The invention of film as a new medium greatly changed and affected the society and transformed culture to what it is today. A new for form of visual diversion was developed which required less expenses compared performance entertainment, which was prominent at the time. It also introduced more ideaswithin visual entertainment. Most importantly, it allowed the art to be recorded and reproduced. Art works could now be recorded on a set and could be screened to an audience. Consequently, artists had to create ways to captivate the audience and craft a remarkable visual experience through the development of techniques and concepts. They were also able to practice these through the use of technology. With this, new media artists began to explore the new medium and began to experiment with ways not only to utilize it to its full extent but also to discover more possibilities. These artists were innovators, creating new forms and technologies to support their found concepts and techniques. Thus transforming film into different forms. They escaped traditional ways and experimented with the aesthetics. Thus different forms, styles, techniques and technology were introduced into the medium with the growth of film.
With new media artists going beyond the boundaries, rooting from the Projecting Praxinoscope in 1877 by Emile Reynaud, one of the first stepping stones to the evolution of film; to the magical techniques of George Meilies that fascinated the audiences (who have not seen such manipulations) of the late 1890’s; to Winsor McCay’s performances with “Gertie the Dinosaur”—the first live animation interaction; reaching to the first CGI hand in “Futureworld” in 1976 by Edwin Catmull; and further evolving to James Cameron’s new wave of 3D films utilizing his own invention, the Reality Camera System; film was transformed into different experiences. Through these evolutions and innovations film has now become (and with new media artists, will continue to be) a new level of viewer experience.
Recognized as “fascinating and isolated figure in the history of the invention of cinema” (Thompson, 1994), Emile Reynaud shaped inventions that contributed to the development of film in the 19th century. He produced an optical device called the Projecting Praxinoscope in 1877. This produced moving images that were viewed through mirrors, unlike other current inventions that were viewed through slots. Later on in 1882 he was able to project a brief series of drawings on a screen through the use of mirrors and a lantern. Through his innovative mindset, years later he was able to exhibit a larger version of the Praxionscope. With his finished product, he held the “first public exhibitions of moving images” in 1892 (Thompson, 1994), exposing this new medium of art into society through public performances. He further developed his art in 1895 when he began utilizing a camera for his films for ease of production. His steps also triggered the invention of more technology significant to the development of film. His inventions contributed technological advancements to the development of cinema. His ability to innovate a new form of technology to produce moving images and project them to an audience makes him a new media artist.
George Melies, “The Magician of the Cinema” was known for his capturing fantasy movies. He contributed concepts and techniques that involved incorporating both theatrical and technical elements in film. A magician, he was a performer interested in manipulating images to create illusions that trick the human eye. With the rise of film in his era, he gained interest in introducing the new medium into his theater. However at this time, in the early 1920s, they were little to no laboratory manipulations and editing that he could possibly use for his fantasy themed films. Instead of living with these restrictions, he devised new ways to achieve the effects he sought after for his films.
By accident, he was able to develop a technique in cinema that can create the illusion of ‘manipulating and distorting time in space’. (Walters, 2002) This was the beginning of the use of special effects. He utilized these techniques in film to ‘present spectacles of a kind not possible in live theater’.(Thompson 1994) He was able to make objects disappear and humans transform through careful filming and editing. “Melies used stop-motion and other special effects to create more complex magic and fantasy scenes. These tricks had to be accomplished in the camera while filming”. (Thompson 1994) To further achieve his desired scene outcome he designed a studio in 1897. This studio was created “in order to be able to control the mise-en-scene and cinematography of his films” (Thompson 1994). With this, he was able to build his sets and use painted canvas as a backdrop. His determination to experiment with film to capture an intense effect on the audience through his discovered techniques makes him a new media artist of his time. “He pioneered the first double exposure (La caverne Maudite, 1898), the first split screen with performers acting opposite themselves (Un Homme de tete, 1898), and the first dissolve (Cendrillon, 1899). “ (Walters, 2002) Meilies went beyond the norms of traditional film, which was mostly just filmed straight on. He explored different techniques and tricks to create illusions that amazed his audiences.
Winsor McCay went with a different approach to his film exhibitions at a time when animation was on its early stage. His new media work is a combination of a new concept and a developed practice (animation). However, he “experimented with the idea of using animated pictures as a part of his vaudeville act.” (Vellaries.com) He produced the first live-action animation film. An interaction between a live action actor and an animated figure was first seen on his short film “Gertie the Dinosaur”. He combined his performance with the animated picture. “In one scene, the narrator appears to throw a real orange which is caught by Gertie (the real orange is replaced by an animated one just as it leaves the narrator’s hand), and the film climaxes with a scene in which the narrator enters the animated landscape (again, replaced by an animated version) and takes a ride on the famous dinosaur’s back.” (Vellaries.com) This caught the attention of audiences; as such interaction with an animated picture was never seen in film. He sparked the idea of interaction between animated characters and actors. His approach created a different experience for the viewers through a new way of using film and animation.
