The History of Experimental Film
In 1872 Eadweard Muybridge produced what is thought to be the first film of a horse. He took photos of a horse running and stuck the images together. It actually won him a bet the way horses actually run.
In 1891 American inventor Thomas Edison was perfecting his filming technique with something called a Kinetoscope.
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. The Kinetoscope was designed for films to be viewed by one individual at a time through a peephole viewer window at the top of the device.
1892 French Charles-Émile Reynaud was projecting film on his praxinoscope.
In England Robert W Paul Bert Acres invented the first 35mm camera.
IN 1895 moving images were projected onto a big screen. To start images were filmed in one perspective. Like a recording of a stage play. That could then just be rewatched over and over again. Suddenly things could be shown in a theatre that would have caused problems on a stage. Even simple things like flooding or walls falling down. Some of the first special effects were running a film backwards.
One of the first films shown by the Lumière Brothers was of a train coming into a station. Some people screamed and tried to leave the cinema afraid of being run over. The imagery was so realist and astonishing.
James Williamson was originally a chemist who also developed photographic film in Hove who later went on to build a film studio next to his house.
He was one of the first film makers to develop the film narrative; multi shot films and used may different camera angles for dramatic effect.
He made the Big Swallow in 1891
George Méliès
In the early days of film making. Film makers started by shooting a moving image from one perspective. As if they were filming a play on a stage where the actors came and went. Everything shot in one scene. So the play could be seen again and again after only being acted out once.
Then rather than one view point it was found a film could be cut up and make things appear and disappear as if by magic.
Which was wonderful for the young film maker Georges Méliès who was also an illusionist. He could then make and direct films that could show very magical content by cutting and repasting film.
Méliès came across this by accident when his camera locked in the middle of shooting where a bus changed into a hearse and the women changed into men.
George Melies became one of the most famous early film makers. He wanted to become an artist but his father wanted him to follow in his footsteps as a shoe manufacturer.
Melies became interested in magic and went on to become an amazing stage illusionist. George went on to film the fantastic, the magical and the future.
Amazingly over 100 years ago Melies made this film about the Channel tunnel.
In 1897 he built a film studio in Montreal, France
Around the same time a man called George Albert Smith was on a similar path. An illusionist and film maker. He started using special techniques ahead of Mellies but he is little known in comparison.
George Meiles films such as A trip to the Moon in 1902 were brilliant. Totally surreal, futuristic science Fantasy. He was also a comic genius. To me these films are wonderful and extremely funny.
TRIP TO THE MOON
Alice in Wonderland (film 1903) BY Cecil M Hepworth and Percy Stow.
A film with a great use of sets and perspective. Where Alice shrinks and grows after consuming potions.
Around 1912, major motion-picture companies set up production in Los Angeles. In the 1900’s most motion picture patents were held by Thomas Edison’s Motion Picture Patents Company. Film companies filmed in and around Los Angles to avoid his patent. L.A. It soon became a centre for film making.
In the 1920, films became popular with such actors as Harold Lloyd. Including entertainment using dangerous and daring stunts. He performed all his own stunts and wowed the audience.
This can be seen in his film SAFETY LAST
There was a whole era of action films starting up. But also the Artists wanted to use this medium to express themselves.
Mam Ray “Le Retour a la raison” 1823
This film included fast music and sounds. He filmed the latest fairground ride. Then a mobile with shadows and a naked woman. He seemed to be examining the light that fell on these objects. The music can be a little disconcerting and manic in some of these experimental films.
Jacqueline Paesano Wood 