History of Film

My grandfather has always talked about how much movies have changed in such a short amount of time. His favorite movie, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, is an example of how editing and special effects have changed drastically since only 1982 and even from the early 1900s. Watching a movie from this year compared to a movie from the 1930s, the viewer would notice many differences ranging from effects, transitions and especially quality. When film started in the late 1800s, there was no digital technology to edit films. There have been many contributors in the film industry that have helped evolve film to its digital age of today. Edwin Porter was the first person in film history to create a narrative film. Lev Kuleshov created a technique gives films certain moods to it and can affect a person’s emotions just by the way images are juxtaposed and edited together. Danny Boyle is an example of a modern day director that developed a set of guidelines that a director should reciprocate while filming. Film editing has revolutionized and developed so much since the early 1900s to now because of important contributors throughout its history that developed new technology and techniques.

In the late 1800s until the 1920s there was only the cut and paste method for editing films. It was not until 1924, when a machine called the “Moviola” was invented by Iwan Serrurier (CityNet). Compared to the modern editing tools that are used now, this device was a lot more complex. The Moviola allowed the film to be played back while editing. A foot peddle was used to pause, play or even fast forward the film. On the Moviola, there was a viewing lens that was attached to a hinged door. The editor would be able to view a film closely and could open this do...

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...ion, there have been many amazing contributors to help in the evolving of film editing techniques and technology since it all started in the early 1900s. Danny Boyle sets the example for the modern film society about how directors should look at their work. Lev Kuleshov set the bar when he created the Kuleshov Effect of juxtaposing images together, creating a subtext to the audience. In the early1900s, Edwin Porter made the first narrative film which is a type of film that has been used most commonly ever since. The history of film has changed drastically ever since it has started. Changes in technology and styles of film are completely different today than when it all started only a little over a hundred years ago. Though, film is not done changing. It won’t be long until another talented director comes a long and sets the bar higher for how a film should be done.