Inventions
Who created the first fully working video camera? What was it called? How were the films viewed?
W.K.L Dickinson invented the Kinetograph, it had to be viewed through a Kinetoscope.
Name two of the directors that helped create the template for the modern blockbuster. Name one movie made by each.
Steven Spielberg (Jaws), George Lucas (Star Wars).
Which was the first feature-length animated film? Which year did it come out?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937.
When were the first Academy Awards held? Which film won best picture?
First Academy Awards were in May 1929, the film Wings won Best Picture
How did the addition of artificial lighting change film production?
Filming could continue after sunset, low lighting could also be used for a mood change, studios were now blacked out to control this.
What was a nickelodeon? Describe the condition and atmosphere.
The earliest indoor spaces to show motion pictures. Usually a converted store. They were uncomfortable and poorly ventilated. They also had piano players.
Name three of the actors or actresses that were popular during the “Golden Years” of Hollywood from approximately 1940-1960.
Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart.
What was the name of the ground-breaking “talkie” in 1927? Which studio released it?
The Jazz Singer by Warner Bros.
Name two of the three studios that dominated the industry after the introduction of sound.
MGM, Paramount, WB.
What are three things that you learned about early film production from the film Hugo?
1. Studios were made of glass to let in as much light as possible.
2. They had to edit the tapes by hand to add color
3. There were a lot less options for special effects, tapes had to be cut and pasted together.
As TV became popular, what were two new innovations that Hollywood used to try to lure viewers back to the theatre?
3D movies and Cinemascope.
Identify and describe three people from film history and comment on their contributions to filmmaking.
1. Georges Melies introduced the use of special effects, which made movies seem less like reality.
2. Marlon Brando introduced “method acting.”, which was important for actors trying to fit into a role.
3. W.K.L Dickinson created the first Kinetograph, which paved the way for similar products that led to the birth of filmmaking.
Which film was ground-breaking for its use of digital filming and digital projection?
Avatar, 2009
Why were nickelodeons eventually replaced?
The films became longer and the nickelodeons were not comfortable enough.
What are intertitles? When did they begin to be used consistently in film?
Scenes shown between film scenes to show character's dialogue. Used consistently around 1912.
When was Technicolor first used?
Becky Sharp, 1935.
Name two well-known silent film actors.
Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton.
What are three things you learned about how talking pictures changed the film industry through the film Singin’ in the Rain?
1. You had to have a good voice to be an actor.
2. Recording voices was difficult (without also recording stage noise)
3. Now full dialogue scripts were needed
What are two of the reasons why the film industry migrated towards southern California?
It had good sunshine and scenery, to escape Edison's patent lawsuits.
Why was the Motion Picture Patents Company formed? What impact did they have in the US film industry?
Formed in 1908 to pool patents together and and to control the American film industry.