History of Acting for Camera! By Lacy Goode, Josh McDaniel, and Becky Gula

A lot has gone into the art of filmmaking… Not only do we think of acting in front of a camera as television shows, but there is the fact of acting for commercials, movies, and other public service announcements. Not only do we think of acting in front of a camera as television shows, but there is the fact of acting for commercials, movies, and other public service announcements. Before any of this was even possible, there was a need for a camera that could capture motion. Before any of this was even possible, there was a need for a camera that could capture motion. George Eastman, inventor of flexible photographic film, jumpstarted the filmmaking craze. George Eastman, inventor of flexible photographic film, jumpstarted the filmmaking craze.

Edison’s Invention that changed the World Thomas Edison invented and patented the first motion picture camera in Thomas Edison invented and patented the first motion picture camera in After it was created, the camera began being tested by many, using the process of taking slow-moving pictures and putting them together using Edison’s kineograph. After it was created, the camera began being tested by many, using the process of taking slow-moving pictures and putting them together using Edison’s kineograph. By the early 1930s, the RCA began experimenting with black-and-white broadcasts. By the early 1930s, the RCA began experimenting with black-and-white broadcasts.

Silent Films For the first thirty years of acting for film, all movies were silent. Occasionally, live musicians or sound effects would accompany the film but there was no technology that enabled sound to be synchronized. Because of the absence of sound, actors were faced with a challenge to clearly convey their message. They did this through the use of emphasized body language and facial expressions. But as silent film progressed, audiences began to prefer the more naturalistic style of acting that matched the new intimacy experienced during a film. For the first thirty years of acting for film, all movies were silent. Occasionally, live musicians or sound effects would accompany the film but there was no technology that enabled sound to be synchronized. Because of the absence of sound, actors were faced with a challenge to clearly convey their message. They did this through the use of emphasized body language and facial expressions. But as silent film progressed, audiences began to prefer the more naturalistic style of acting that matched the new intimacy experienced during a film.

Actors from Silent Films Lillian Gish was a major star of the silent era with one of the longest careers, working from Lillian Gish was a major star of the silent era with one of the longest careers, working from Lillian Gish Lillian Gish

Famous Silent Film The most successful silent film of the era was The Birth of The Nation directed by D.W. Griffith (1915) The most successful silent film of the era was The Birth of The Nation directed by D.W. Griffith (1915)

The Birth of Sound Finally, with the development of the "Vitaphone" system, recorded sound effects and music could be added to short films. In 1927, The Jazz Singer was produced and became known as the first movie to have synchronized dialogue and singing. Talkies, as they were known, quickly took over the silent era and the late '20s almost all movies included recorded sound. New technology and social happenings continued to influence the look and feel of films; movies evolved in a way similar to that of plays, reflecting cultural change. In the 1940's, with the onset of WWII, realistic dramas of patriotism an propaganda were popular. Finally, with the development of the "Vitaphone" system, recorded sound effects and music could be added to short films. In 1927, The Jazz Singer was produced and became known as the first movie to have synchronized dialogue and singing. Talkies, as they were known, quickly took over the silent era and the late '20s almost all movies included recorded sound. New technology and social happenings continued to influence the look and feel of films; movies evolved in a way similar to that of plays, reflecting cultural change. In the 1940's, with the onset of WWII, realistic dramas of patriotism an propaganda were popular.

Continued… In the 1950's films that reflected the Civil Rights movement and The Cold War paranoia were made. In the 1960's films such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music were the biggest successes of the decade. The 1970's gave rise to the New Hollywood era in which films that depicted graphic, realistic and violent scenes came to the forefront of the movie industry. New methods of story-telling developed such as twist endings, stronger characterization, moral ambiguity and blurred line between antagonist and protagonist. In the 1980's, hits such as E.T., Star Wars, and Jaws were born. The 1990's introduced new special effects and techniques seen in hit movies like Titanic. In the 1950's films that reflected the Civil Rights movement and The Cold War paranoia were made. In the 1960's films such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music were the biggest successes of the decade. The 1970's gave rise to the New Hollywood era in which films that depicted graphic, realistic and violent scenes came to the forefront of the movie industry. New methods of story-telling developed such as twist endings, stronger characterization, moral ambiguity and blurred line between antagonist and protagonist. In the 1980's, hits such as E.T., Star Wars, and Jaws were born. The 1990's introduced new special effects and techniques seen in hit movies like Titanic.

Bibliography techproductions.com/historyoftelevision.ht m techproductions.com/historyoftelevision.ht m techproductions.com/historyoftelevision.ht m techproductions.com/historyoftelevision.ht m talog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda 06f020e43594a9c230972d/r/o/rochester_c amera_kodak_george_eastman_thomas_e dison.jpg talog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda 06f020e43594a9c230972d/r/o/rochester_c amera_kodak_george_eastman_thomas_e dison.jpg