Film 3171 Midterm

The kinectoscope

WKL Dickson // Thomas Edison at Edison Laboratories An early motion picture exhibition device. not a movie projector, designed for films to be viewed individually through the window of a cabinet housing its components introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic projection before the advent of video peephole-esque in nature; one person at a time had to look through the device to see the film introduction of the kinectoscope parlors (exhibition method)

Louis Daguerre

invention of photography; the camera obscura and invention of daguerrotype. resulted in Seismic Shifts in Art, Science, and Industry

Lillian Gish (1893-1993)

Part of D.W. Griffiths acting company; starred in Birth of a Nation

Edweard Muybridge

"Animal Locomotion" Set up cameras at the sides of a racetrack that took pictures of the horse in an attempt to win the bet that made that at one point all of the horses hooves would be lifted off the ground. Conjunctive with the idea of a flipbook, set film in motion.

Classicism

"The Great Train Robbery" Edwin Porter - leads to most classical hollywood films all about ideal storytelling. aim to get caught up in the characters and their problems, to feel what they feel, but not be distracted by the filmmaking techniques. built sets that resemble reality produced polished pictures with the camera, but nothing that will make you say "look at that camerawork!" use of professional actors who can portray the characters emotions, and who will bring in a big audience. If there are special effects, they will look believable and add to the emotion of the story.

Thomas Edison

(1847-1931) American inventor best known for inventing the electric light bulb and motion pictures. Owned and founded Edison Trust, or MPPC. Patented idea of the Kinetoscope and hired WKL Dickson to create it, took sole credit for the work of the Edison Laboratory and WKL Dickson's inventions

The "red rooster scare" (1901-1910)

- Focusing on the dominant film company of the period; Paris-based Pathé Frères, - impact on french films and emergence of the Nickelodeon era. - Pathé (french film company) who had their films pirated frequently, as such they put roosters on all of their films to lessen the frequency of piracy - distinctly recognizable, high quality films, ground-breaking promotions, and cutting-edge business strategies shaped the development of cinema in the United States.

pulp fiction

- Novels written for mass consumption, often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots. - Fiction written in the 19th/20th century. - meddled with Film noir -german expressionism creates film noir through images seen in pulp fiction

Mutual Film Corporation v. Industrial Commission of Ohio (the mutual decision, 1915)

- U.S. Supreme Court examined whether motion pictures (specifically news reels) were part of "the press of th[is] country" - The Court determined that motion pictures were not protected speech films were, as a medium, mere commercial entertainment. Court concluded that movies had the capacity to incite audiences to immoral behavior -As a result, the state and local governments could lawfully restrict, censor, and ban films deemed to be immoral, sacrilegious, or otherwise objectionable. -The Supreme Court's ruling in the Mutual Film case gave these censor boards an unfettered mandate to edit, cut, and even ban objectionable films.

Trick Films (Formalism)

- part of Cinema of Attractions Short silent films, meant to highlight special effects; creating an effect similar to magic - offered extension of initial marketing appeal of technology - exploitation of technology

Scenics

- part of cinema of attractions - a family or tourist collection of everyday life: baby eating (Lumiere Film) workers leaving factories, vacation spots, exotic people and customs, far away lands and celebrities - moving record of present day life around the world - did not have to take spectators to picturesque locales, they might take them to no farther than the hometown - cameramen would visit a town, take films, develop them and then exhibit on the spot

Topicals

- part of cinema of attractions -differed from scenics in their exploitation of timeliness of current events: a direct appeal to the freshness of the product. -Early newsreels, these were filmings of coronations, funerals, fires, floods, armed conflict (advent of Spanish/American War) - editorials -re enacted representation of the wars battles -capturing sport was also a major interest early films that captured or sometimes re-created historical or newsworthy events

United Artists (1919)

-make their own movies and rely on FN and paramount for distribution (not vertically integrated - no theaters) -get tired of distributors taking 30-40% of the money so they make the UA distribution company -created by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith -new distribution company specifically to distribute independent producers -were encouraging competition with Paramount

The classical Hollywood cinema storytelling rules

1- the typical hollywood film presents psychologically defined characters who struggle to solve a clear cut problem or to attain specific goals 2- In the course of this struggle, the characters enter into conflict with others or with external circumstances 3. the story ends with closure:a decisive victory or defeat, a resolution of the problem and a clear achievement or non achievement of the goals 4) a sharp distinction between story and plot and the scenes that are included in the plot are these which somehow advance the main characters quest for his/her goal 5: films formal properties-camera movements, editing, setting, acting - will be used to present the plot and will not call attention to themselves. invisible style.

