What is Technicolor? Whether you knew at the time or not, you’ve probably seen a Technicolor movie. If you’re trying to recall an example, just think, color, color, color. Technicolor changed the course of cinema forever with bright and bold visuals, saturated to the point of near-surreality. We’re going to look at some examples of Technicolor in films like The Wizard of Oz and The Godfather but, first, let’s check out a quick video to see where it started.Continue reading What is Technicolor? Definition and History Explained
At one point or another, we have all asked the question: when was photography invented? We know it was sometime in the distant past, just not exactly when. That’s because photography has a long history, dating all the way back to the 5th century BCE. We’re going to look at the history of photography to better understand its processes and date of invention. Ditch your textbook and grab your camera obscura as we dive into the world and history of photography!Continue reading When Was Photography Invented — A Quick History Lesson
At one point or another, we’ve all asked the question: what was the first movie ever made? Was it the one with the train robbery? Was it the one where the moon had a face? Both The Great Train Robbery (1903) and A Trip to the Moon (1902) were early examples of movies, but neither was the first one. We’re going to answer the ever-so-elusive question to “what was the first movie ever made?” by placing it in historical context. By the end, you’ll know what the first movie ever made was and some fun facts about the early years…
One of the biggest misconceptions about cinematic history is that color was first introduced to movies around the 1930s. While this is true for specific color processes, filmmakers were attempting to incorporate color into their films as early as the first few decades of motion pictures. What was the first color movie and how did they implement color into film long before the Technicolor’s revolutionary process? What was Technicolor’s revolutionary process? Who is Technicolor? Don’t worry, we’ll dive into all of these questions and more in this article.Continue reading What Was the First Color Movie? — It’s Not What You Think…
What is film theory? Is it just the theory of film? Or is it something more? Fear not, we’re going to answer the question “what is film theory?” with a film theory definition. We’re also going to examine a variety of different aspects of film theory, both technically and theoretically. By the end, you’ll know what film theory is, how to apply it, and why it’s important to the study of media.Continue reading What is Film Theory — How to Study Film (And Why)
Cowboys, outlaws, deserts, shanty towns, and gunslinging. These are familiar elements seen in the genre known as the Western, in both literature and cinema. But for many genre fans, it specifically refers to Spaghetti Westerns, a genre that emerged during the 1960s. Traditional Westerns they weren’t, as they were often low budget, featured violence and questionable morals, on top of technically being foreign films. So, what is a Spaghetti Western, why is it called a Spaghetti Western, how did they become so popular, and create such an enduring legacy? Let's find out.Continue reading What is a Spaghetti Western — History…
The term “postmodernism” gets thrown around a lot. Anything that seems to buck normal conventions or breaks the fourth wall tends to receive the label, but what is postmodernism really? For this blog, we’ll look into the history of postmodernism as well as its place in the cinematic landscape today. We’ll examine several postmodern films, such as Blade Runner and The Truman Show. Get ready for a lesson both in filmmaking and philosophy 101.Continue reading What is Postmodernism? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
What is Surrealism in film? To understand the best Surrealist films, we need to know the basics of the term. You can probably imagine what "realism" might be — strict adherence to reality. Surrealism takes the "rules" and expectations of realism and turns them on their head; logic and reason need not apply. Filmmakers have embraced this freedom and creative expression for almost a century and produced some of the most fascinating work along the way. Let's define Surrealism and take a closer look at some of the best Surrealist films.Continue reading What is Surrealism? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
The French New Wave changed the ways movies were made forever and influenced some of the greatest directors of our time. But what is the French New Wave? How did it begin and why? This post will provide you with a definition, a brief historical context, and highlight some key characteristics of the movement from the earliest pioneers. As we'll see, the influence of the French New Wave continues through modern filmmakers like Tarantino and Scorsese, just to name a few.Continue reading What is French New Wave? Background and Revolutionary Techniques
Crediting one person and nailing the exact year of when the camera was invented isn’t that simple. Mainly because the internet gives a ton of different answers. It turns out, a quick history lesson solves the problem. So, if "when was the camera invented" or "who invented the camera" are questions that keep you up at night, you’ve come to the right page.Continue reading When Was the Camera Invented — Dates & Inventors Explained
