Who developed the system for taking repeated photos? Why?
Etienne-Jules Marey- he was interested in the study of motion. Developed system of taking repeated photos of animals/people in motion.
What is the kinetoscope?
First described by Edison in 1888, 50 feet of continuous moving loop of film. Could only be viewed by one person at a time. First public demonstration was blacksmith scene. Edison didn’t see much potential in film, only saw potential in selling the technology.
What was the Lumiere brothers’ contribution to film?
Developed cinematographe- portable movie camera and projector. Light and mobile, developed film perforations.
What was Porter’s contribution to film?
Editing film into a unified narrative. Realizing that cinematic time didn’t have to be linear, series of scenes, not shots. Tilts (vertical) and pans (horizontal).
What were some of Griffith’s contributions to film?
- Biggest director of silent movie era
- Realized that movies could mirror physical and mental processes. Focusing attention=the close up, recalling memories=the flashback, dividing attention=cross cutting
- Created more 3D spaces on screen
- Demanded underacting
- Developed lexical gestures
- Introduced rehearsals
- Also developed feature length film
How has the movie industry (and all media) dealt with potential of government stepping in to control content? And, What are two examples of the movie industry taking steps to deal with potential of government regulating the content of films?
- Industry always tried to avoid government intervention
- National board of censorship > national board of review of movie pictures: would approve movies, told directors and producers what to cut or change
- Production code: industry imposed rules that controlled the content of movies
- “Miracle” decisions stated that movies do have a first amendment right.
Moving ratings
What was the Supreme Court’s stance relative to movies and First Amendment rights from the 1910s to the 1950s?
In 1915, Supreme court said that movies do not have first amendment protections. Overturned this decision in 1952.
Why was the NC-17 rating added to the MPAA? What did it replace?
Replaced X, since that started to be used for porn due to not being trademarked.
Please describe the reasons why the movie industry was slow to implement dialogue to film (i.e., what slowed the prominence of ‘talkies’)? (3)
- Actors/actresses: needed pleasant voice, also needed to act and talk at the same time
- Higher costs: repetition of scenes, filming equipment, theatres (studios did not want to pay warner bros royalties)
- Sound on the set from: cameras, equipment to move cameras, lights, surrounding area. Prevented early sound movies from being as visually interesting.
What two things were developed that help fix the sound problems associated ‘talkies’?
Developed camera covers and boom arm.
What are the five ways described in class that movies make money?
- Domestic theatrical release
- International theatrical release
- Nontheatrical release (airlines, military bases, cruise ships), not a lot of money
- DVD, downloads, etc
- TV
What is the Hollywood blacklist? What events led do the creation of the blacklist?
- People banned from working in the movie industry (40s and 50s) because they were suspected to have ties to communism
- After WWII, US movies into the “Cold War”
- Waldorf declaration
- Height of blacklist comes during the era of McCarthyism
What were the two ways media companies approached the development of VHS?
- Contentious relationship with video recording devices companies
- Some realized potential, like 20th century FOX
- Others fought-specifically VHS, companies claimed copyright infringement
- Supreme Court rules in favor of VHS companies
