The History of Cutting - The Birth of Cinema and Continuity Editing

Summary

This FilmmakerIQ lesson explores the early days of film editing, tracing its evolution from the first screenings by the Lumière Brothers to the innovative techniques of Georges Méliès and Edwin S. Porter. It highlights D.W. Griffith's pivotal role in advancing cinematic language through continuity editing, introducing concepts like the cut-in, intercutting, and establishing shots. The script discusses Griffith's groundbreaking yet controversial films, 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'Intolerance,' and their influence on future editing styles, setting the stage for the montage theory developed by Soviet filmmakers.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The birth of film editing began with the Lumiere Brothers' first film screening in 1895, which amazed audiences with its novelty.
• 🧙‍♂️ Georges Melies, a magician, saw the potential in film beyond mere spectacle, leading him to create his own camera and films with magical effects like the jump cut.
• 🎬 Melies introduced editing techniques such as fade-in, fade-out, and dissolves, pushing film into a narrative storytelling medium.
• 🌟 Edwin S. Porter started in the film industry as a projectionist and later became a key figure in narrative filmmaking, using stock footage and staged scenes to create narratives.
• 🚂 Porter's 'The Great Train Robbery' was a landmark film that demonstrated the power of editing to compress time and enhance narrative impact.
• 🎬 D.W. Griffith, influenced by Porter, revolutionized film editing with techniques like the 'cut-in' and continuity editing, establishing the language of cinema.
• 📹 Griffith's use of multiple camera setups led to the development of the 180-degree rule, which helped maintain spatial continuity in films.
• ✂️ Intercutting, or crosscutting, was another significant invention by Griffith, allowing for parallel actions and increased tension in films.
• 🏆 Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation' was both a groundbreaking and controversial film, showcasing his editing techniques but also facing criticism for its racist content.
• 📚 His subsequent film 'Intolerance' was a financial failure but contributed to the development of montage editing by Soviet filmmakers.
• 🌐 The history of film editing has been a collaborative evolution, with each filmmaker building upon the work of their predecessors to create a rich cinematic language.

Q & A

Who sponsored the FilmmakerIQ lesson discussed in the script?

The FilmmakerIQ lesson was sponsored by Blackmagic Design, a company known for creating high-quality solutions for feature film production, post production, and television broadcast industries.

What significant event took place in the basement of the Grand Cafe in Paris in 1895?

The first film screening took place in the basement of the Grand Cafe in Paris in 1895 by the Lumiere Brothers, showcasing the film 'Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory'.

What was Georges Melies' initial reaction to the Cinematographe machine after the Grand Cafe screening?

Georges Melies, a professional magician, saw the potential in the Cinematographe machine and attempted to buy it for ten thousand Francs, but was refused by the Lumiere Brothers due to seeing him as potential competition.

How did Georges Melies create his own camera?

Melies bought an English made projector called the Animatograph for 1,000 Francs, reversed its mechanics, and created his own camera.

What accidental discovery did Melies make while filming a bus coming out of a tunnel?

Melies' camera jammed during the filming, and when it was fixed, the bus had been replaced by a hearse. This accidental discovery led to what is now known as the Jump Cut.

How did Edwin S. Porter contribute to the development of film editing?

Edwin S. Porter contributed to film editing by using stock footage and spliced it with staged scenes to create a fictional narrative in 'Life of an American Fireman'. He also pushed the narrative envelope with 'The Great Train Robbery', using more decisive cutting and editing techniques.

What is the significance of the 'cut-in' technique invented by D.W. Griffith?

The 'cut-in' technique, first used by D.W. Griffith in 'The Greaser's Gauntlet', allowed for the emphasis of emotional impact between actors by alternating between different shot lengths, marking a new concept in film editing.

What is continuity editing and how did Griffith contribute to its development?

Continuity editing is the practice of cutting between shots to maintain a smooth sense of continuous space and time. Griffith contributed to its development by using multiple camera setups and introducing techniques like the 180-degree rule to avoid continuity problems.

What was the name of the technique Griffith used to bounce between two different scenes in parallel action?

Griffith used a technique called intercutting or crosscutting to bounce between two different scenes in parallel action, first used in 'After Many Years'.

What was the name of the film that Griffith released in 1914, which was both the most expensive movie at that time and the first worldwide blockbuster?

The film Griffith released in 1914 was 'The Birth of a Nation', which was both the most expensive movie ever made at that time and the first worldwide blockbuster.

How did the Soviet filmmakers influence the development of film editing after studying Griffith's work?

Soviet filmmakers devised a new theory of editing called montage after studying and analyzing Griffith's editing style, which had a significant impact on the development of film editing.