By 1910, film making was becoming a major By 1910, film making was becoming a major business and film pioneers such as David Wark business and film pioneers such as David Wark Griffith discovered the following new techniques:Griffith discovered the following new techniques:

–Transitions – fade in and fade out to indicate a lapse Transitions – fade in and fade out to indicate a lapse of time between scenes.of time between scenes.–These effects were achieved during photography by These effects were achieved during photography by opening and closing the camera aperature diaphragm opening and closing the camera aperature diaphragm to control the amount of lightto control the amount of light–Editing, camera movement, shot composition and Editing, camera movement, shot composition and lighting all added to the sophistication of these films.lighting all added to the sophistication of these films.–Emergence of the film “star” (Mary Pickford, Charlie Emergence of the film “star” (Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin)Chaplin)

The 1910’s and 1920’sThe 1910’s and 1920’s

The Feature Film FormatThe Feature Film Format

• Until now, exhibitors believed an audience Until now, exhibitors believed an audience would not be willing to sit through more would not be willing to sit through more than one reel of film.than one reel of film.

• When DW Griffith realized he was unable When DW Griffith realized he was unable to tell his story “Enoch and Arden”-1911 in to tell his story “Enoch and Arden”-1911 in the length of one reel, he decided to take a the length of one reel, he decided to take a risk, and release the film in two halves. risk, and release the film in two halves. The film was an international success.The film was an international success.

• By the end of the decade, 90 minute films By the end of the decade, 90 minute films were in every theatre.were in every theatre.

The Keystone CopsThe Keystone Cops

• Although weepy movies were popular, more Although weepy movies were popular, more popular were movies that made the audience popular were movies that made the audience laugh.laugh.

• The Keystone performers entertained their The Keystone performers entertained their viewers with an array of pratfalls and stunts viewers with an array of pratfalls and stunts such as making rubber bricks, fake house for such as making rubber bricks, fake house for cars to smash through, collapsing telephone cars to smash through, collapsing telephone poles.poles.

• The Keystone Cops became so popular, movie The Keystone Cops became so popular, movie after movie was churned out to entertain after movie was churned out to entertain audiences.audiences.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOqBhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOqBjy_ncx8jy_ncx8

An explosion of change and creative new An explosion of change and creative new ideas in film blossomed in the 1920’s.ideas in film blossomed in the 1920’s.•Film makers began to depend more and Film makers began to depend more and more on special effects to help them tell more on special effects to help them tell their stories.their stories.•Different departments were formed Different departments were formed within movie production companies, each within movie production companies, each handling a different aspect of the handling a different aspect of the process. These included scripts, process. These included scripts, costuming, props, and editing.costuming, props, and editing.•In 1926, special effects received it’s first In 1926, special effects received it’s first screen credit in the movie “What Price screen credit in the movie “What Price Glory”.Glory”.

The 1920’sThe 1920’s

Lavish, historical Lavish, historical settingssettings

• New techniques were developed during the New techniques were developed during the 1920’s that helped film makers portray the 1920’s that helped film makers portray the lavish and historical settings that their films lavish and historical settings that their films required.required.

• Large sets were built on studio lots, and Large sets were built on studio lots, and *travelling matte process was developed to try *travelling matte process was developed to try and create a more realistic backdrop to tell the and create a more realistic backdrop to tell the story.story.

• *TRAVELLING MATTE*TRAVELLING MATTE A process shot in which foreground action is A process shot in which foreground action is superimposed on a separately photographed superimposed on a separately photographed background by optical printing.background by optical printing.

• Small scale models were built when an object or Small scale models were built when an object or a location was too big or impractical to film.a location was too big or impractical to film.

Special EffectsSpecial Effects

• During the 1920’s special effects During the 1920’s special effects technicians were becoming more technicians were becoming more and more proficient and creative in and more proficient and creative in their development of building and their development of building and shooting accurately scaled down shooting accurately scaled down landscapes, buildings and vehicles.landscapes, buildings and vehicles.

The Thief of Bagdad – 1924The Thief of Bagdad – 1924Ben Hur - 1925Ben Hur - 1925

• An example of the new An example of the new sophistication of special effects can sophistication of special effects can be seen in “The Thief of Bagdad” be seen in “The Thief of Bagdad” starring Douglas Fairbanks- 1924.starring Douglas Fairbanks- 1924.

• http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=-TrWH0ZTgiI=-TrWH0ZTgiI

• Flying carpet sequences (sometimes Flying carpet sequences (sometimes the wires can be seen)the wires can be seen)

Ben Hur - 1925Ben Hur - 1925

• ““Ben Hur” – 1925, required huge sets and a fleet Ben Hur” – 1925, required huge sets and a fleet of seven huge Roman galleys* on location in Italy.of seven huge Roman galleys* on location in Italy.

• A number of catastrophic incidents occurred A number of catastrophic incidents occurred during the making of this film.during the making of this film.– Some extras were drowned during the burning of the Some extras were drowned during the burning of the

galleys scene as they jumped from the burning ships.galleys scene as they jumped from the burning ships.– Italian labor disputes forced the production to return to Italian labor disputes forced the production to return to

California for complete.California for complete.– The film was completed using rebuilt sets with The film was completed using rebuilt sets with

significant use of miniatures.significant use of miniatures.– http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=QqI8hwTTN54=QqI8hwTTN54– *GALLEY - A Galley (from Greek γαλέα - galea) is an *GALLEY - A Galley (from Greek γαλέα - galea) is an

ancient ship which can be propelled entirely by human ancient ship which can be propelled entirely by human oarsmen, used for warfare and tradeoarsmen, used for warfare and trade

AnimationAnimation

• By the mid 1920’s “Felix the Cat” By the mid 1920’s “Felix the Cat” became extremely popularbecame extremely popular

• http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=QOtd2nCiHLE=QOtd2nCiHLE

• 1923, Walt Disney began production 1923, Walt Disney began production of “Alice” comedies where live action of “Alice” comedies where live action Alice was combined with two Alice was combined with two dimensional cartoon figures.dimensional cartoon figures.

• http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=iHFTvJKl5PM&feature=related=iHFTvJKl5PM&feature=related

Citations:Citations:

• You TubeYou Tube• ““Special Effects: The History and Special Effects: The History and

Technique” by Richard RickettTechnique” by Richard Rickett