Moving on from McCay’s first live-action animation to an interaction of another level of animation, the first film the used CGI effects were released in 1973. The science-fiction film was called Westworld. However, its follow-up Futureworld released in 1976 was the first to use 3D graphics. A computer-generated hand and face was used in the film. These were the makings of a University of Utah graduate student named Edwin Catmull along with his partner Fred Parke. Initially, Catmull sought to become a feature film animator. However, through experimenting with the possibilities of creating realistic images he decided to study more about physics and computer science. Through this he was able to develop computer graphics discoveries. These three were Z-buffering, texture mapping and bicubic patches. Along with these inventions, he came up with “an algorithim for anti-aliasing, an algorithm for rendering subdivision surfaces”. (Knowledgerush.com) He also developed digital image compositing technology which was used to “combine multiple images in a convincing way” (Knowledgerush.com) Later, he also developed a rending system called Renderman, which was used in blockbusters such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo. In 1993, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences presented Catmull with his first Academy Award “for the development of Renderman software which produces images used in motion pictures from 3D computer descriptions of shape and appearance.” Again in 1996, he received an Oscar “for pioneering inventions in Digital Image Compositing”. Finally, in 2001 his third award was “for significant advancements to the field of motion picture rendering as exemplified in Pixar’s RenderMan.” (Knowledgerush.com) His contributions to the film industry set another level for film and animation standards and opened new ideas and concepts that are used in film today.
James Cameron, most popular for his latest film release, The Avatar (2009), was an innovator in the world of 3D animation in film. He conceptualized ways to produce his films, although there was no technology available to fulfill his vision. He devised ways to making full-length animation movies different from the traditional process of animation. He developed a camera that captures an entire film in stereoscopic 3D. This was the Reality Camera System. “This fusion camera system is a very advanced piece of technology, as it can work for the director as the gateway to visualize augmented reality for the film’s production”. (Today3D.com) This innovation and its features made the filming and animation process faster and more efficient. It also helped produce a higher quality outcome. “This implementation of the fusion camera system along with performance capture allows the entire film industry to work inside a very fast pipeline, as well as enhancing the perfection of the performance, and completely freeing the need for hectic frame-by-frame animation. “ (Today 3D) In addition to this invention, he developed a ‘virtual camera’ that would aid him in visualizing. “This, Cameron said, allowed him to create ‘the ultimate immersive media’, which he anticipates will exceed any and all expectation.” (Wrenn 2009) His works create a higher level of visual experience for the spectators, thus further affecting society’s view of animation films. His inventive and creative sense led him to create films that set the standard for the new era of 3D movies.
New media is a cultural and social innovation that is technologically independent. (Bal, 2010) Thus, with their additions and contributions to film and animation, Emile Reynaud and the first public screening, George Meilies and his captivating camera techniques, Winsor McCay and his concept of live-action interaction with an animated figure, Edwin Catmull and the invention of CGI effects in film and James Cameron and his camera technology that allows to create an efficient and increased quality of 3D films, are all new media artists of their times. They all pioneered innovations that changed cinema. They devised ways to manipulate the medium through various techniques and conceptual structures. They went beyond the traditional forms of their era. Allowing more concepts and ideas to enter the genre. They expanded the potentiality of the state of the medium in their own individual periods. Using their artistic and innovative skills, they were able to produce remarkable works of art that led to their groundbreaking discoveries. And although technology at their own times did was not sufficient for their creative endeavors, they brought themselves to continue to experiment and discover possibilities throughout the medium. Their inventions in technology further developed film. In addition, they established ways to capture the audience and give them a profound sense of films. Thus affecting society with the art and bringing film culture to its present day form. Film today still continues to develop as new media artists explore, experiment and discover new forms, techniques, concepts and technologies to bring a higher level of experience for the audience.
Resources:
Thompson, K. Bordwell, D. (1994). Film History An Introduction: Early Filmmaking and Exhibition. USA:McGraw-Hill
Walters, Jonathan (March 2002). Timeline. http://www.earlycinema.com/timeline/index.html Date accessed [10/30/10]
Walters, Jonathan (March 2002). George Melies.
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Wikipedia (November 2010) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Films_with_live_action_and_animation Date accessed [10/31/10]
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Wikipedia (November 2010) Computer Generated Imagery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery Date accessed [10/31/10]
Brennan, C (2009). Edwin E. Catmull. http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Edwin_Catmull/ Date accessed [10/31/10]
Today3D. (April 2010) Avatar Tintin and the Future of Movies
http://www.today3d.com/2010/04/avatar-tintin-and-future-of-movies.html Date accessed [10/31/10]
Notable Biographies. (2010) Edwin Catmull http://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2004-A-Di/Catmull-Edwin-E.html Date accessed [10/31/10]
Wrenn, E. (August 2009) Avata: How James Cameron’s 3D film could change the face of cinema forever. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1208038/Avatar-How-James-Camerons-3D-film-change-face-cinema-forever.html#ixzz14oMNJmSv Date accessed [10/31/10]
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