. Who is a director you admire?
  4. Where do you watch films?
  5. What do you think about streaming?
  6. What is your favourite genre?
  7. Which actor's films do you always watch?
  8. Would you like to be in a film?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family loves films?
  2. Who do you watch films with?
  3. Who is an actor whose career you follow?
  4. Who do you know that works with cameras?
  5. Who recommended your favourite film?
  6. Who is the most famous person from your city?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Has streaming killed cinemas?
  2. Should the government support film?
  3. Is a big blockbuster better than a small film?
  4. Do films show reality?
  5. Will cinema exist in fifty years?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Telling a story of a place

You

Guide

A tourist (your teacher) asks about the history of a place in your city:
  • name the place
  • add extra information about it
  • mention a person connected with it
  • give your view
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use non-defining clauses.
Your teacher

Tourist

Says things like:
  1. What is this place?
  2. Who built it?
  3. Why is it famous?
  4. Is it worth visiting?
7.2

Recommending a film

You

Recommender

A friend (your teacher) asks you to recommend a film:
  • name the film
  • add information about the director, who...
  • say where it is set
  • say what you think, which...
You do most of the talking. Use: ..., who... · ..., which... · ..., where... · ..., whose...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. What should I watch?
  2. Who made it?
  3. Where is it set?
  4. Will I like it?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

studiodirectorproducerscreenplayscenerypatentindustryblockbuster
  1. A company that makes films is called a film .
  2. The decides how the film looks and guides the actors.
  3. The finds the money and organises the making of a film.
  4. The text of a film, with all the dialogue, is a .
  5. California offered varied natural , from beaches to mountains.
  6. A legal right to be the only one who makes an invention is a .
  7. All the companies that make films together are called the film .
  8. A very successful and expensive film is called a .
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. My sister, lives in Rome, is a doctor.
  2. Paris, is the capital of France, is beautiful.
  3. The town, I was born, is small.
  4. The weather was bad, spoiled the trip.
  5. My neighbour, dog is large, is kind.
  6. The film, was long, was great.
  7. Edison, was an inventor, was rich.
  8. The street, we met, is quiet.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Edison, who held many patents, controlled much of the business.
  2. Hollywood, that is in California, is famous.
  3. California, where it was sunny, attracted filmmakers.
  4. The film, who was long, was boring.
  5. The weather was good, which meant films could be shot all year.
  6. The studio grew fast, what surprised everybody.
  7. The film, which was silent, lasted an hour.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Edison, who
  2. Hollywood, which
  3. California, where
  4. D. W. Griffith, whose
  5. The weather was good,
  6. The climate was good,
  7. The industry grew fast,

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