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The Horse In Motion - Chronophotography
Chrono (time) photo (light) graphy (picture), is a sequence of photographs continuously taken to depict motion of a subject then laid out in chronological order. In 1880, Eadward Muybridge set up his recordings in painted form in a zoopraxiscope and set them in motion, thus marking the first known motion film in history. -
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1880s-1900s, Introduction
After the appearance of the Horse film series, many inventors tinkered around and directors explored basic techniques to create wonders that is filmmaking today.
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Join as we see the evolution of visual storytelling through the lens of a camera and learn what defines a good movie. -
The Kinetoscope
Following Muybridge's series of motion pictures, iconic inventor Thomas Edison went to create the Kinetoscope, a device for viewing roll films thru a peeping hole. -
Oops, Censored!
Three months after the commercial debut of the motion picture came the first recorded instance of motion picture censorship. The film in question showed a performance by thedancer Carmencita, "communicated an intense sexuality across the footlights that led male reporters to write long, exuberant columns about her performance". The show was then replaced with Boxing Cats. [Wikipedia]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWynMfMtqHg
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Wear an anime skirt in that era and you're TimeToasted. Gettit? ok. -
Kinetoscope, Now With Audio!
Almost a decade after Edison invented the kinetoscope, he then improves it into a Phonokinetoscope, or Kinetophone in short. Though not innovative nor successful, as it is the same system retrofitted with a sound recorder and earphones, it played the first motion picture with live recorded audio.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DicksonFilm_High.ogv] -
Illuminate! Lumiere Brothers!
Auguste and Louis Lumiere, made their first set of silent films lasting no more than a minute long for public commercial screening thanks to their newly patented Cinematograph motion picture film camera invented by Leon Bouly in 1892, therefore marks the birth of Cinema.
Their business was withdrawn in 1905 due to lack of interest and went to make colored photographs, the Autochrome. -
Copyrighted Sneeze!
Fred Ott's Sneeze, is a 45 frame kinetoscope film depicting Thomas Edison's assistant sneezing, recorded and directed by William K.L Dickson. It is the first and oldest surviving motion picture with copyright.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ott%27s_Sneeze#/media/File:Fred_Ott_Sneeze_L.gif
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Rest assured that its copyright expired in 1923, and is preserved by U.S Library of Congress since 2015. There are much more asinine content with bogus copyright claims at present. -
Two Shot Wonder
'Come Along, Do!', a British silent comedy film directed by Robert W. Paul, is the first film to have more than one scene. Originally, the film lasted around a minute, however the surviving film only lasted 38 seconds and the second scene is only shot in still films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScD_yiykAro -
Story Told Through a Telescope
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:As_Seen_Through_a_Telescope_(1900)_-_yt.webm
George Albert Smith directed 'As Seen Through a Telescope', is an early example of utilising close up shots and effects to clearly narrate the context of the film. "Smith's experiments with editing, were ahead of most contemporary film-makers, and in retrospect it can clearly be seen that he was laying the foundations of film grammar as we now understand it." http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/444530/ -
Stop Thief!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54YGhTJ1fqI
Directed by James Williamson, 'Stop Thief!' is the first film to have a true chase scene. -
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20th Century
Throughout the World Wars and the Cold War, film in the U.S and Europe had started to thrive exponentially into several genres and spreading worldwide, discovering new technologies to re(de)fine movies. -
To The Moon And Back!
A Trip to the Moon (La Voyage dans la Lune) directed by Georges Melies, a 9 minute silent film featuring a variety of lavish handcrafted backgrounds, props and an ensemble of theatrical actors. One of the first films to be produced in the 20th century, is also widely regarded as the first Sci-Fi movie. -
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First World War
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Birth of a Nation, And Controversy!
One of the most controversial movies in the U.S during the First World War era, Birth of a Nation makes several achievements, such as the first movie to be 12 reels long - 133-193 minutes, first to have an orchestra score, first to film a scene at the White House, storyline chronicling such a long history in America, making it most complex.
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.How do you like the 'firsts'?! -
Intolerance... to Controversy!
A year following Birth of a Nation, Director Griffith made 'Intolerance' as a response to NAACP's criticism of the previous film. Still remains a masterpiece equally great. -
Power of Love in 3D
The Power of Love directed by Harry K. Fairall and Nat G. Deverich, is the first 3D feature film worldwide. It used stereographical recording and viewed through Red-Green anaglyph glasses. Viewers also had the choice to see the ending as happy or melancholical depending on which lens they choose to view singularly. However, the 3D and 2D (Forbidden Lover) version was unable to be restored. -
Feature Length Jazzin'
'The Jazz Singer' is the first feature length film lasting no less than 80 minutes, to have not only synchronized music scores, but also lip-synched speech and singing, reviving films with sound after Edison's failed Kinetophone; and continuing the industry. -
Mickey Mouse's First Debut!
After the failed reception of Julius the Cat, the loss of Disney's staff and his beloved Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Charles Mintz, he drew out Mickey Mouse in 'Plane Crazy' and 'The Gallopin' Gaucho'. Using sound systems he then made the iconic 'Steamboat Willie' thereafter, marking the true birth of Mickey Mouse and Disney's road to success.
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In case you are wondering, yes.
Mintz was the inspiration for 'Up''s antagonist, Charles Muntz. Despite his image Disney still thought better of him. -
Symphony of Colors
In 1928, Walt Disney produced Silly Symphonies, a series of short cartoons consisted of whimsical themes accompanying pieces of music. 1932 cartoon Flowers and Trees, is the first commercial animated cartoon to use full color three strip Technicolor process. -
The Train Returns in 3D!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcvCeB4Vrh0
In the midst of interest lackness in stereographic films in 1920s-30s, Louis Lumiere shot footage with his stereoscopic camera in September 1933. The following March he exhibited a remake of his 1895 short film L'Arrivée du Train, this time in anaglyphic 3D, at a meeting of the French Academy of Science. [Wikipedia] -
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Second World War
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Fantasia
Using a vast symphonic orchestra and multi-channel recording reproduced by Fantasound, Disney's 'Fantasia' movie was the first to use stereophonic sound, or what we would call today, "Surround Audio". -
WWII Propaganda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vLrTNKk89Q&list=PLi_5LKUIa4gFAaCWsAeShy-uM7i2ST8DA&index=5
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In the midst of WWII, film industry was teeming with training and propaganda videos and war dramas to support their war effort. Disney, Fleischer and Dr. Seuss created an array of cartoons regarding both the European and Pacific Theaters.
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Some are just.... plain racist but funny nonetheless. -
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The Cold War
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Nuclear Age & Migration
After the end of WWII notably the atom bombing onto Japan, the film industry specifically saw a decrease in sales due to the introduction of television, and sought for avant-garde methods to win back their audiences, such as widescreen and 3d effects, and historical/biblical epics.
Due to the interest in nuclear power and the Cold War paranoia, a rise in Sci-Fi films such as War of the Worlds, Them! and The Day Earth Stood Still. -
Clatto, Verata, Necktie?
1951 film The Day Earth Stood Still is one of the first sci-fi movies in the nuclear fad. It is also home to one of the most well known phrases in pop culture: Klaatu Berada Nikto. -
Feature Length In Color, In Sound, In 3D, In English! Bwana Devil!
After some decades of developing 3D stereography technology, Arch Oboler directed 'Bwana Devil' a feature length 3D film with color and sound altogether, and most notable for starting the 3D movie craze.
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Unfortunately, despite the exciting flavor texts in the poster (and the event title above) the movie underperformed due to flawed adjustments for the 3D glasses and imagery. Nonetheless it grossed the box office because of the novelty. Task failed successfully? -
House of Wax
Following the 3D movie fad, and after the appearance of Disney using stereophony in 'Fantasia', Andre DeToth applied stereophony to his 3D movie House of Wax. It received negative reviews until the 2010s where the movie was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress.
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Right movie at the wrong time. -
War of the Worlds!
1953 film War of the Worlds, is a cinematic adaptation to H.G.Wells novel of the same name, the notable change is the location and time, it takes place in southern California instead of Victorian-era Britain. -
Aaah!! It's Gojira!!
Godzilla or Gojira, directed by Ishirou Honda, he film spawned a multimedia franchise, being recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest running film franchise in history. The character Godzilla has since became an international pop culture icon, and the 1954 film has been largely credited for establishing the template for tokusatsu (heavy use of special effects in media). -
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Hollywood's Decline, Globalization Incline
During the 1960s the film industry in Hollywood starts to meet its gradual slope while worldwide industries rose into fame. -
Satirical Psychological Comedy, or Mere Pedo? Lolita (1962)
Lolita, a Kubrick movie based on the 1955 novel of the same title by Vladimir Nabokov, who also wrote the screenplay. It follows a middle-aged literature lecturer who becomes sexually obsessed with a young adolescent girl.
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Philip Scheuer declares the film "manages to hit peaks of comedy shrilly dissonant but on an adult level, that are rare indeed, and at the same time to underline the tragedy in human communication, human communion, between people who've got their signals hopelessly crossed." -
Strange Love of Atom Bombs? Dr.Strangelove!
Based on Peter George's 'Red Alert', Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' satirizes the fears of nuclear tension during the era. It is also the highest ranking Kubrick film in Rotten Tomatoes. -
Sound of Music
Directed by Robert Wise, it is the highest grossing film of the era. -
Dave... I Am Afraid.
Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film '2001: A Space Odyssey' accurately depicts space travel, pioneering effects and imagery, also sacrificing sound effects and dialogue usage to focus on narration. The storylne sparked differentiating views of the future, some see it dystopian, others see it hopeful. One of the most influential films.
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This was made before the lunar landing. Reality ahead of schedule right there. -
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Golden Age & Anime Boom
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Knee-Deep in Her Throat
1972 American pornographic film 'Deep Throat' one of the forefront of Golden Age of Porn (1960s-80s) and one of the pornographic films to have plot, character development and production values. -
The Godfather
Since its release, The Godfather has been widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, especially in the gangster genre. [Wikipedia] -
Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee!
Starring and produced by Bruce Lee just before his death, Enter the Dragon is widely regarded as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time. Its themes have also generated scholarly debate about how they reflect the changes taking place within post-colonial Asian societies following the end of World War II.
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People go out with a Bang, this madlad went out with WATAAH! Because... he told us to be water... ok I'll stop. -
'Tis but a Scratch!
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film concerning the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus. -
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat!
Directed by Spielberg, Jaws is considered one of the greatest films ever made, Jaws was the prototypical summer blockbuster, regarded as a watershed moment in motion picture history, and it won several awards for its music and editing. -
Space Battleship Yamato
Uchuu Senkan Yamato, also known as Star Blazers in English and one of the earliest examples of scifi anime, is one of the most influential anime series in Japan due to its theme and story, marking a turn towards more complex serious works and influencing works such as Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Super Dimension Fortress Macross as well as video games such as Space Invaders. [Wikipedia] -
That's No Moon, It's A Space Station!
Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV) is a1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas, produced by Lucasfilm. The film opened to critical acclaim, most notably for its groundbreaking visual effects. -
Thriller, Horror, Scifi, In One!
1979 film 'Alien' directed by Ridley Scott, depicts a motley of ship crew, with little to no defense equipment, fends themselves against a singular intelligent monstrosity, the Xenomorph.
The slow thriller, story, environment, overall design of the monster and the role, personality of the crew members defined the success of the film, making it aesthetically and culturally significant in filmmaking history. -
Fly, Gundam!
Mobile Suit Gundam, is a television scifi anime series with 43 episodes directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Despite initial low ratings that caused the series' cancellation, the popularity of Gundam saw a boost thanks to Bandai's Gunpla models in 1980 and the theatrical release of the anime, leading to the creation of a prolific and lucrative media and toy franchise. That was close. -
Computer Generated, In Genesis
Disney's TRON (1982) is the first movie to utilize CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and Green Screen technology (or blue in this case) and used it entirely in most scenes.
