Thomas Edison had a large impact on the creation of films, he ran a film laboratory where he first invented the kinetographic camera and the kinetoscope. He developed a 35mm film strip that was then used as a standard film role in the industry. He then eventually created the projector to play the film.
The Lumiere brothers worked with Edison and produced short films that were one long, static, locked-down shot. In the shot motion was the only thing that was necessary to keep an audience amused, this means that the first films simply showed activity such as traffic on a city street. This sort of motion is shown in the film "sortie d'usine" in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers. The early films that were created were simple films such as people walking out of factories this was another short film by the Lumiere Brothers.
G.A.Smith then realised that there was no story or editing in films, each film ran as long as there was film in the camera. An example of which is "The Miller and The Sweep" in 1898 by G.A.Smith. In 1899 he then made "The Kiss in the Tunnel", This film was one of the first that contained a story. Smith said that "some extra spice was called for" in the then popular "Phantom Ride" genre. He took advantage of the split second of darkness as they went through the tunnel and cut and stuck two pieces of film together this was called splicing.
George Melies was a magician who had seen the film made by The Lumiere brothers. Melies saw that there were possibilities of a novelty more than a motion itself. He bought a camera, built a studio, wrote a script and designed some sets and soon he discovered and exploited the basic camera tricks that are known so well today. in 1886 he made a movie named "The Vanishing Lady" using camera editing. He used this to perform his tricks a lot easier as in his real act he used mostly trap doors and wires to make sure that it went according to his plan.
Edwin Porter worked as an electrician before going to work in Thomas Edison's film laboratory. They worked together to make longer and more interesting films. Porter made "The Film Life of American Firemen" in 1903. this was among the first to contain a plot, action and a close up. Porter than discovered the importance of motion picture, he realized that he did not have to show the complete person. These were the key discoveries that made motion picture possible. Porter was the first person to ever use a close up in his films as he learnt he could have different shots with the camera.
Charles Pathe made a film called "Le Cheval Emballe" in 1907 introduced parallel editing, this was when you would cut between two story lines. D.W. Griffith was a U.S film director who was one of the early supporters of the power of editing. He made use of cross-cutting to show parallel action in different locations. His work was highly regarded by many and influenced early filmmakers. In his film he used a reverse shot to make it seem as though the horse was travelling backwards, this made the film more amusing to the observers.
"The Vanishing Lady" is using a technique know as camera editing when George Melies would stop the camera and then replay it once he had moved the actress out of the way of the camera. This was made in 1896.
This is a short clip called ''The life of and American Fireman'' it shows that inside and outside views of how a fireman would of saved someones life and shows a child and a mother getting stuck in a house with a fire blazing while the firemen are trying to save them and stop the fire. This clip was made in 1903 by Edwin Porter.
This is a short clip by Charles Pathe, the story is called ''Le Cheval Emballe'' he uses a technique to cut two stories and fit them together, this also makes them happen at the same time. it shows a postman and a horse in the same scenario and shows what they are doing. this was made in 1907.
This is a film clip made by G.A.Smith in 1897. It is called ''The Miller and the Sweep'' and was designed as a short film to make people laugh. This is about a miller and a chimney sweep fighting with flour.
''Le sortie d'usine'' was one of the first films created it shows the workers coming out of a factory this is by the Lumiere brothers. This was produced in 1895.
This is a short film called ''The Kiss in the Tunnel'' by G.A.Smith and it uses the darkness as an advantage as he then creates a new clip and ends back out the end of the tunnel. This was made in 1899.
This is a short clip called ''The life of and American Fireman'' it shows that inside and outside views of how a fireman would of saved someones life and shows a child and a mother getting stuck in a house with a fire blazing while the firemen are trying to save them and stop the fire. This clip was made in 1903 by Edwin Porter.
This is a short clip by Charles Pathe, the story is called ''Le Cheval Emballe'' he uses a technique to cut two stories and fit them together, this also makes them happen at the same time. it shows a postman and a horse in the same scenario and shows what they are doing. this was made in 1907.
