the story of film- odyssey

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.

the story of film- odyssey

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.

Birth of cinema continued

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.

The story of film (1903-1918) questions Part 2

film production switched location to Hollywood due to Edison claiming the rights to the film making process meaning a payment was needed in order to use it. Therefore to avoid payment they moved far west into Hollywood to avoid legal trouble. Furthermore Hollywood had consistent weather and natural lighting with was perfect for filmmaking.

Cousins described the Danish film industry as one of the best in the world for its unique lighting, more intellectual stories and more relaxed laws on censorship allowing for more creative freedom unlike the US which was more restrictive on what and wasn’t allowed to be shown in film.

some directors for there include Benjamin Christiansen who created Haxan witch craft through the ages and and Victor Sjostrom who created the phantom carriage.

The film The birth of the nation was directed by D.W Griffith and was one the first full feature film created. However this film has had some controversy due to racist themes in the film with the KKK presented as heroes showing black people as untidy with anti social behaviour promoting the hatred and fear of black people at this time as they started gaining their own rights and starting businesses.

1895-1918: The world discovers a new art form – Birth of the Cinema

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

La Sortie des ouvriers de l’usine Lumière (1895; “Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory”)

What was the ‘Phantom Ride’?

The ‘Phantom Ride was an early genre of film popular in Britain and the US at the end of the 19th century. 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 (1903) directed by George Albert Smith, showed the innovation to use a close up. ‘Life of an American Fireman’ (1903) directed by Edwin S. Porter and George S. Fleming, created the idea of continuity editing, getting the audience to follow the story without needing to repeat the action twice.

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

Florence Lawrence, a Canadian-American actress who began her career in the silent film era and was known for her beauty and charm, is considered by many to be the first movie star in Hollywood. She appeared in over 270 movies over the course of her career.

Story of film part 1 – George Blake

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.

The Story of Film Part One 1895-1918

  1. Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, Dir. Lumiere Brothers. 1895

2. A Phantom ride is when a camera is places on the front of a moving vehicle, e.g train, to mimic its path and travel. ‘Phantom ride’ gets the name from it looking like a ghost floating above the train tracks.

3. The film ‘The sick kitten’ Dir George Albert Smith 1901, was ground breaking as it utilises close ups in a way that was never seen before. Redefining close ups as a way for audience to get a better or more dramatic understanding of what’s happening.

The film ‘Life of an American Fireman’ Dir.  Edwin S. PorterGeorge S. Fleming 1903, was also considered inventive as it used cuts to show what happens next.

.4. The first movie star in Hollywood was Florence Lawrence, she was the first film player whose name was used to promote her films

The birth of Cinema (pt.1)

(1895) The first film created by the Lumiere brothers was called “Workers leaving the factory”

(1897) A phantom ride was when a camera was attached to the front of a vehicle, giving the illusion of the spectator moving through air at speed

(1903) “Life of an American Fireman” – Directed by Edwin S. Porter, was special for its innovation to piece together different shots into a coherent story

(1903) “The Sick Kitten” – Directed by George Albert Smith, was special for its innovation to use a close up shot, allowing the spectator to notice key details the director intends them to see

(1906-1937) The first Hollywood film star was Florence Lawrence, also known as ‘The Imp Girl’. She used publicity in the press to her advantage, tricking the public into believing she died, or had other bazar things happen.

the story of film part one 1895 – 1918

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

a ‘Phantom ride’ was when Cameramen would strap themselves and/or their cameras to the buffer of a speeding train. From this position, the film would appear to be moving thanks to an invisible force

what was ground-breaking about ‘the sick kitten’ was it showed the innovation of the close up to show more detail for the shot and ‘life of an American fireman’ was the first to piece together shots (continuity editing) so the watcher can follow along the story and see different sides

the first film star was florence lawrence because of how good her publicist was and her faked death.

The story of film an Oddysey questions

The first film made by the Lumiere brothers is called Workers leaving the Lumiere factory and was made in 1985.

The phantom ride was an early genre of films popular in Britain and US it depicted vehicles moving forward and they often featured strapping cameras to the front of the vehicle.

The sick kitten showed the innovation of close up shots the light of an American fire fighter pioneered in continuity editing.