1903 – 1918 –

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

The reason for this large move was due to the laws such as copyrights made by inventors such as Thomas Edison on the patents of using Cameras, film makers and producers moved far away to not be prosecuted. Hollywood’s climate was also very sunny which was good for film making.

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

Scandinavian, mainly Danish film makers were credited as the best film makers as they utilised more natural lighting. Additionally having far less censorship’s than other nations, they were more able to explore different topics and themes early on.

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

Benjamin Christensen, who was the director of Häxan, created one of the first horror films, his exploration of capturing witchcraft, demonology and Satanism.

Victor Sjöström, who directed and starred in the Phantom carriage, uses double exposures to capture a drunkards wasted life time.

Who directed “Birth of a Nation” (1915) and why is the film continue to divide opinions among film critics, practitioners and theorists?

Directed by D.W. Griffith, the film made its controversy through depiction of black people and the racist cult, the Klu Klux Klan. set in the civil war, the film showed black people in the government as drunkards and sexually provocative, whilst the south as hero’s who protect their women from them. Causing harm to American society it lead to black audiences being attacked in cinemas, resurgence in membership of the Klu Klux Klan and laws later on such as the Jim crow law and segregation.

movies in the German expressionism-

Nerves- directed by Robert Reinert

Pandora’s box- directed by George Wilhelm

movies in Russian Constuctionism-

man with a movie camera- directed by Dziga Vertov

battleship Potemkin- directed by Sergei Eisenstein

1)According to cousins, the hub of film production in the USA moved because he can no longer be sued for infringing on motion picture film patents.

2)Denmark’s film industry is described as the best because of their natural light as well as Denmark’s traditions of literature meaning the themes were new an innovative.

3)Benjamin Christianson made a famous film that is Haxan. Another director is victor Sjostrom who directed the phantom carriage.

4)D.W Griffith directed the film Birth of a nation which was released in 1915. The film caused a division between critics, practitioners and theorists. The cause of this was because of the racist themes in the movie and the false depiction of African-American soldier in the American civil war. It caused many to Protest.

1 why did the hub of film production move from the east coast to Hollywood

to escape the financial charges of Thomas Edison’s adventures

2 what nations film industry did cousins describe as the best in the world in 1910

Denmark and Sweden used natural light that was nice to record on camera. this was lighting that you couldn’t get anywhere else. and the lack of censorship film writers more creative freedom.

3. 2 film and 2 directors that cousins said were remarkable.

Benjamin Christiansen filmed Haksan witchcraft.

Victor Sjostrom filmed the phantom carriage

4 who directed birth of a nation in 1913

d.w Griffith directed birth of a nation in 1913. it was contrerversial because of its racist views about black characters

According to Cousins, why did the hub of film production in the USA move from the East Coast of America to Hollywood? – Thomas Edison had placed patents for several aspects of filmmaking, so production moved to Hollywood to avoid having to pay him royalties.

Which nation’s film industry does Cousins describe as “the best in the world” in the 1910s and why? – Scandinavia, specifically Denmark. Natural lighting there gave films specific innovative looks that could not be given elsewhere. Lack of censorship there gave European filmmakers the ability to have creative freedom.

Give an example of two films and two directors from this place and time cited by Cousins as remarkable. – Benjamin Christensen, director of Häxan, and Victor Sjöströ, director of The Phantom Carriage.

Who directed Birth of a Nation (1915) and why did the film continue to divide opinions among film critics, practitioners and theorists? – D.W Griffith, the film is controversial due to it’s racist depictions and portrayals of African Americans, and portraying the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic force.

1. Originally, the movie industry was driven to the West Coast by the strict limitations placed on filmmakers by Thomas Edison’s monopoly known as “the Trust.” The physical distance between California and the East Coast-based Trust allowed filmmakers freedom they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

2. Denmark’s film industry in 1910 was considered one of the best, most innovative in their definition of the art of light. In Scandinavia there is an abundance of literature and creativity, meanings films were full of new technique and idea. The lack of censorship meant the film makers had the freedom to take more risks in their films.

3. Benjamin Christensen directed films that reinvented the idea of film as society knew it at the time, some of his films include:

• The Mysterious X (1914)
• Blind Justice (1916)
• Häxan (1922) aka Witchcraft Through the Ages

4. D.W.Griffith’s controversial epic 1915 film about the Civil War and Reconstruction depicted the Ku Klux Klan as valiant saviors of a post-war South ravaged by Northern carpetbaggers and freed Black people. History is usually written by the winners. This film portrayed African Americans as menacing and cruel, while it depicted KKK members as honorable, heroic figures. 

By 1915, many major motion-picture companies had relocated to Hollywood from the East Coast. Hollywood was an ideal place to produce movies since filmmakers couldn’t be sued there for infringing on motion picture film patents held by Thomas Edison and his Motion Picture Patents Company.

which nations film industry does cousins describe as ‘the best in the world’ and why? Scandinavia, specifically Sweden and Denmark, because they used unique lighting giving the films a certain look you couldn’t get anywhere else and it was very intellectually driven and themes and ideas where innovative. the lack of censorship meant they had more creative risks and explore more topics than America.

Benjamin Christensen – Haxan (1922), Sealed orders (1912)

D.W. Griffith – birth of a nation (1915), Intolerance (1916)

birth of a nation was directed by- D.W Griffith. The Birth of a Nation, originally called The Clansman, is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.’s 1905 novel and play The Clansman.

Comedian, actor, producer, writer, and director Charlie Chaplin is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of the screen and one of the most important figures in motion-picture history

One of Keaton’s strengths was his sense of character development. He didn’t need a laugh in every scene. He wanted the audience to believe in his characters, which only made the comedy that much more impactful. Keaton’s deadpan expression, underreacting to incredible gags and stunts, sold every scene.

In 1928, Variety proclaimed him the highest paid film star. Harold was an innovator in the movie business. He pioneered new camera techniques and was one of the first filmmaker to preview his comedies to a test audience, and then re-shoot, re-cut and preview them again.

Originally, the movie industry was driven to the West Coast by the strict limitations placed on filmmakers by Thomas Edison’s monopoly known as “the Trust.” The physical distance between California and the East Coast-based Trust allowed filmmakers freedom they wouldn’t have had otherwise. The East Coast became suffocating for non-Edison-affiliated film makers. Every turn they made in the industry was met with a lawsuit, stifling creativity and stalling innovation. The environment that Edison concocted led to independent film makers wanting to get far away from him and his monopoly.

Denmark was the best in the industry at the time, so was Sweden. they used a lot of modern type films, and the natural light that they used that was unique. they used a lot of sexual nature that was not really allowed to be used at the time, but they used it anyway and they blew up really fast as a controversial film industry.

the birth of a nation was directed by Griffiths.

bound in morocco was directed by Allan Dwan.

as it is in life was directed by Griffith as well.

according to cousins, the hub of film production in the USA moved from the east coast to Hollywood as it was harder for patents to be enforced, provided better weather conditions, and made it easier to film.

cousin describes Denmarks film industry as the best in the 1910’s this was because of the natural lights that could not be achieved anywhere else, this was also due to the intellectually driven writing of the films, and a lack of censorship in Scandinavia compared to the USA meaning film makers could take risks, explore topics and be more free in general

two directors from this time are Benjamin Christensen, who directed Haxan, a second director is victor sjostrom, who directed the phantom carriage.