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Published byBrendan Hancock Modified over 9 years ago
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THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN FILM 1908-1919
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Rapid change in Film Length of films expanding from 1 reel shorts (12-15 min) to feature films with multiple reels. Size of movie theaters grew- 1 st large movie palace built in 1912 Actors became stars Charlie Chaplin U.S. becomes the dominant center of filmmaking Especially in Hollywood; cheap land and sunshine Largely due to WW1
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D.W. Griffith Elevated film to a sophisticated art form Generally regarded as the single most important figure in American film Acted for Edison and Biograph Directed his first film for Biograph in 1908 and by the end of the year was doing all of their directing. By the time he began work on The Birth of a Nation in 1915, he had directed approximately 450 films. Most 1-reel, but some 2 and 4 reel
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D.W. Griffith Explored a wide variety of effects: Close-ups Panoramas Moving camera Crosscutting
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Types of cuts Cut: the connection between two shots. 3 Principal types: Narrative cut: vision is focused on different objects or people in a continuous scene. 2 nd type joins different times (flashback or forward) or places. Crosscut: moves quickly back and forth between two or more related events.
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D.W. Griffith cont…. By using crosscutting, Griffith was able to build tension and to show simultaneous action in a way that is not possible on stage. Worked with a permanent set of actors Used extensive rehearsal time with actors- unprecedented for his time. Created a new style of acting suitable for film. Had a strong music background and worked closely on the composition of original scores for his films.
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Developments in Film Organ became the most common movie theater instrument. The size of musical ensembles in movie theaters tended to expand Compilation scores became common using 19 th century classics Cue sheets and music anthologies provided help for theater musicians Original scores created for films
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Musical Accompaniment Wurlitzer began producing organs designed for movie theaters Additions made so the organ could make sound effects like a car horn, telephone or gunshot Size of theaters increased and became more ornate. Ensembles increased as well. By the end of the decade, some theaters had full orchestra ensembles of over 50 musicians.
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Compilation Scores 3 Types of music for silent films: 1. Adaptations of classical works 2. Arrangements of well-known patriotic, religious, or popular tunes 3. Newly composed material Musical scores based largely on borrowed material are considered to be compilation scores. Pg. 67
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Cue Sheets and Anthologies Filmmakers became increasingly concerned with the relationship between music and drama Began to recognize the need for music to reflect the action. This led to two things: 1. Creation of guides to help theater music directors select appropriate music 2. Composition of new scores for individual films.
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Cue Sheet Sheet telling stage musicians what songs were to be played where. Accompanied a specific film First appeared in 1909
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Anthologies Books of original music written to accompany general moods, settings, or characters. Example: Agitated music, sad music, happy music, wedding music etc. Rather than picking random Theater pianists could select passages from an anthology to fit the needs of the film.
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Original Music Scores Between 1910 and 1914, over 100 scores can be documented. Camille Saint-Sa ëns wrote one of the first completely original film scores for a Paris film. He was one of France’s most prestigous composers at the time.
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