TCF112/Early Cinema
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Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
9 May 1893: First public presentation of motion pictures
- Brooklyn Institute of the Arts & Sciences
- Blacksmithing scene
Black Maria studio
Characteristics of Edison films
- Illuminated by the sun, but shot indoors
- Long shot (no close ups)
- 30-45 secs
- One shot long (no editing)
- No camera movement
- No real plots/stories
- Exhibition
- Kinetosope parlors
Patents on motion picture technology
- Motion Picture Patents Company (aka, The Trust)
August and Louis Lumière
28 December 1895: first public screening, with admission charged
Similarities with Edison films
- Sunlight
- Long shot (no close-ups)
- No editing
- Short: 60-70 secs
Differences
- Scenes of everyday life
- Shot outdoors, on "location" (using sunlight)
- No actors. Used real people in everyday situations.
- Little or no camera movement.
- Exhibited as fairground oddity.
Georges Méliès
Similarities with Edison & Lumière films
- No editing within scenes.
- Long shot.
- No camera movement.
- Exhibited as fairground oddity.
Differences from Edison & Lumière films
- Actively told stories, with real plots.
- Fabricated sets.
- Actors, acrobats, magicians.
- Special effects (camera "tricks").
- Hand-coloring.