Introduction to Film Silent Movies

1895 Birth of Cinematography Robert W. Paul invented the film projector First public showing in 1895 Movies were shown in: Storefront spaces Traveling exhibitions Vaudeville

1895 Birth of Cinematography Early Films: Under a minute Usually a single scene authentic or staged everyday life public event sporting event slapstick No editing No camera movement

1895 Birth of Cinematography One of the most popular short films: Sally Rand, The Fan Dance An exotic dancer and actress.

Silent Era A Trip to the Moon (1902) Georges Méliès Directed & Starred Paris stage magician Pioneered many of the basic special effects used in movies Increased the length of movies to fifteen minutes

Silent Era The Great Train Robbery (1903) Edwin S. Porter, Director Thomas Edison, Producer First Western Emphasized the shot, rather than the scene

The Great Train Robbery (1903) Filmed in New Jersey Included shot of a bandit shooting at the audience Audiences at the time would usually scream in fear, then laugh in relief

Silent Era Boom in nickelodeons (the first permanent movie theaters) 10,000 in the U.S. by 1908 Standard length of a film remained one reel (ten to fifteen minutes)

Silent Era The Birth of a Nation (1915) First full length film (190 minutes) Director D.W. Griffith

Birth of a Nation (1915) Pioneered cinematic techniques Jump-cut Close-ups Introduced cinematic innovations Documentary Mobile cameras

Birth of a Nation (1915) "Top 100 American Films" (# 44) by the American Film Institute In its day, the highest grossing film, taking in more than $10 million at the box office ($210 million) In 1992 the United States Library of Congress deemed it "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Silent Era U.S. produced an average of 800 silent films a year The comedies of Charlie Chaplin Swashbuckling adventures of Douglas Fairbanks Romances of Clara Bow

Talking Pictures 1927 Turning point came in 1927 Warner Brothers Studios released The Jazz Singer First synchronized dialogue (and singing) in a feature film.