American Mutoscope and Biograph

1900 company originally formed to produce movies on flipcards for the Mutoscope machines turned to producing films for projection in theaters as well. led the firm into conflict with the larger and more dominant Edison Company, America's earliest major motion picture producer. -more adventurous than conservative Edison Company -Edison company attempted to sue because of projection issues; attempted to thwart production of Biograph films because he is claimed inventor of the mutoscope -laid groundwork for DW Griffith and followers

The cinema of attractions (1895-1905: scenics, topicals, proto-narratives, trick films)

A cinema that displays its visibility, willing to rupture a self-enclosed fictional world for a chance to solicit the attention of the spectator extends from lumiere invention to 1905. describes the early phenomena of cinema. cinema in this realm doesn't tell stories, in this time cinema and film were contingent upon being performative. simple narratives Narrative NOT a priority

Melodrama

A form of drama popular throughout the 19th century; Full of one-dimensional characters defined as either good or evil; Episodic narratives motivated by coincidence rather than psychology; A bombastic performance style designed to elicit excessive emotion from the audience; and A low cultural status—not as highly esteemed as other genres.

Poverty Row

A slang term used to describe the the production companies in hollywood that made "B-pictures," among these companies were Hal Roach studios, Republic, Monogram, and Grand National Republic, Monogram, Micheaux Film Corporation

Die Brucke

Branch of German Expressionism translated in english as "the Bridge" . Focused on disorientation and distortion in film and art as an escape from the effects of the war. Art depicted the lower class using muted or sickly colorization to further emphasize the german political landscape

Film Noir

Dark settings, night scenes, and strange camera angles depict a sense of menace, a "fallen world." Low-key lighting emphasizes shadows. The central character is a detective who (often in voice-over) represents somewhat tarnished honor in the fallen, (The Maltese Falcon); or a good but weak man who lets his temptations get the best of him (Double Indemnity). The central male character meets a "femme fatale"—and enters into a perverse romantic (and sexual) relationship. usually have unhappy endings—perhaps endings that speak to wartime angst?

Erich von Stroheim

Director who coveted the celebrity status that actors had. desire to achieve realism in his films. one of the first directors to have a film of his cut to pieces by the studio and denounce the released product. Director of Greed (1924).

Distribution

Distributing films to other vendors; films sold to exhibitors/theaters

The director unit system of Production (1909-1914)

Evolution of division of labor at early studios: D.W. Griffith Unit: Melodrama Frank Powell Unit: Romantic Comedies (1914: Defection to Pathé) Mack Sennett Unit: Zany Comedies (1912: Founder of Keystone)

Wave pattern

Film culture emerges on the domestic level: University classes, cine clubs, film magazines, amateur productions, festivals, etc. Culture receives financial encouragement from local audiences and/or government: Grants, tariff rules, TV contracts, etc. Country begins to produce non-Hollywood films: Shown domestically / Distributed to other countries Hollywood hires filmmakers from the country to come make movies in America, usually with mixed aesthetic and commercial success For this and other reasons (death, etc.) wave eventually dies out

"Intolerance" by D.W. Griffith

Film post Birth of a Nation Babylonian set defensive response to the widespread controversy surrounding racist masterpiece The Birth of a Nation (1915) 4 different storylines, non-linear editing paralled edited to Nth degree

German Expressionism

Films made in "unreal" genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy. Wildly stylized mise-en-scène: geometrically absurd sets and architecture, exaggerated shadows, stark contrasts between black and white areas in the film frame, designs painted on walls and floors to represent lights, shadows, and objects, etc. Performance is an extension of the mise-en-scène: actors are dominated by the set, moving through the pools of shadow with unnatural grace and jerky movements. The overall gist of German Film Expressionism: To convey the point-of-view of a world off-kilter, gone mad...

