1903-1918: The Thrill becomes Story or The Hollywood Dream

According to Cousins, why did the hub of film production in the USA move from the East Coast of America to Hollywood?

To escape the patents put in place by Thomas Edison and to take advantage of the weather and natural lighting

which nation’s film industry does Cousins describe as ‘the best in the world’ in the 1910s and why?

He saw Scandinavian countries as ‘the best in the world’ because danish directors like Benjamin Christensen saw film as an art form and he used light as a key technique in his films, the most prevalent examples of this is his film ‘Mysterious X’ (1914)

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by cousin’s as remarkable

• ‘Häxan’ by Benjamin Christensen (1922)
• ‘The Phantom Carriage’ by Victor Sjöström (1921)

What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brothers and when was this?

Workers leaving the factory in 1895

What is the “phantom ride”?

Phantom rides or panoramas were an early genre of film popular in Britain and the US at the end of the 19th century. Pre-dating true narrative, the films simply show the progress of a vehicle moving forwards, usually shot by strapping a cameraman to the front.

What was ground-breaking about the silent films “The Sick Kitten” and “life of an American Fireman”?

They used new types of shots

What was the name of the first “film star” in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence

According to Cousins why did the hub of film production in the USA move from East coast of America to Hollywood?

Thomas Edison had patents that made filming expensive on the east coast

1895-1918: The World Discovers A New Art form or Birth of the Cinema

• What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brother and when was this? – ‘Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory’ – 6th June 1948

• What is the “Phantom Ride”? – This was a camera movement whereby the camera is typically put on the front of a train or a moving vehicle to create the perspective of floating.

• What was ground-breaking about the silent films “The Sick Kitten” and “Life of an American Fireman”? – ‘The Sick Kitten’ was ground breaking because it introduced multiple shot types to narrate the story. The ‘Life of an American Fireman’ including the first example of cross cutting between scenes.

• What was the name of the first “film star” in Hollywood? – Florence Lawrence is known as the first movie star as she was the first actor or actress to promote her films with her name.

1903-1918: The Thrill Becomes Story or The Hollywood Dream

• According to Cousins, why did the hub of film production in the USA move from the East Coast of America to Hollywood? – To avoid the patents Thomas Edison had on the filming equipment. Also the light and weather was better in Hollywood for filming.

• Which nation’s film industry does Cousin’s describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s and why?

• Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousin’s as remarkable.

The first film made by the Lumiere Brother was “Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory” on 6th June 1948.

The “Phantom Ride” is a shot taken from the front of a vehicle (typically from a train) and you can only see the tracks/road but not the vehicle can not be seen. It gives the effect of floating.

“Life of an American Fireman” was ground-breaking because the film included cross cuts.

“The Sick Kitten” was ground-breaking because it added different shot types (the close up) as before this all movies had been wide.

The first “film star” in Hollywood was Florence Lawrence, whose name was used to promote her films.

They took some technology and ideas that Edison was using and took them to Hollywood as he was making people pay a patent to use his technology. So they moved to Hollywood as it was far enough away so Edison couldn’t prosecute them.

Cousin’s described Denmark as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s. Examples of films from Denmark in the 1910’s are The Mysterious X and The Phantom Carriage. Two famous directors are Benjamin Christensen and Victor Sjorstrom.

Why did the hub of film production in the US move from the East Coast to the West Coast?

They were trying to escape Thomas Edison and his patents fees that were put in place and also because California had more favourable weather.

Which nation’s film industry does Cousin’s describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s and why?

He saw Scandinavian countries as “the best in the world” because Danish directors like Benjamin Christensen saw film as an art form and use light as a key technique in his films, and an example of this is the film “Mysterious X”.

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousin’s as remarkable.

“Haxan” by Benjamin Christensen and “The Phantom Carriage” by Victor Sjöström.

According to Cousins, why did the hub of film production in the USA move from the East Coast of America to Hollywood?

Film production moved to Hollywood as it was far away from companies that held copyright and patents against film makers, it also had reliable sunny weather all year round.

Which nation’s film industry does Cousin’s describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s and why?

Denmark, Scandinavian film introduced art films and effects to their movies.

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousin’s as remarkable.

Benjamin Christensen and Victor sjostrom

What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brothers and when was this?​

Workers leaving the Lumiere factory (1895).

What is the “Phantom Ride”?​

When a camera is on the front of a moving vehicle so it looks like it is floating.

What was ground-breaking about the silent films “The Sick Kitten” and “Life of an American Fireman”?​

The Life of an American Fireman (1903) was the first example of cross-cutting. The Sick Kitten (1903) was the first close up.

What was the name of the first “film star” in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence (1886 – 1938).

Who directed Birth of a Nation and why is this film now considered to be controversial?​

D.W.Griffiths. It is controversial as it presented the KKK as heroic.

Which nation’s film industry does Cousin’s describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910’s and why?​

Denmark

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousin’s as remarkable.

Benjamin Christensen, The Mysterious X and Victor Sjorstrom, the Phantom Carriage.

Why did film production in USA move from the east coats to Hollywood?

To avoid having to pay the fees of Thomas Edison’s patents for film loops. Also, it was sunny so it was easy to film outside as the lighting was good.

What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brothers and when was this?

June 6, 1948, Bandol) created the film La Sortie des ouvriers de l’usine Lumière (1895; “Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory”), which is considered the first motion picture.

What is the ‘Phantom Ride’?

Phantom rides or panoramas were an early genre of film popular in Britain and the US at the end of the 19th century. Pre-dating true narrative, the films simply show the progress of a vehicle moving forwards, usually shot by strapping a cameraman to the front.

What was ground-breaking about the silent films ‘The sick Kitten’ and ‘Life of an American Fireman’?

‘The sick Kitten’ had the first close-up and camera angle change, ‘Life of an American Fireman’ is the first film to use cross cutting (cutting between two locations).

What was the name of the first ‘film star’ in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence

1895-1918: The World Discovers A New Art form, or Birth of Cinema

what was the first film created by the Lumiere brothers? and when was this?

Workers Leaving the Factory was the first film created by the Lumiere brothers and created in 1895

what is the ‘Phantom Ride’?

A Camera being placed upon a moving train to create the illusion of a ghostly floating shot

What was ground Breaking about the silent films ‘the Sick Kitten’ and ‘the Life of an American Fireman’?

‘The Sick Kitten’ (1903) incorporated the first use of a close up in film and ‘the Life of an American Fireman’ (1903) had the first use of cross cutting between two locations

what was the name of the first ‘film star’ in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence was the first Hollywood ‘film star’. She was born 1886 died in 1938 after using rat poisoning to commit suicide

What was the name of the first film made by the Lumiere Brother and when was this?​

1895 Workers Leaving the factory

What is the “Phantom Ride”?

Shot from the front of a vehicle or fast moving shots that appear as though a ghost is travelling through the air.

What was ground-breaking about the silent films “The Sick Kitten” (1903) and “Life of an American Fireman” (1903)?​

The Sick Kitten was the first film to use a close up shot and the Life Of A Fireman was the first film to use a crosscut.

What was the name of the first “film star” in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence