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The Concept of Cinematography
Surprisingly, the concept of moving pictures can be traced back to the Early Modern Period. Mostly, entertainment was art, music, and theater - but innovators wanted to figure out how to create moving images. Early attempts were to reflect light through a small peephole, but they eventually came up with a device called the camera obscure, and it is perhaps the oldest photographic device in existence. Through the camera obscura, we can trace the principles of filmmaking back thousands of years. -
Eadweard Muybridge’s "The Horse"
Although "The Horse" wasn't an official motion picture, it was a combination of 16 pictures put into a zoopraxiscope, a machine invented by Muybridge to display moving images and project them. Muybridge’s films (and tech) inspired the motion-picture world and even, Thomas Edison, who went on to make major developments in motion pictures. -
Early Experiments by Louis Le Prince
Louis Le Prince is well-known for inventing motion pictures (films), but with every invention comes experiments. In 1886, Le Prince became fascinated with early cinematic technologies. He began experimenting with the idea of capturing moving images and developed a 16-lens motion picture camera. He applied for a patent for the production of animated pictures on November 2, 1886, and received it in early 1888. In mid-late 1887, Le Prince built a single-lens camera. -
The First Motion-Picture Camera & Film
The "Roundhay Garden Scene," is the first motion-picture film shot by Louis Le Prince. The 24-frame film was shot using a single-lens combi camera-projector and paper-based photographic film and lasted two seconds. The film consists of Adolphe Le Prince (Le Prince's son), Sarah Whitley (Le Prince's mother-in-law), Joseph Whitley, and Harriet Hartley walking around. -
William Kennedy Dickinson & His Contributions
After writing Thomas Edison a letter searching for employment, Dickinson was hired as Edison's assistant and changed cinema forever. His first order of business was inventing the kinetograph, a motion picture camera that captured images on celluloid film, and the kinetoscope which was a peep-hole viewer that allowed people to watch films He's also credited with the 35mm film gauge and the first operational motion picture studio. Dickson made more than 500 films and is a key figure in cinema. -
The First Sound in Film
One of the greatest pioneers, whom I just mentioned, William Kennedy Dickinson invented sound in film by accident. The idea of combining sound in film came from Thomas Edison, as he commissioned the Kinetograph to provide visual images for the phonograph. "The Dickson Experimental Sound Film," was the first film with sound created by Dickson in late 1894. The film showcased live-recorded sound with Dickson playing a violin into a recording horn. -
The First Color in Film
Color in film was invented by a British inventor named Edward Raymond Turner. He accomplished this by using a process where black-and-white film was photographed through blue, green, and red filters, and then projected using a special projector to combine the frames and produce full-color images. The film shows Turner's children, a girl on a swing, and soldiers marching. The film establishes Turner's films as the world's first colored moving-pictures. -
1910s: The Silent Years
This film era saw the rise of feature-length films, the relocation of the film industry from New York to Hollywood, and the development of key narrative and visual styles that would become hallmarks of classic cinema. Innovation in filmmaking, saw directors and screenwriters experimenting with different narrative structures and visual techniques. Actors and actresses started to gain recognition and become "stars." Overall, filmmaking (as new as it was) did what it had to with what it had. -
1920s: Surrealism
The dreamlike and bizarre imagery of surrealism was influenced by psychoanalysis and Dadaism, an art movement that rejected logic and embraced chaos. Surrealism drew heavily on the unconscious mind and sought to bypass rational thought. A movie that best describes this era is "Un Chien Andalou" (1929), a silent film directed by Luis Buñuel and written by Salvador Dalí. The movie's shock tactics and influence on independent filmmaking have been revolutionary to cinema. -
1930s: The Golden Age of Hollywood
The rise of sound in films, the emergence of major studios, and the creation of iconic stars, all occurred amidst the backdrop of the Great Depression - shaped films. This was a transitional period that saw the rise of films focusing on war/patriotic narratives. The technicolor masterpiece: "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) is a film that remains popular due to its timeless themes of friendship, courage, and finding your way home. It remains iconic until this day - "Wicked" (2024) is proof of this. -
1940s: Film Noir
Hollywood saw iconic classics amidst the backdrop of World War II, including "Citizen Kane." The rise of dark, cynical cinema, reflecting wartime anxieties and societal shifts saw an emergence - and left a huge impact. The advancements in film technology, include the development of new camera techniques and sound recording methods. The 1940s saw significant artistic and technological innovation, and still shape cinema today. -
1950s: The New Hollywood
The traditional Hollywood studio system took a shift to a more independent and socially conscious cinema experience. Filmmakers embraced more unconventional and daring stories, often exploring complex themes to challenge social norms. "The Night of the Hunter," is a perfect example depicting the 50s. The movie's crazy nature and crazy-quilt emotionalism predicted how we experience the world now. -
1960s: The Fun Era
Rock 'n' roll, fashion, and tremendous social changes (the civil rights movement and the war crisis), all saw a huge impact on cinema. Artistically driven cinematography saw a rise in films such as, "2001: A Space Odyssey," one of the most beautiful films ever. The creative innovations are still used in cinema today. -
1970s: The Halcyon Age
The untamed period of calm, happiness, and prosperity, best fit the whole 70's era, period. In film, challenging the traditional studio system and embracing a more independent and radical approach to filmmaking was the movement. Key films like: "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) and "Taxi Driver" (1976), are films to best describe this era, as they depict a lonely man finding himself, which best describes the 70s in cinematic form. -
1980s: The Blockbuster Era
The shift towards larger-scale blockbusters and the emergence of iconic franchises/genres like slasher horror and teen comedies summarize cinema in the 80s. "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) set standards for box office success and special effects. Video rentals and cable television created a new market for independent films, leading to a surge in indie films. The new Steadicam showcased camera technology and creative integration in cinema. -
1990s: The Age of Indie Films
Independent filmmaking gained prominence, with films like "Pulp Fiction" (1994) and "Fight Club" (1999) gaining critical acclaim and cultural impact. The decade saw significant advancements in computer technology, leading to the increased use of CGI and special effects. The home video market boomed, with many films being released on DVD. Movies often had a distinct visual style, with a focus on crisp images and natural colors due to the film stock used. -
2000s: The "Noughties" Era
The definition of noughties is zero, respectively - the film era of the 2000s, often called the "noughties," was characterized by technological advancements, particularly digital filmmaking, and a shift towards diverse storytelling, with a notable rise in independent cinema and the impact of 9/11 on film themes. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) is a great example of this, as it explores the complexities of memory, love, and relationships, questioning the value of pain in memories. -
2010-20s: The Disney Era
Disney, through its acquisitions of Marvel and Lucasfilm, became a major force in the film industry, with its superhero and Star Wars franchises consistently topping the box office. The widespread adoption of digital projection technology in theaters, as well as the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, challenged traditional cinema distribution models. Also, films that catered to broader audiences and were often designed for international release.