5.1922- Walt Disney

In the early days of cinema, Walt Disney concentrated on animation and was originally an advertising cartoonist for Kansas City Film Ad Company. It was within his own animation studio that he produced his first short films which were named ‘Newman Laugh ‘O’ Grams’ and Disney’s first cartoon. The very first cartoon Walt Disney produced was his own rendition of Little Red Riding Hood and is considered the first attempt at animated storytelling. Up until 1998 the film was presumed lost but was discovered by a British collector in London and later restored.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013323/ 

http://www.disneyshorts.org/shorts.aspx?shortID=2

Both accessed 22.02.2011 

4. 1912  D.W Griffith

Filmed in New York City, The Musketeers of Pig Alley is considered the first film to use organised crime within the plot with claims that real life gang members were involved. The plot consists of a married couple who are struggling financially and when the husband leaves to find work, his wallet is stolen by a gangster. The wife goes to a ball and another gangster attempts to drug her but the gangster who stole her husband’s wallet stops him. The two gangsters become rivals and conclude with one being arrested.  The film is also renowned for being the first to use certain cinematography techniques such as follow – focus (a mechanism which allows the focus to be easily adjusted during filming) and close-ups used to intensify a scene. This film has provided great inspiration for modern gangster films such as the infamous Goodfellas in 1990. 

http://mubi.com/films/1931 
Accessed 21.02.2011

3. 1902- George Méliès

A well renowned and innovative film: ‘Le Voyage Dans La Lune’ translated into ‘A trip to the moon’ is still praised for its pioneering special effects within the first science fiction film. Originally a magician, filmmaker Méliès based the film upon two popular novels at the time: Earth to the moon by Jules Verne and The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells. ‘Le Voyage Dans La Lune’ is said not only to be the first science fiction film but to also be a film of mockery towards those who believed that there is no life on the moon. Méliès film is considered a prominent aspect of the German expressionist movement and has continued to inspire surrealist filmmakers to this day. 

http://www.filmsite.org/voya.html
Accessed 20.02.2011

2. 1895- The Lumiere Brothers

On June 10^th 1895 in Paris, the Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, presented the first commercial exhibition of motion film to the paying public. The brothers also took this opportunity to demonstrate their latest breakthrough device which acted as a camera, a projector and a printer and is known as the Cinematograph. Within the 20 minute programme were 10 short documentary style clips and amongst these was ‘L’Arrouseur Arrose’ translated to ‘The Sprinkler Sprinkled’. This silent slapstick film is considered to be the first film to use comedy and also portray a fictional story. The film is a mere 49 seconds long and starred Francois Clerc and Benoit Duval. L’Arrosseur Arrose marked the beginning of a promising career for the Lumiere brothers.

http://www.holonet.khm.de/visual_alchemy/lumiere.html
http://www.filmreference.com/Films-Am-Aw/L-Arroseur-Arrose.html
Both accessed  20.02.2011

Post One- 5 defining moments of cinema pre-1930

1. 1891- William K.L. Dickson

 This is the first public demonstration of motion picture in the United States. Dickson directed, produced and starred in the 3 second clip which involved passing his hat from the front of his body to behind, alternating hands. This clip was recorded in the photographic building at Edison’s Black Maria studio, New Jersey and was first displayed to the National Federation of Women’s Clubs on May 20^th 1891. As the clip is the first public demonstration of motion picture, Dickson’s movement on screen is a perfect metaphor inviting the world to a future of motion picture. 

http://mubi.com/films/39492
Accessed 18/02/2011