RTF 308 Development of Film & Media

SCREENING Journal -- 08/30/2016

Title:

Peepshow Pioneers from Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (2010)

Period or
Concept:

Silent films Early 1900s

Synopsis:

A dream to capture movement- magic lanterns and projectors Muybridge takes pictures of
horses running to show movement and edison publicized it w phonograph- Kinetograph
Lumire bros project footage- cinematograph. Edison steals this and starts showing footage
in large theaters (vitascope). Mlis brings more creativity from his magician background.
Expands to more documentaries and advertisements.
Edmund Porter makes films into something of an art from just a disposable entertainment.
He starts up the storytelling instead of vignettes. Immigrant movie entrepreneurs buy
nickelodeons and end up founding studios. Fort Lee, New Jersey was the first hollywood.
Alice Guy starts up editing. DW Griffith shoots on location and intercuts between scenes.
Edison and his trust goes to try to claim a monopoly. Other moguls go to LA and found
Hollywood.

What does
this
episode tell
you about
the
standards
of this time
period?
(for future
exam prep)

Format
Originally films were more documentarian but mlis introduced the narrative to the art
Actualits showing propoganda and news= leads to newsreels
Advertisements start
Griffiths creates narratives by editing together shots, and actors are subtler than theater.
People start using closeups and moving place to place to create a rhythm

Style
Georges Mlis introduces the concept of a cut in film, magic and impossible stuff
Porter (fireman, great train robbery) showing scenes from different angles. Sometimes
hand colored film. Female filmmakers bring in editing.

Production
Black mariah first film studio
Edisons kinetoscope- large electric bulky camera
Cinematograph- more portable

RTF 308 Development of Film & Media

SCREENING Journal -- 08/30/2016

Mary Pickford, gish

Exhibition
Kinetoscope- look in a box (peep) and a phonograph plays background music
Multiple parts shown on seperate devices to maximize profits
Cinematograph- projected in a small caf
Vitoscope- more grand theaters
Specialized theaters just for films start with Edmund Porter (nickelodeons)

Reception
People were excited by lascivious subjects/taboo content
Crown and flower
Seen as Inherently voyeuristic, so censorship started (The Kiss)
Theater actors saw films as low art and were snobby about it.

Miscellaneous
The rat catcher! The man who eats a rat!
Film started to be a lower class entertainment
After hollywood started, many film moguls were jewish immigrants

2
Questions:
(for Weds
discussion)

What were the most surprising things you learned from the
documentary? What do you think will be the most impactful in the
future? Why? Be ready to discuss in section on Wednesday.
I was surprised to learn how influential immigrants were in the making of Hollywood, and i

RTF 308 Development of Film & Media

SCREENING Journal -- 08/30/2016

hope history repeats itself in giving minorities more opportunities to tell their stories. I
thought of the film Tangerine which I havent seen yet but I know that its pretty unique for
having been shot on an iPhone. The film was made by black trans women, and i think this
is a great example of marginalized voices speaking through what could be the New New
Media (DIY film/indie film)

Title:

The Evidence of Film (1913), Dir. Edwin Thanhouser & A Dogs Love (1914), Dir.
Jack Harvey

Period:
Synopses
:

How do
Format
these
screening
s relate
to the
time
period?
(for future
exam

RTF 308 Development of Film & Media

SCREENING Journal -- 08/30/2016

prep)

Style

Production

Exhibition

Reception

Miscellaneous

RTF 308 Development of Film & Media

SCREENING Journal -- 08/30/2016

Question
s:
(for Weds
discussion
)

Do these shorts exemplify the formal, narrative, stylistic, and industrial

conventions of the time period or contradict them? How so? Why? Be
ready to discuss this in section on Wednesday.