Minstrel Shows (early 1800's to mid 1900's)

Highly racist performances/entertainment was an American form of entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that mocked people specifically of African descent.

Picture Palaces

Is a term used to refer to the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. - The Regent (the first of these) was opened in New York City in 1913. Historian Maggie Valentine contended that it was the development of feature film, like D.W. Griffith's twelve reel Birth of a Nation in 1915, which promoted the development of "feature" motion picture houses.

The "Big Five"

Loew's MGM, Paramount, 20 Century-Fox, Warner Bros., Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO)

Lon Chaney (1883-1930)

Man of a thousand faces, male protagonist in The Unknown

Vertical Integration

Practice where a single entity controls the entire process of a product, from the raw materials to distribution

Irving Thalberg (1899-1936)

Producer of MGM Known as "Boy Wonder" for his considerable power at an early age influential film executive

The classical hollywood cinema (1915-1960)

Production, distribution, exhibition Production: The methods by which the movies are made (35mm equipment, studio system, etc.). Includes assembly-line production, narrative formulae (CHC rules, genre conventions), etc.  Distribution: Major, vertically integrated studios control the business, determine what films play in what theaters. Issues of censorship: Production Code regulation (especially post-1934). Exhibition: Rise of "picture palaces," all-class audiences.

persistence of vision

Refers to the way our eyes retain images for a split second longer than they actually appear, making a series of quick flashes appear as one continuous picture. Glitch in eye that allows cinema to exist; allusion of motion.

exhibition

Rise of "picture palaces," all-class audiences. From nickelodeons to picture palaces, package of entertainment that includes cartoons, serials, newsreels, double features and other amenities. the presentation/showing of a film exhibitors would scout public spaces for rent, burlesque houses and vaudeville hall to present a film

The "Little Three"

Studios that did not own theaters: Columbia, Universal, and United Artists.

Production

The methods by which the movies are made (35mm equipment, studio system, etc.). Includes assembly-line production, narrative formulae (CHC rules, genre conventions), etc. huge boom in Nickelodean era: need for product

Inceville

Where the first permanent exterior sets were built, made to resemble far-flung locations created by Thomas H. Ince was the first major Hollywood studio facility and invented movie production by introducing the "assembly line" system of filmmaking. first mogul to build his own film studio dubbed "Inceville" in Palisades Highlands. Ince was also instrumental in developing the role of the producer in motion pictures. Laemmle hired former IMP actor named Thomas H. Ince to run and direct films in this new Hollywood studio, called the IMP (Independent Moving Pictures) Studio.

Zoetrope

a 19th-century optical toy consisting of a cylinder with a series of pictures on the inner surface that, when viewed through slits with the cylinder rotating, give an impression of continuous motion.

Renee Falconetti

a French stage and film actress, notable for her role as Joan of Arc in Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 silent film, La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc. - strength of facial expressions - cry on command - film (JOA) was failure at box office

Formalism

a critical approach to cinema that emphasizes formal properties of the text or medium over content or context. to show their personal vision of the world. They are concerned with "spiritual and psychological truths that can best be represented by distorting and exaggerating the image" Georges Melies

Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson (1952) "The miracle decision"

a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court which largely marked the decline of motion picture censorship in the United States. began at the Venice Film Festival when foreign film importer Burstyn saw a 40-minute Italian film called Il Miracolo (The Miracle) made by Roberto Rossellini and starring Italy's favorite actress, Anna Magnani. declared film as an artistic medium and should be given the same First Amendment rights as any other form of creative expression. - Court determined that free speech protection equally applied to motion pictures. - Supreme Court reversed earlier rulings and ended decades of censorship in American cinemas. - prior to the Miracle Decision, it was settled law in America that movies were not entitled to any substantive Constitutional protection from state censorship

Rental exchanges

a mode of distribution practice in the nickelodeon era companies would rent their films to nickelodeons, nickelodeons would pay them as to keep up with the increased demand for more films

