Introduction to Film History

Opening Remarks

• Introduction to the influence of film as a universal language.
• Film sits at the intersection of art, industry, technology, and politics.

Origins of Film

• Film originated from inventors and artists experimenting with new technologies.
• Early film was a collection of still images viewed in rapid succession.

Terminology

• "Film" refers to a thin, flexible material coated in light-sensitive emulsion and the final movie product.
• Film as a process involves capturing moving pictures.

Illusion of Motion

• Film creates the illusion of motion through quirks of human perception:
  • Persistence of Vision: Brain retains images for about 1/5 of a second after they are gone.
  • Phi Phenomenon: Optical illusion that makes rapid succession of images appear as continuous motion.

Historical Beginnings

• Early cave paintings and pre-film animation tools like zoetropes.
• Photography in the 19th century laid groundwork for film.

Development of Photography

• Joseph Nicéphore Niépce: Took first known camera photograph. Exposure took days.
• Louis Daguerre: Shortened exposure to minutes, invented the daguerreotype.
• George Eastman: Invented photography on paper, founder of Eastman Kodak.

Motion Studies

• Eadweard Muybridge: Used tripwires to capture series of horse photos proving horses lift all hooves.
• Étienne-Jules Marey: Developed chronophotographic gun, used rolls of paper for rapid photos.

The Invention of Film Cameras

• Thomas Edison & W.K.L. Dickson: Created the kinetograph, the first motion picture camera.

Film as Illusion and Craft

• Film is designed to show specific points of view through aesthetic choices.
• Filmmaking involves choices like shot angle, shot size, lens type, etc.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• The magic of film is based on human perception tricks.
• Next, we will explore the first motion picture cameras and the start of the modern film.

Additional Content

• Mention of PBS Digital Studios and other PBS shows.
• Credits to the Crash Course team and Thought Cafe for graphics.