This month marks what is widely regarded as the 120th
anniversary of the filming of the first motion picture in history.
In late March of 1895, two brothers in France; Auguste Marie
Louis Nicolas and Louis Jean filmed 17 meters, or 50 seconds of moving pictures
in what would be entitled WORKERS LEAVING THE LUMIERE FACTORY. The film, which
had a single scene of workers leaving a factory, didn’t have much of a script,
storyline, or cast…but that one shot would prove to be a shot heard around the
world. That very humble beginning would change the art of storytelling forever.
Ever since the dawn of man, when images were scratched onto
the walls of caves, the world had been telling stories and searching for better
ways to tell them. Even though being told a story enabled us to use our
imaginations to provide the visuals, the motion picture was still equally
effective; conveying ideas, characters, and stories in a new way that would
inspire generation upon generation. Those 50 short seconds would go on to
create a zillion-dollar industry while permeating the dreams and sub-conscious
of every willing person in the world. 120 years after those workers walked out
of a factory in France, everyone now
has a favorite movie, character, story, filmmaker, and actor.
The art of filmmaking has been used to teach, inspire,
thrill, educate, and illuminate. It is has been a reflection of life that we
can relate to and learn from. This anniversary offers us a chance to celebrate
those films and the people who make them that we love so much. The filmmakers;
from Georges to Alfred to Stanley to Steven to George to Marty. The actors;
from Jimmy to Katharine to Marlon to Cate to Daniel. And all those great
stories that light up the famed silver screen; from the Moon to Rosebud to Lawrence to Godfathers to Jedi, and all the bonuses…from Williams to Oscar to Film
101-classes and endless debates. Motion pictures are a genuine art of
self-expression which has endured 120 years of change…and will endure many
more.
What's really amazing is the fact someone hasn't done a remake of that first movie. But, then, it's early in the year yet!
ReplyDelete