Soviet Montage

a style of editing built around the theory that editing should highlight the differences between shots to produce meaning. approach to understanding and creating cinema that relies heavily upon editing. brought formalism to beat on filmmaking

Constructivism

a style or movement in which assorted mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile structural forms. The movement originated in Russia in the 1920s and has influenced many aspects of modern architecture and design. associate with Dziga Vertov and Man With a Movie Camera: -strives for objective representations of the world, rather than concentrating on the artist's subject interpretation of it. -the act of revealing the act and the mechanisms of filmmaking is a constructivist strategy. - a put-together purposeful mediated reality, and not just a creative personal artistic endeavor. Vertov: not to be confused with narrative, dramatic film-making. Vertov's work aligns itself with Constructivism in the sense that both are concerned with the construction of new, modern social and cultural artifacts to serve revolutionary social purposes"

Race Houses

also known as "tentative theatres" or theaters for african american viewing attempt to further segregate african americans from white americans.

Realism

artistic representation that aims for visual accuracy use available light use non-professional actors (real people playing themselves). shot at existing buildings or outdoor locations. about everyday people and everyday situations Lumiere Brothers

effect of Edison trust restrictions on unlicensed independent production companies

by using unlicensed equipment, obtaining their own film materials, and making films on the sly. Soon, they moved to California and opened up a rival film-making industry, where they could be comparatively safe, and there was abundant sunshine for film-making with a diverse number of landscapes. novative in the making of longer, multi-reel feature films, as opposed to the standard-length one-reel films produced by the MPPC. And they realized that audiences desired to learn the names of uncredited film performers - hence, the development of the star system. The growth of Hollywood, the studio system, the take-over of cinema by businessmen and entrepreneurs, and the film star system were coming quickly. By 1911, dialogue titles (first used in 1910) came into popular use, and credits started to appear in films IMP (the Independent Moving Pictures) Company - Precursor to Universal Films/Pictures

The Hays Code / Production Code

created by Will H.Hays moral code that governed mid-20th century American film-making first attempt at introducing film censorship in the US through laying down a series of guidelines to film producers. founded according to the concept: "if motion pictures present stories that will affect lives for the better, they can become the most powerful force for the improvement of mankind" - the clear implication being that films were signally failing to achieve these lofty aims. Code based on three principles: 1- No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin. - Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. - Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation. directly influenced the content of almost every American film made between 1930 and 1966

Traveling exhibitors (1895-1920)

curated short programs of films, determined sound accompaniment, sometimes re-edited films to fit the package.

D.W. Griffith (1875-1948)

desired to be a playwright and performer. Didn't make it onto broadway, went into motion picture (biograph). wrote scenarios, cranked out films at an astonishing rate, invented parallel/linear editing. Director of Birth of a Nation and intolerance. Editing gets more progressive, representation//presentation of the middle class.

Alloy orchestra

duel contemporary soundtracks for silent films

William Monroe Trotter

founder of Boston Guardian, believed that victims of racism should not support a racist American government. organized anti-Birth of a Nation protests in the Boston area. saw the film (Birth of a Nation) as regressive and incredibly harmful to the image of African Americans in society.

Carl Laemmle (1867-1939)

founder of Universal Studios. maverick movie mogul and film distributor. Involved in both movie distribution and film production, founded his own company in New York in 1909 - the Yankee Film Company, with Abe and Julius Stern. Produced movies in Fort Lee, New Jersey in 1909. First company was called the Independent Motion Pictures (IMP) Company, aka IMP Studios. In 1910, Laemmle hired former IMP actor named Thomas H. Ince to run and direct films in this new Hollywood studio, called the IMP (Independent Moving Pictures) Studio. June 1912: forced out of distribution by the Edison Trust and co-founded the Universal Film Manufacturing Co., or Universal Film Company, the precursor to Universal Pictures in 1915. consolidated IMP with a group of independent studios to create the new film company.

