Study Notes on the Invention of Movies

Concept Definition: Motion pictures create an illusion of movement through a phenomenon known as persistence of vision.
- This principle refers to the human eye's ability to perceive twenty-four images per second, each displayed for 1/60th of a second. The eye and brain merge these images into smooth motion due to the brain's limited processing speed.
Historical Context: The idea of persistence of vision has been recognized since ancient times.

Ancient Origins: The principle has roots traced as far back as ancient Egypt.
Significant Contributions:
- Athanasius Kircher (1646): Discussed principles related to lanterns in "Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae."
- Chevalier Patrice D’Arcy and Sir Isaac Newton: Provided early insights on the mechanics of vision.
- Peter Mark Roget (1824): Clarified that persistence of vision arises from the retina's retention of images temporarily, although later research identified the brain's role in processing rapidly changing images as contributing to this effect.
Cave Paintings and Motion Representation: Early attempts to illustrate motion can be found in cave paintings and ancient hieroglyphics, showcasing a longstanding human desire to depict movement.

Magic Lanterns and Shadow Puppetry:
- Preceded films; used glass plates, candles, and mirrors.
- Popularized across various cultures (China, Java, France).
Dominique Séraphin: Renowned for Parisian shadow plays (1784-1870).
Phenakistoscope: Early moving image device renamed Zoetrope in the 1860s.
Eidophusikon: Created by Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg; utilized miniatures and candlelight effects.

Ottomar Anschutz:
- Developed Electrical Tachyscope: Illuminated still photographs on a rotating disk.
- Introduced the Projecting Electrotachyscope for projecting images.
Projected Experiences: “Phantom trains” and hydraulic mechanisms created interactive spectacles, akin to modern amusement parks.
Robert Barker’s Panorama (1787): A patented visual display of large paintings recreating historical events.

Eadweard Muybridge:
- Known for motion studies (1872): used trip-wire to capture rapid movements of animals and humans.
- Significant Experiment: In 1878, settled a bet regarding horse motion, capturing images that demonstrated the horse's galloping posture with all four legs off the ground.
- Utilized Zoöpraxiscope for early film projection.
Étienne-Jules Marey (1882):
- Developed an early moving picture camera; photographed numerous images in succession using a “machine-gun” design.
- Transitioned to Eastman paper film for expediency in recording.
Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince:
- Inventor of a revolutionary sixteen-lens camera; created brief films simplifying motion capture.
- Mysteriously disappeared in 1890 after showcasing his projections.

William Friese-Greene and Others:
- Contributed to early film technology; claimed by the British as motion picture inventors.
- Notable inventions include the Kineopticon and others across Europe.
The Lumière Brothers:
- Cinematographe: Patented on February 13, 1895, integrating camera and projector.
- Key Films:
  - La Sortie des usines Lumière: First public projection on December 28, 1895.
  - L’Arroseur arrosé: Captured simple comedic scenarios; showcased the shift towards narrative films.
  - L’Arrivée d’un train à La Ciotat: Famous for its dramatic impact on audiences, leading to perceived movement scares.

Early experiments capitalized on film’s potential for spectacle and profit compared to the Lumière brothers' perspective.
- Noteworthy Films: Blacksmith Scene, Horse Shoeing, Fred Ott’s Sneeze: Early examples of staged performances over documentary style.
The Vitascope: Edison's projection system that recycled earlier works to take advantage of newfound popularity.
- Contrast with Lumière's documentary realism, focusing instead on spectacle and sensationalism.
Censorship Issues: Regarding films like The Kiss led to early debates on morality and public perception.

Former magician turned filmmaker renowned for special effects in cinema.
- Notable Films:
  - Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon): Pioneered science fiction themes and utilized practical effects like stop motion and double exposure.
  - Escamotage d’une dame chez Robert-Houdin: Showcase of illusionism.
- Contributions established foundational techniques in special effects still used today.
Eventually faced commercial struggles due to piracy and extravagant expenditures.

Noted as one of the first directors to create narrative films.
- Early experimentation with creative cinematic techniques such as close-ups and innovative editing.
- Her production of La Fée aux Choux (1896) is regarded as one of the first films with a plot, laying groundwork for narrative cinema.
- Worked extensively at Gaumont and later founded her own studio, Solax, contributing over three hundred films.

Directed The Life of an American Fireman and The Great Train Robbery, both of which transformed cinematic language and storytelling techniques.
- The Great Train Robbery: Pioneered parallel editing and established the western genre framework.
- Key innovations included varied camera angles, suspenseful intercutting, and freezing frames that enhanced narrative techniques.

Known for his innovative animation works, starting with Little Nemo and Gertie the Dinosaur.
His methods utilized thousands of drawings to create the illusion of movement through animation.

Multiple cinema advancements occurred globally, with influential figures in England, Germany, and Italy shaping their respective film industries.
Cecil M. Hepworth: Produced Rescued by Rover (1905), one of the first films featuring paid actors, emphasizing the family dog as the protagonist.

Film's Evolution: Despite early advancements, film lacked a comprehensive grammar of storytelling until pivotal figures like D.W. Griffith emerged.
Commercial Value: The rise of the studio system marked the transition from short narratives to feature-length films with structured genres, refining film as an industry and art form.