On the surface, filmmaking can seem like a wholly creative pursuit; it doesn’t take long, however, to realize that movies wouldn’t exist as we know them without the technology used to create them.
Moving pictures were introduced with Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope (invented in 1888), which is often credited as the first motion picture camera. During the early days of film, movies were shot in black and white, and were often silent. “Talkies,” or movies with synchronized dialogue were not common until the late 1920s, after an improvement in audio technology.
Film technology has evolved over time.
While the industry was constantly improving, the next major step was the creation of color films. One of the most popular films that features color is The Wizard of Oz (1939), which even changed the originally silver shoes to the now iconic ruby slippers to take advantage of the new Technicolor film the movie was using.
As the 20th century progressed, so did the film industry, bringing rise to massive stars, classic stories, and constant improvements in technology. The first film to win the Academy Award for the Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects was the family favorite Mary Poppins (1964); the film used a unique technique that blended animation and live-action film. Modern movies, alien and super hero flicks such as James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) or Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) (the first and third highest grossing films ever, respectively) wouldn’t be what they are without the use of technology, art, and creativity.
Schools are using film as a way to introduce students to new technology and bridge creativity and tech. For example, an Austin high school shows students in its Media Technologies Department how to use film equipment, develop short and feature length films, and sponsors student produced films through its award winning production company.
Our Film Production class shows students that STEM, creativity, and film go hand in hand. Students experience the art, technology, and business aspects of the film industry. After being introduced to photography and real video equipment, they create a stop-motion film, based on concept development and market research. They pitch their films, describing the target audience, genre, and anticipated ticket price, as if they were pitching to a real film studio! See student films from the most recent class on our YouTube channel.
Students watch each others' projects after a Filmpreneur class.
With research and writing from Grace Frye.