Edison Trust

if filmmakers wanted to produce a film they had to use all of edison's trust equipment. also known as Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC). founded in December 1908. Created to legally control distribution, production, and exhibition of films, with agents and detectives to enforce its rules. limited competition from other independent companies. To protect and increase profits, it bought and pooled major patents (on movie machines such as cameras and projectors), and charged anyone (by issuing licenses) who wanted to use their equipment or hire their films. Its goals were to reduce foreign imports, fight movie piracy, protect film copyrights, reduce the power of other emerging distributors, and drive other rivals out of business. controlled the production of motion pictures attempted to corner the market on the production of the film stock on which motion pictures were shot. Eastman Kodak, the dominant manufacturer of raw 35mm stock, joined the Trust by agreeing to sell its product only to licensed studios. competition with WK dickson and Biograph company

W.K.L. Dickson

invented the first practical celluloid film for this application and decided on 35 mm for the size, a standard still used. orked on the development of the Kinetoscope for several years. The first working prototype was unveiled in May 1891 and the design of system was essentially finalized by the fall of 1892. Also the first person to make a film for the pope former employee of Thomas Edison Trust - American Mutoscope and Biograph company

The Kuleshov Effect

juxtaposition of one unrelated shot to another, somehow creating a meaning for viewers. works the same way as and advances Marixst theory invented by: Lev Kuleshov, a revolution era director and student of DW Griffith

The Nickelodeon Era (1905-1915)

longer, decisely narrative films // exhibitors Production: The Director System of Production (1907-1909) and The Director-Unit System (1909-1914). Evolution of division of labor at early studios Distribution: of Technology: Patent Disputes / Edison Trust. Of Films: Nickelodeon boom and rise of Rental Exchanges, (e.g. formation in 1910 of the General Film Company) Exhibition: The Nickelodeon Era: Exhibition Nickelodeon Exhibitors refurbish extant retail spaces, curate short film programs, and determine live "soundtrack" Low cultural esteem for nickelodeons and their audiences

Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft (UFA)

main German production company during the 1920s eventually became the core of the Nazi film industry big german production company started as propaganda for all german expressionist films

Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951)

makes film titled Within our Gates, in response to birth of a nation discusses authentic history film is not taken well due to african american identity enacts tensions within african american communities shown in Race houses

Auguste (1862-1954) and Louis (1864-1948) Lumiere

pioneers of cinema, first documentarians filmed "actualities" filmed first home video and 50 second short of the arrival of a train shot using a cinematographe rewinding of footage, no editing required. the continuous unedited film strip. realist approach films are about everyday people and everyday situations. often deal with social issues.

Nitrate Film

prone to decomposition 80% of film made with this is gone highly flammable

Der Blaue Reiter

second branch under German Expressionism in which the use of music and lyricism was portrayed within the works. Ex: works of Wassily Kandinsky. Translated in english as "The Blue Rider".

Cabiria (Giovanni Pastrone, 1914)

served as inspiration for D.W Griffith in his production of Lonedale Operator

The cameraman system of production

short, non narrative films. emergence of first "studios": Edison trust and American Mutoscope and Biograph company

Serials

stories filmed in segments, to be shown on successive weeks along with the feature- film presentation.

"Film Europe"

term frequently applied at the time to a series of attempts by major European production companies to create a large, cooperative market. Their purpose was to foster their own films by offering a united front against American hegemony. decline is usually attributed to the 1929 Depression, the complications caused by the worldwide adoption of sound film in the late 1920s, and the box office failure of The Passion of Joan of Arc (a 1928 Gaumont / UFA co-production).

Georges Melies (1861-1938)

took on formalist approach to film. used ability of camera to trick audience members; known for visual trickery. pioneered trick films made A Trip to the Moon (1902) shot from the same angle, camera never moved. film was three times longer than those of Edison and Lumiere Brothers no desire to show reality.

Joseph Breen (1890 - 1965)

took over production code administration sensor at script and film levels negotiated for the word "Damn" in Gone with The Wind.

Etienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904)

use of chronographic gun studied motion analyses of motion characterized by multiple exposures on a single photographic plate. pioneer of photography and an influential pioneer of the history of cinema. ld technique which captures some frames of a movement, combined into a single image. invented a chronophotographic gun in 1882, an instrument capable of taking 12 consecutive frames a second wanted to understand motion

The director system of production (1907 - 1909)

when the director, cinematographer split creatively and the film was more so focused on the direction that the director desired/intended.