Timeline of Iconic Short Films
- Blake Challenger
- Jan 21, 2016
- 3 min read
Short films have been around for many years, developing and evolving into the short films we see and love today. In the beginning all films were short and as time progressed feature films started to be created; giving short films its own catagory in the film industry. The first films were shown to the public in 1894 through Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope, a peepshow-like device for individual viewing.
1882 -
Etienne-Jules Marey made photographic gun called the "Chronophotographic gun' The gun captures 12 consecutive frames per second. He made high speed films which produced 60 images per second.
1890
Le Prince created the first moving picture on paper film using a single lense camera. Edison got credit for his work because he disappeared.
1895 - 1907
LUMIERE BROTHERS -
They're the earliest film makers in history. They invented cinematography in 1895 and their first footage was filmed on march 19th. Most of their films were no longer than a minute. They created the short film 'L'arrivee d'un train agre de la ciotat' which was one of there first films to be played in the cinema in 1895.
1895 -
Lumière brothers’ Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station)
This short was a french, 50 second, black and white film that was created by Auguste and Louis Lumière. The short consisded of a train pulling up to a station, which surprisingly caused many audience members to scream and run to the back of the theatre, thinking the train was real.
The short also contains many camera shots considering the lenght of the film. A long shot was used to establish the environment; followed by a medium shot of the train approaching the station and then a close up shot of the train and passengers.
1902 -
A Trip to The Moon (French: Le Voyage dans la Lune)
A Trip to The Moon tells the story of a group of astronomers who go on an expedition to the moon. The film featured an ensemble cast of French theatrical performers and is filmed in theatrical style for which Méliès became famous.
The 16 minute film was the longest of its time, making it the most complex film that Méliès had made. The short was named one of the 100 greatest films of the 20th century by The Village Voice, ranking 84th.
A Trip to The Moon also played a massive part in the premise of award winning feature film 'Hugo'. The feature told the story of how the short came about and how it was made.
1919 - 1930 -
CHARLIE CHAPLIN
He was a film maker, comedian, screenplay writer, composer, editor and director and featured in the majority of his films. He's most famous for his slapstick films. His films are still so significant to the film industy as it lauched the genre of Comedy in a monumental way.
1978 -
SUNDANCE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
This is one of the most established short film festivals in the world. It was founded in 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen and is the largest independent film festival in the US. It's well known for its 'expressive' film makers to show off to the world their talents.
2004 -
'Wasp' (Oscar Winner)
Like her acclaimed feature Fish Tank, English director Andrea Arnold’s Waspfocused on a woman whose ambivalence about motherhood finds her in some desperate situations.
2005 -
Youtube
Youtube is a video sharing and viewing site which gives the user millions of videos to view. Many short film have been posted on Youtube and have become famous because of it. In an attempt to 'rebrand' themselves and maintain their status as number 1 destination for video on demand, they lauched an online short film festival which aimed to scout out new and fresh talent.
'Six Shooter' (Oscar Winner) -
Six Shooter won an Oscar in 2005 for it's interesting and well shoot film. It tells the story of a grieving who meets a mysterious stranger on train.
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