Editing in early cinema
The concept of “editing” has developed in the early stages of film making.
Thomas Edison ran a film laboratory where the kinetographic camera and the kinetoscope were introduced. He developed the 35mm film strip that came to be the industry standard. He also eventually developed the projector to play it.
G.A Smith made a film called "The Miller And The Sweep" in 1898. There was no story and no editing. Each film ran as long as there was film in the camera. In 1899, G.A Smith made "The Kiss In The Tunnel". Marked beginnings of narrative editing, which is creating a story. "Felt that some extra spice was called for", in the popular "Phantom ride" genre. He took advantage of the brief on set of darkness as they went into tunnel to splice. Which is cutting and sticking pieces together) in the shot of the couple.
George Melies was a magician who had seen the films made by the Lumiere Brothers. Melies saw at once, the possibilities of novelty more than just motion itself. He acquired a camera, built a studio, wrote scripts and designed sets. He discovered basic camera tricks. In 1886, he made "The Vanishing Lady", using a technique known as in-camera setting.
Edwin.S.Porter was an electrician. In the 1890's, he worked in Thomas Edison's laboratory. They worked together to make interesting films. 'The American Fireman' was made in 1903. There is a closeup of a hand pulling a fire alarm. Porter showed that the screen image does not need to show a complete person form head to toe. 2 shots creates a contextual relationship in the viewers mind. These were the key discoveries that made all narrative motion pictures and television possible.
Charles Pathe made 'The Horse That Bolted' in 1907. He used parallel editing which was cutting between two storylines. In this particular film, he used two story lines; the horse and the delivery man.
D.W Griffin was an early supporter of the powers of editing, cross cutting, to show parallel action in different locations. His work was highly regarded and influential.
Sortie D'usine ---->
This film clip is of workers coming out of a factory. There is only one scene and the camera does not switch to another view. The audience would have been very shocked because they had never seen a film before and it is like a moving picture. There is no editing in this film.
<---- The Kiss In The Tunnel
The kiss in the tunnel is a popular "Phantom ride" genre. The set is of a train going into the darkness as they went into tunnel. Then, two scenes are cut and stuck together. The next scene is of a shot of the couple. The audience would be amused because it would seem as if they are sitting inside the train. This film introduces a story line.
The Vanishing Lady ---->
This film uses a technique known as in-camera setting. This means that they cut and stick scenes together to show an effect as if the lady in the video has vanished. At this point in time, the audience would be very shocked because they had never seen anything like this before. There were queries that the film maker turned his camera off and switched it back on after.
<---- The American Fireman
This film is much longer than any other film made . It shows firemen doing their job. It shows two scenes. These are inside, and outside. Film makers wondered whether the audience would understand that there are two scenes and a story behind this film.
The Great Train Robbery ---->
This film has a lot more action and drama in it. There is a lot more actors in it, and it is a lot more ambitious. There is a story line in this film, and there is deaths and murders within it. This film is quite violent and there is lodes of acting in it.
<---- The Runaway Horse
This film uses parallel editing which was cutting between two story lines. In 'The Runaway Horse', there are two story lines; the horse and the delivery man.