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"without Tron, there would be no Toy Story." -John Lasseter, Head of Pixar -
Neo Noir - Blade Runner!
Directed by Aliens director Ridley Scott, Blade Runner made itself a cult film, mainly for its retrofitted-future, and influenced many successing films and games such as Total Recall and Detroit: Become Human. -
Four Dimensions
The Sensorium is regarded the world's first commercial 4-D film and was first screened in a Six Flags theme park in Baltimore in 1984. -
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Miyazaki's Debut!
The first anime film by Hayao Miyazaki before Studio Ghibli was founded. -
One Big Ugly Mother F@$#er.
Predator, a 1987 sci-fi action horror film met with below average reviews at the time, became a classic later on. Main actor Schwarzenegger made some memorable phrases such as: "GET TO THE CHOPPER!" -
7.62 mm... Full. Metal. Jacket.
A war film in 1987 by Kubrick, -
Wanna Cry? Watch Grave of the Fireflies!
1988 anime war film Grave of the Fireflies narrates the struggle of two siblings during the final months of WWII. -
AKIRA
A pivot in CyberPunk culture, specifically Japanese Cyberpunk and adult animation, Because of its smooth animation and detailing (160k cel pages) and computer generated effects mainly to tweak effects, the film's budget went up to 9 million USD, the most expensive anime film of the time. -
L'Amant
The Lover (L'Amant), a 1992 erotic drama film directed by Jacques Annaud. Based on the 1984 novel of the same name,
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According to Roger Ebert, he compared this film to 'Playboy' or 'Emmanuelle', "in which beautiful actors and elegant photography provide a soft-core sensuality. The Lover is more than capable, and the movie is likely to have a long life as the sort of sexy entertainment that arouses but does not embarrass." -
To Infinity, And Beyond!
Pixar Studio's 1995 Toy Story is the first animated film to be entirely computer-generated, as well as the first feature film of the studio. -
Iconism of Biblical Proportions - Neon Genesis Evangelion!
Directed by Hideaki Anno in 1995 to 1996, the series merely speaks about mecha action - it delves into the emotions and psychology of the mech (Eva) pilots especially Jungian and Freudian theories; and refered to Jewish and Christian mythologies.
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The complexity of the series itself garnered deep praise but also criticism due to some viewers - even dub actors themselves, became confused of the series' end, even Anno received death threats. Nonetheless, Eva made itself an icon in anime culture. -
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' is the first full-length Anime to receive an Oscar.
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.Are the 'firsts' getting boring? I feel you. -
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21st Century
In the present century, many films began to rely on CGI for effects and objects. With free access to social and multimedia platforming such as YouTube, and software such as Photoshop, AfterEffects, SourceFilmMaker, Blender, ToonBoom, games and animations are widely made for a variety of audiences, with different skills whether good or bad. -
Avatar
James Cameron's Avatar, is the best selling film during the 2000s and early 2010s until it was surpassed by Endgame. Production for this movie lasted from 1994 until around 2009 - 15 years in designing objects and backgrounds, forming an alien language and erect them in computer generation, etc...
Sequels are underway and Avatar 2 is expected to release in 2021. -
All Around You
Lesser-known Panoramic 8D cinemas are mainly used in amusement parks. The audience sit on spinning stools and wear 3D glasses and for 4D effect the stools are moveable vertically and vents are to create fog or wind from the floor. The screen can be singular or divided in sections. -
Flop of the Century, Emoji Movie!
The Emoji Movie, premiered in 2017, won in four categories: Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screen Combo and Worst Screenplay, making it the first animated film to receive nominations and wins in any of those categories. It was so bad that critics were embargoed from reviewing.
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On a personal note, I am not adding the movie poster. F#@$ no. If there is a reason to watch it, it is to learn how NOT to make a movie or story. Of any kind. -
Avengers........ Assemble.
Avengers: Endgame, the second and last part following Infinity War, and probably the final part of the series, is the fastest and highest grossing movie of all time even now, surpassing 2009's Avatar.
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"I see this as an absolute win!" Smart Hulk, 2019
