Facts You Didn't Know About Early Cinema

Here's where we just throw cinematic facts at you like a modern day action film throws fight scenes, explosions and colourful language as you sit comfortably in the front row.

Did you know that the projection box that started full on cinematic experiences was a direct result of the use of Magic Lantern for almost two centuries previous. Based on candle light, images could be projected much like modern day film. With bulbs getting brighter, those images were strengthened.

Cartoons today are magnificent displays of artwork that have been assembled by hundreds of artists and producers over several months. Did you know that the first recorded animation film was made in 1899 to promote the sending of matches to soldiers in the Boer War. It was a long way off being Toy Story, but animated it certainly was.

The American Film Industry has as much to thank the Germans as it does its own innovative film makers and actors and actresses.

Thanks to World War one and two intervening in the growing film markets and studios of Europe, America was able to grow its talent and expertise beyond that of Europe and even had an 85% world market share at one point. Only in recent years has Europe started to fight back and regain their pre-war strength in film production. As with most technology used in retail or entertainment, it invariably gets more compacted and available for use as a home appliance or entertainment system. Welcome to the Video Recorder. Did you know that the film industry tried banning the playing of a VCR in the home on the ground of copyright. A good job the public didn't just jump straight to the internet...

Did you know that in silent movies actors and actresses would make their actions and movements more elaborate so as to tell the story without voice. Talkies didn't come along until 1920 but previous to that other actors would dub their voice live on stage and add instrumental music scores to help create scenes of havoc and romanticism.

Films at the beginning were typically 30 seconds to seven minutes long. From the outset only one or two shots were ever visible. This against the backdrop of today's filming with different camera positions used for one shot, over laced and used against other scenes and backdrops in one minute, imagine what yesterday's film makers would have done with today's tech.