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Details Title: History of Motion Pictures Description: EXAM 1 Total Flash Cards: 44 Created: 02/04/2008 06:18:40	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term What were films like in the beginning of the 20th Century? Definition There was a Puritanical Influence and Old Testament Filmmaking. Term What kind of influence was there on screenplay structure? Definition A British Influence which led to the "three acts". Term What are the "Three Acts"? Definition Essentially, a beginning, middle, and an end. It was the most successful and popular story structure. Term What were the levels of entertainment during this early period? Definition Theater and Vaudeville Term What audiences corresponded to the types of entertainment? Definition Theater was more for the upper and middle classes while Vaudevilles were for the poor class. Term Where was the Entertainment City first located? Definition New York City Term What role did Thomas Edison have in this business? Definition He thought he was responsible solely for the success of films. He created "The Trust" and essentially drove all film makers out of NYC. Term Who directed "The Great Train Robbery"? Definition Edwin S. Porter Term When did the transition from NYC To Hollywood begin? Definition WWI---1914-1919 Term Why did the city relocate to Hollywood? Definition L.A. had cheap labor and the independent film makers had no chance against Edison and the Trust...no money making involved. Term Who was responsible for transforming the Vaudeville to the Nickelodeon? Definition Mark Sennett Term Who is responsible for creating the first feature-length film in Hollywood? Definition In 1914, "The Squaw Man" directed my C.B. Demille Term What did DeMille and Griffith do that was original for them in Hollywood? Definition Created film stars and only used film stars. Term What was the first film in the U.S. and who created it? Definition Fred Ott's sneeze in 1894 by Thomas Edison. Term When did the novelty act of films change and what with? Definition In 1903 with "The Great Train Robbery" by Edwin S. Porter. A huge Success. Term Where was the first studio set up in NYC? Definition Fort Lee, across the river. Term When did the U.S. take over the film industry, and why? Definition From 1914-1919, after WWI when all the other countries could not afford to make films and the U.S. could and did. Term When was the "Jazz Age" and what was it refered to as? Definition 1923 and it was referred to as the "Flamming Youth" Term What were the 3 elements to making films and Hollywood "happen"? Definition 1. 3 act stories 2. Creating movie stars and 3. created a world view, simplistic view, and Old Testament film making Term Who directed Sunrise? Definition Murneau (German) Term What is the significance of "Sunrise"? Definition brought over from Europe. Gave the latest editing techniques such as lighting and camera aspects. Also created an "atmosphere". Term What were the main considerations of film making during this early period? Definition Economic factors Term The move to California meant no more what? Definition Unions or Trusts Term What gave the switch from Doc scenes to story films? Definition "The Great Train Robbery" by Porter. Term What gave the shift from short story films , such as "The Great Train Robbery" to feature length films? Definition Demille's "The Squaw Man" Term What allowed the shift from Nickelodeons to large theaters? Definition The upper class being attracted to movies. Term What does Griffith refine in "Intolerance"? Definition Film Grammar and The Spectacle Film Term What film did Griffith produce as a sort of "warm up" for Birth of a Nation? Definition Judith of Bethulia Term What styles did Griffith vs. Einstein have? Definition Griffith was more melodramatic and sentimental, while Einstein was more cold and analytical. Term Who was the first truly independent filmmaker and what was he like? Definition D.W. Griffith and he had a humble background, but was racist. Term What was Griffith's favorite book and favorite author? Definition Book: The Bible Author: Dickens Term What sort of filmmaker was Griffith and what did this result in? Definition He was an Old Testament filmmaker which resulted in melodramatic and sentimental films. Term Unlike Griffith, what sort of filmmaking did Einstein possess? Definition A Marxist point of view. Term What was "The Battleship Potemkim" about? Definition A 1925 film about a real life event which occured in 1905 that glorified when the Russian crew of a battleship rebelled against their oppressive officers during a Tsarist regime. Term What was "The Odessa steps sequence"? Definition The most famous scene in "The Battleship Potemkin" which showed the Tsar's Cossacks in their white tunics march down the seemingly endless stairs in a rhythmic, machine-like fashion and slaughter a crowd of civilians as they attempt to flee down the stairs before the troops reach them. Term The "Odessa Steps" sequence best represented what? Definition Montage editing, although this scene was quite fictitious. Term Who directed "Intolerence"? Definition D.W. Griffith Term What happened when radio came about? Definition The theaters emptied, people wanted radio . Term Why did producers seem to resist sound films? Definition More expensive to make, re-model the theaters, new equipment's, building of sound stages. Term What did producers try instead of sound films? Definition Filming musicals and specticles, filming news reels, and using voice-overs. Term What marked the end of the "silent era"? Definition The "Jazz Singer", which had some dialogue scenes, and some silent scenes. Term Every director at first objected to sound, but whom? Definition Warner Brothers, who created "Vitaphones" Term Who filmed news reels, hoping this would bring back the film audience? Definition Faux Term Who was the star in "Jazz Singer"? Definition Al Jolson