Louis Le Prince:
Credited with the oldest surviving film, predating other film pioneers.
His work remained largely unrecognized in mainstream cinema.
Thomas Edison:
Influenced by Eadweard Muybridge and hires William Dixon to develop inventions related to film.
Created the Kinescope and Kenograph:
Kinescope involved a private viewing experience, leading to a stigma due to the nature of some early subjects filmed.
Lumière Brothers:
Developed a superior film projection system that enabled public viewing on screens, promoting a shared cinematic experience.
Their innovations led to the success of early filmmakers like Alice Guy and Georges Méliès.
Alice Guy:
Directed over a thousand short films, significant in early cinema history.
Georges Méliès:
Known for theatrical performance and cinematic tricks, such as stopping and starting the camera.
Famous for the film A Trip to the Moon, which features hand-painted color versions.
Suffered financially as his works were exploited by others, notably Edison.
Edwin S. Porter:
Worked under Edison; his contributions included camera movements and editing that established film language.
Directed The Great Train Robbery, which was critical for the success of Nickelodeons (movie theaters).
Formed due to patent wars among early filmmakers.
MPPC's Practices:
Prioritized profit over quality, focusing on short one-reel films.
Stifled American filmmaking innovation compared to other countries.
First Feature Film:
The Story of the Kelly Gang from Australia, representing a longer film format.
Shift Toward Hollywood:
Filmmakers sought freedom from MPPC's restrictions by moving to California, notably the suburb of Hollywood.
Key Figures:
Cecil B. DeMille: First to direct feature-length films in Hollywood.
D.W. Griffith: Controversial figure due to his films' subject matter but influential in film techniques.
Notable works: Birth of a Nation and Intolerance.
Max Sennett: Focused on comedy and talent like Charlie Chaplin.
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks:
Power couple; Pickford was one of the first major female stars.
Fairbanks known for adventure films; their marriage catalyzed their careers.
Oscar Micheaux:
First black director, faced challenges due to racial barriers in the industry.
Post-World War I Developments:
Soviet Union started first film school; significant figures include Sergei Eisenstein who introduced montage theory.
German Expressionism:
Notable films include The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, Metropolis.
Filmmakers like Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau later migrated to the U.S. due to the rise of the Nazi party.
By 1920s, major studios in the U.S. emerged with iconic stars:
Lon Chaney (Man of a Thousand Faces), Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Greta Garbo.
First Synchronized Sound Film:
The Jazz Singer, marking a significant evolution in film technology.