A Level Media Studies - History of short films

1. HISTORY OF SHORT FILMS

2. THE BEGINNING OF
SHORT FILMS
In the beginning all films were short films
only lasting a few seconds. The very first
films were on Thomas Edison’s
kinetoscope, a device that allowed one
viewer to see a series of photographs on
film telling a story or an action. These first
films were filled with celebrities, current
affairs and small exhibition shows. The first
ever U.S. copyright for a motion picture
was given to Thomas Edison for a five-
second film of Thomas’ assistant Fred Ott
sneezing.

3. EARLY 1900’S
As film technology took off so did the
film industry. Filmmakers started
making longer pictures. Georges
Melies 1902 short film A Trip to the
Moon was one of the first longer (but
still short) films. This was an
internationally successful film about a
group of astronomers who take a trip
to the moon. A Trip to the Moon was
an inspiration to other filmmakers
because melies used innovative
editing and special effects techniques.
The first western film
appeared under the name of
the Great train robbery by
Edwin S. Porter in 1903.

4. THE GOLDEN ERA FOR SHORT FILMS:
1910’S
You might not know it, but during the 1910’s
and 1920’s, Charlie Chaplin was claimed to
be the most famous man alive. His comedy
short films like Laughing Gas (1914) and
The Champion (1915) made him the first
real international star.
It was the 1910’s that really made movies
one of the worlds most loved and revered
hobbies. Audiences throughout the US and
Europe were able to see movies in
converted theatres.

5. THE 1920’S AND THE BEGINNING OF THE
DECLINE
• Chaplin is an interesting case study for those people wishing
to chart the early history of film. During the early 1920’s he
was visionary enough to see the writing on the wall. He made
his last short in 1923 and then switched to making what we
now call feature films.
• Though the lengthening of running times was more
evolutionary than a huge leap forward, he had a gift for
understanding his audience. Longer running times meant
more bang for their buck. Not only that, but longer films also
meant story tellers could tell more complex stories and
develop characters better too.
• So it was that during the 1920’s and early 1930’s, short films
began to decline. Despite this, there were still lots of short
films being made. One genre that flourished, and continues
to florist up until this very day is the cartoon. Disney films, in
particular, would help keep mainstream shorts alive.

6. THE SECOND WORLD WAR
During WW2, short films
underwent something of a
revival thanks to their use as
a propaganda tool. Famous
A-list Hollywood directors
like Frank Capra were
drafted in to make such films
for the war department.

7. MTV AND THE REBIRTH OF SHORT FILMS
The explosion of Music Television during the 1980’s saw money pouring back
into short films. It wasn’t long before acts like Michael Jackson were employing
the services of A-list Hollywood directors to shoot their short films.
This not only helped to shine a light on short films but also brought a great deal
of artistry back to them as well. Suddenly, directors were proud to call
themselves short filmmakers once more.
Increasingly, international festivals and award ceremonies began to include
awards for short films. At the same time, inexpensive cameras came on the
market meaning that just about anyone could make a short film. By the year
2010, filmmakers had even begun using smartphones to make short films as
well.
Today, 10’s of millions of shorts get made each year. While most might only have
a limited appeal, technology has made short filmmakers out of us all. It seems
almost inevitable that short films are going to become mainstream once again.

8. INTERNET IMPACT
• The internet gave a new life to the short film. YouTube,
Vimeo and many other free video streaming services
offer anyone with a phone and the motivation a chance
to make a short film for wide audiences. Filmmakers
will often use short films as a chance to prove an idea
from an unknown, inexperienced director is worth
investing to financiers.
• The 2014 movie Whiplash started off as a short film
from Director Damien Chazelle. He was unable to get
financing for the movie but knew he had a great idea.
So Chazelle made an 18 minute short film. After
winning the 2013 Sundance Film festival short film
Jury Award, Chazelle was able to entice enough
backers to make his Oscar winning, feature film
Whiplash. Many directors find similar routes to
landing their first directorial debuts through short
films including Neill Blomkamp’s Disctrict 9, Jared
Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite, and screenwriter Leigh
Whannell and director James Wan’s Saw.