This document discusses the evolution of film conventions from early films to modern examples. It begins by having the reader watch two early films from 1897 and 1903 to see basic conventions and note differences between them. Then it has the reader watch clips from 2012 and 2009 films and compare them to the earlier films, noting how filming and editing techniques provide more character insight and impact the audience. The goal is to analyze how techniques have developed over time to influence meaning for viewers.

1. Conventions of moving image
An Introduction

2. Starting point - early film
It is useful to look back at early examples of film, in order to understand the basic
conventions of filming and editing that are so familiar to us today.
Watch the first two short films:
1. The Miller and The Sweep (1897) - https://youtu.be/C7DVlePBQts
2. The Great Train Robbery (1903) - http://youtu.be/69grwvuVEec
Note down what they do in the second film that is different from the first (i.e. development in
terms of filming or editing) – what difference does this make for the audience?

3. Modern Day
Now watch this more recent example from Skyfall (2012) and note down any differences
from the first two films and the impact this has on the audience:
Skyfall scene - http://youtu.be/eZ_Ki2yfkKQ

4. Modern Day
The following modern day clip from Public Enemies (2009) also provides a useful comparison to The
Great Train Robbery example.
Watch the clip and note down what you know about Johnny Depp’s character by the end of the clip.
Public Enemies scene - http://youtu.be/Ywd-UZnkfR8
How does this compare to what we learn about the robbers in the 1903 film? What is it about the
way in which Public Enemies is filmed that gives the audience this character insight?

5. You should now be able to discuss the impact of at least three filming and editing
techniques on meaning created for the audience.