TCF 112 Motion
Picture History and Criticism
Class Notes:
Edison, Lumière & Méliès
Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
August and Louis Lumière
Similarities with Edison films
- Sunlight.
- Long shot (no close-ups).
- No editing.
- Short: 60-70 secs.
Differences
- Scenes of everyday life
- Shot outdoors, on "location" (using sunlight)
- No actors. Used real people in everyday situations.
- Little or no camera movement.
- Exhibited as fairground oddity.
- 28 December 1895: first public screening, with admission charged
Georges Méliès
Similarities with Edison & Lumière films
- No editing within scenes.
- Long shot.
- No camera movement.
- Exhibited as fairground oddity.
Differences from Edison & Lumière films
- Actively told stories, with real plots.
- Fabricated sets.
- Actors, acrobats, magicians.
- Special effects (camera "tricks").
- Hand-coloring.