Frankenstein, 1910: 01. Frankenstein 1910 - YouTube
In this short film, based on the Frankenstein narrative, made in 1910, there are several elements that are common for that era of filmmaking, and also some common elements that are still used in present day films. One of the common elements is that the film uses multiple jump cuts and match on action shots. This may have been done for different props that would have been needed in each scene, meaning that the camera may have stopped filming for a brief moment to allow the actor to position themselves in the correct place, with the correct props. However, due to this, there are several moments in the film where the action jumps because of the stopping and starting of the filming. If this film was being shot in the modern day, it would perhaps include a wider variety of shot types to help create a clearer narrative structure. However, in this 1910 film, the camera used is static per scene and does not have any transitions between each scene. Another difference between early cinema and contemporary film is the use of dialogue. The sound element of film was not advanced during the time of early cinema, therefore, the films made during this period mainly focussed on the action happening on scene. An element of this film that is familiar is the use of overexaggerated body movements and gestures. This seemed to be a common theme throughout many films of this era as actors were required to over emphasise their movements to help convey the narrative based solely on action. As previously mentioned, a few elements of film that are missing in this version of Frankenstein is the lack of shot types and angles, and also the lack of sound.
The Kleptomaniac, 1905: The Kleptomaniac, Edwin S. Porter (1905) - YouTube
In the short film, The Kleptomaniac, which was produced in 1905, there are several common and uncommon elements of film that have been used. Unlike Frankenstein, one of the common elements that have been used in this film is the smoother flow of narrative. This has been presented primarily through the actors entering and exiting the shot. Even though, like many films of this era, The Kleptomaniac has been shot using a static camera, the actors that are moving in and out of the scene act as a transition between each scene. This is a common element that is still used in modern day filmmaking to make the action feel more natural. Another common element of this film is the panning of the camera. I found it interesting that, even though the camera was in a static position for each scene, it did move around the shot through the use of panning. A poignant difference between this film and contemporary film is that The Kleptomaniac has been shot in short scenes, with each scene being titled. This gives the film a book-like feel, with each shot being portrayed as a different chapter of the film. I found this an interesting technique in perhaps disguising the non-linear timings of the film. A familiar technique that has been used for this film is the use of both interior and exterior shots. Many films of this era were either solely shot inside or outside, often depending on the cameras ability, however, this film includes both, providing the film with a revolutionary feel compared to other films of that time period. An unusual aspect of this film is the use of onscreen text to help move the narrative along. This may have been edited on to this film after its original release due to the timings of the available technology. As previously mentioned, an aspect of this film that is notably absent is the use of sound, however, I don’t feel that it is entirely necessary for this film, as the acting and the way in which it has been editing allows for the viewer to clearly understand the narrative.
The Untameable Whiskers, 1904: The Untamable Whiskers (1904) Georges Méliès - YouTube
In the short film, The Untameable Whiskers, which was created in 1904, there are several common and uncommon elements of film that have been used. One of the common elements of this film, much like many other films of this era, is the exaggerated use of body movements to portray action and narrative. A common similarity that is used in both this film and contemporary filmmaking is the use of on-screen text, however, they have each been used through different methods. In modern day filmmaking, onscreen text is digitally inserted to the video in the editing process, however, in this early cinema film, the text is presented on screen in live time as the actor writes it on a blackboard. This is a clever method of conveying narrative without the use of music, or dialogue. The blackboard and chalk props also help to portray the narrative in this film. Unlike most other films of this era, this film is shot using one single shot, with a static camera, and does not cut to different scenes at any point. The narrative plays out from beginning to end in one single location, and therefore the camera does not need to move. This is how it appears to the viewer, however, each moment where the actor changes appearance and draws on the blackboard, there is a stop in filming. This would have been done for visual effect purposes. Even though this is the case, the entire film looks natural and there is no jump cuts in between the stopping and starting of each moment. An element of this film that is absent is the use of shot types. Due to the static, one scene shot throughout the whole film, there could have been different shot types that could have revealed the surrounding areas of the location – perhaps the people watching the man performing or close-up shots of the blackboard to enhance the actors actions.
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