Film History part I:Film History part I:

The beginning . . .The beginning . . .

Modern HistoryModern History

There have been TWO major There have been TWO major innovations in the arts in recent innovations in the arts in recent history:history:

PhotographyPhotographyMotion pictureMotion picture

Modern HistoryModern History

Motion picture was born of curiosity, Motion picture was born of curiosity, technological ingenuity and the technological ingenuity and the desire to visually record life and desire to visually record life and study movement.study movement.

Motion picture was only possible due Motion picture was only possible due to advancements in photography!to advancements in photography!

Innovator: Eadweard Innovator: Eadweard MuybridgeMuybridge

A British photographer working in A British photographer working in CaliforniaCalifornia

Took the first photos capturing motion in Took the first photos capturing motion in 1877 and 18781877 and 1878

He set off a row of cameras (12, later 24)He set off a row of cameras (12, later 24) Each camera had a string connected to the Each camera had a string connected to the

shuttershutter He set up the cameras and had a horse He set up the cameras and had a horse

run by; as the horse ran by, it pulled the run by; as the horse ran by, it pulled the strings and took the pictures!strings and took the pictures!

So, he had a succession of photos showing So, he had a succession of photos showing the horses runningthe horses running

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Check these out!Check these out!

http://en.http://en.wikipediawikipedia..org/wiki/Eadweard_Muybridgeorg/wiki/Eadweard_Muybridge

So . . .So . . .

The first “motion pictures” were The first “motion pictures” were simply a series of pictures strung simply a series of pictures strung together!together!

Muybridge influenced many Muybridge influenced many inventors:inventors:Including Thomas A. Edison and the Including Thomas A. Edison and the

Lumiere brothers.Lumiere brothers.

Thomas A. Edison – 1890sThomas A. Edison – 1890s 11stst films in the U.S. films in the U.S. He created a motion picture company and He created a motion picture company and

recorded circus acts and vaudeville recorded circus acts and vaudeville performances.performances.

Displayed the first commercial motion-Displayed the first commercial motion-picture machine in 1893picture machine in 1893 Called the Called the kinetoscope.kinetoscope.

One person at a time - “peep show” styleOne person at a time - “peep show” style Replaced by projections on a large screen Replaced by projections on a large screen

For more than one!For more than one!

First commercial projection in a theater First commercial projection in a theater took place at the Koster and Bial’s Music took place at the Koster and Bial’s Music hall, New York, April 1896.hall, New York, April 1896.

KinetoscopeKinetoscope

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Check THESE out!Check THESE out!

http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/edmp/40http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/edmp/4014a.mov14a.mov

http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/edmp/40http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/edmp/4015a.mov15a.mov

A great site:A great site:http://lcweb2.loc.http://lcweb2.loc.

gov/ammem/edhtml/edmvhmgov/ammem/edhtml/edmvhm.html.html

Louis and Auguste Lumiere Louis and Auguste Lumiere

Used the kinetoscope idea from Used the kinetoscope idea from EdisonEdison

Used a lighter-weight camera and Used a lighter-weight camera and took it out into the everyday world.took it out into the everyday world.For example, an early film showed a For example, an early film showed a

baby being fed its cereal.baby being fed its cereal.The first paid public performances The first paid public performances

took place in the basement of a café took place in the basement of a café in Paris in December 1895.in Paris in December 1895.

Le cinematographeLe cinematographe

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

The orld’s first movie poster! The orld’s first movie poster! 18951895

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Check these out!Check these out!

http://www.http://www.institut-lumiereinstitut-lumiere.org/francais/films/1seance/1seance0.org/francais/films/1seance/1seance01.html1.html

http://www.http://www.institut-lumiereinstitut-lumiere.org/francais/films/1seance/1seance0.org/francais/films/1seance/1seance06.html6.html

While creating films:While creating films:

Film makers learned that some subjects Film makers learned that some subjects were more interesting than others.were more interesting than others.

For now, however, subjects were still For now, however, subjects were still bland.bland.

The art was still limited:The art was still limited: Usually shot straight on, far enough back to get Usually shot straight on, far enough back to get

everything in frame, AND the film only allowed everything in frame, AND the film only allowed for a half minute at most.for a half minute at most.

AND films were silent, black and white and two AND films were silent, black and white and two dimensional. dimensional.

Two schools of thoughtTwo schools of thought

Formative:Formative: ArtisticArtistic Posed/arranged and Posed/arranged and

manipulatedmanipulated Theatrical in natureTheatrical in nature Meant to record a Meant to record a

‘performance’‘performance’

Realistic:Realistic: Capture Capture

unadulterated unadulterated eventsevents

Documentary styleDocumentary style

What could enhance this art? THE STORY!!!

It is difficult to say who added It is difficult to say who added story to film . . .story to film . . .

One important figure sticks out:One important figure sticks out:George MeliesGeorge Melies

Had a background in the artsHad a background in the artsWorked in theater devoted to MagicWorked in theater devoted to MagicHe worked with ‘trick films’He worked with ‘trick films’‘‘special effects’ were born!special effects’ were born!““The Vanishing Lady” and “Haunted Castle”The Vanishing Lady” and “Haunted Castle”Also worked with narrative by increasing the Also worked with narrative by increasing the

length of films from under one minute to 10 length of films from under one minute to 10 or 15 minutes in length!or 15 minutes in length!

http://www.archive.org/details/Levoyhttp://www.archive.org/details/Levoyagedanslaluneagedanslalune

D.W. GriffithD.W. Griffith

Important figure in American FilmImportant figure in American FilmREAD ABOUT HIM!READ ABOUT HIM!View: THE BIRTH OF A NATIONView: THE BIRTH OF A NATION