1895-1918 –

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

“Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory” – March 1895.

What is the “Phantom ride?”

Being the first example of the technique, a tracking shot, Cameramen achieved this by strapping themselves and their cameras to the buffer of the train, creating a phantom like shot of a floating camera. This is how it therefore got the name “Phantom ride”.

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

“The Sick Kitten”, directed by George Albert Smith, was the first film to ever include the technique of a close-up shot, this was done to capture the kitten having its medicine. Usually in prior films, shots were wide to capture the entire environment of the shot.

“Life of an American fireman” directed by Edwin S. Porter, was significant as it was the first use of continuity editing. This is seen where an exterior shot of the street with the fireman cuts to an exterior shot of the house on fire and the victims of it.

What was the name of the first “Film Star” in Hollywood?

Florence Lawrence. Being the first actor to be named publicly, she gained a recognisable appearance on screen.