Film studies Overview

Review What is a film? When did they begin making film? What is the technology? How have films changed?

History camera obscura - project a live image (ancient First recorded on revolving drums 1830 (Stroboscope) in Austria 1878 (Leland Stanford) photographed a horse using 24 cameras.horse First film projectors Kinetoscope Thomas Edison (Light bulb guy) 1885 (one viewer at a time)

What makes A good picture? review Ten Points (look at your notes) Quiz on Thursday/Friday 0I (Rule of thirds) 0I UkZk UkZk

Exhibition Hall Era 5 cents Single clip No editing No sound (live piano player) Fddk Fddk

1898 France Leads Georges Méliès fiction films Georges Méliès Originally a magician Liked special effects Early film was science fiction (Jules Verne’s “Earth to Moon”) 1900 Charles Pathé began film production (focused on newsreels)Charles Pathé Dominates industry until WWI (Astral-Pathe still in Canada - Montreal called Astral Studios)

Silent film Era 1900 – 1929 One reeler (15 minutes) Eventually stared two, three reel films Often Slapstick Different genres emerged

Silent film Era Jew located to Hollywood because of persecution by Thomas Edison Perfect lighting New York industry dies out Different genres emerged (Western, musicals) Depicted immigrant experienceexperience

Codes & conventions of Silent films Black & white (heavy contrast) Emoted Some writing (fifth grader) Static shots (cameras large and limited) Many theaters had several films

Stars Usually stage actors first “Star system” begins (script revolves around actor) Most couldn’t switch to “Talkies” Mary Pickford “America’s sweetheart” was Canadian Charlie Chaplin (clown) Rudolph Valentino first “sex symbol” Clara Bow the “it” girl Co-created Universal Studios

Talkies Synchronizing film and sound was tricky First feature to do so was “Jazz Singer” (racist by modern standards) Many silent film stars voices did not match persona and new technology meant no more emoting

Montage Q (Battle ship Potempkin) Q (Manhatten) (Rocky) (Mulan) 4

Genres & technical Name some EARLY genres What are the limitations of silent films? How does it change the way they tell the story?

Fantasy ry=a+trip+to+the+moon+1902+full+movie&oq =a+trip+to&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l j ac.1.11.youtube.uNNEYALe7F8 ry=a+trip+to+the+moon+1902+full+movie&oq =a+trip+to&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l j ac.1.11.youtube.uNNEYALe7F8 Georges Méliès (1902) Subject of modern film “Hugo”

Slap stick Comedy with the emphasis on fast physical action, farcical situations, and obvious PHYSICAL humour ro ro

Melodrama sensationalized dramatic work characterized by the use of stereotyped characters, exaggerated emotions, simplistic morality, and black & white conflict RueQ RueQ

Romance focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters and the journey that their genuinely strong, true and pure romantic love takes them through dating, courtship to marriagepassionemotion CvY CvY

Action o4 o4

Comedy aik aik Charlie Chaplin