the film industry goes to LA

blog question: If you had to summarize and explain the events that led from the film industry's transfer from New Jersey to Los Angeles, how would you explain it? What was Thomas Edison's role in this transition? What role did patents and Nickleodeons play in this dispute


What had happened was they Edison had created a monopoly in the film industry acquiring pattens on everything from lightbulbs to the Phonograph, and while doing this he had formed the Motion Picture Patent Company. There had had joined forces with Eastman Kodak, which owned the patent on raw film stock. The Trust’s control of patents on motion picture cameras ensured that only MPPC studios were able to film, and the projector patents allowed the Trust to make licensing agreements with distributors and theaters – and thus determine who screened their films and where. In short, if you wanted to be in the movie business, you did so at the pleasure of Thomas Edison. Many in the film industry, known as “independents,” chose a different option, flee. California made a lot of sense, not only for the reasons listed above, but also because it was in an area where judges were less friendly to the patents awarded to Edison and company.

george melies

blog question: What were Melies' contributions to cinema? Why is his work so significant?


George Melies's A Trip to the Moon was the first creation of science fiction and invented special effects. There was a time when filmmakers hadn't yet thought of using camera tricks to create illusions. George not only was a film pioneer artistically, but also in terms of industry. He built the first movie studio in Europe, which was made completely out of glass walls and ceilings on his own property outside of Paris. He was also the first filmmaker to use production sketches and storyboards, and would help paint the sets and create props for his film. Artistically, he was the first filmmaker to experiment with double exposure, split screen, dissolve, superimposition, and reverse shots. A Trip to the Moon was internationally famous, from France to the U.S.. To this day, it is considered one of the world's first blockbusters.

smashing pumpkins tonight tonight

blog question: What is this music video about? Why did the band and the filmmakers choose these images? Why are they significant? What do you think they are paying homage to or emulating?

The video is about the "The Trip to the Moon" silent film by French director Georges Melies in 1902. The band and the filmmakers chose these image to emphasize how the night can be mysterious, similar to the silent film.There they are attacked by moon aliens and discover that by hitting them with their umbrellas they blow up. Eventually they escape and fall out of the sky into the sea where Poseidon helps them out and safely return to land. I'm not quite sure why the band and its filmmakers decided to go in this direction for the music video. I think they are paying respect to one of the most famous directors of our time by incorporating his movie into their music video.

Alice Guy-Blache

blog question: What are Alice's contributions to cinema history? Why are her accomplishments so incredible during this time period? What makes her such a significant figure?


Alice Guy-Blache was the first woman director. Many people do not know this. She out lasted the french and american filmmakers. Because she was the only female director, up until 1912 she was the only female director that produced a constant body of story film in the world. Back then, females were placed in the box of being a house keeper and mom. So for her to come over as an independent woman, is remarkable. Not only did she start the Solax Studios, she owned everything about it. She did things no other director has done before. She was the first to use superimposition and directed synchronized sound films for four years, creating about 150 of them

the first motion film

blog question: Who was Louis Le Prince? What was his contribution to cinema? After reading about him, what surprises you about reading this article?


"The Father of Cinematography", Louis Le Prince was according to new research, the first person to make a movie. He moved to England after studying chemistry and physics in France and established the Leeds Technical School or Art where he specialized in tinting and firing of photographic images. In 1886, he created a 16-lens camera. The Le Prince Single-lens Cine Camera is believed to be the equipment used to film the famous Roundhay Garden and Leeds Bridge scenes, proved to be one of the most ground-breaking inventions of early cinema. What surprised be about him was that he majored in chemistry and physics, but became apart of film. This proves that what you study in college, doesn't mean you have to become it.

the Phantasmagoria

blog question: What was the Phantasmagoria? After reading this article, write a reflection on what elements of the Phantasmagoria became adopted into the development of movies

Phantasmagoria was a type of spooky theater that used a mobile magic lantern that projected images of skeletons and demons to scare audiences. It was first created by the French in the late 18th century before spreading throughout Europe in the early 19th century. It's basic purpose was to produce through simple techniques, an illusion. The technology is still credited with anticipating some of the fundamental elements of filmmaking such as the zoom, dissolve, the tracking-shot, and superimposition.

early films

blog question: What qualities do these early films share? Why do you think the filmmakers shot these? How do they differ from modern movies?

These early films all have people in them; either a man and/or woman are shown, or there is a group of men and women. I think filmmakers shot these to show how different crows of people would react on camera. They wanted to show the audience that there are different ways to film people and their actions. Compared to these films, modern movies have a plot line; beginning, middle, and end. These films however show one action at time without really a plot or purpose.