Technological Evolution of Hollywood

Date: 01/07/13

The technological innovation of Motion Pictures in Hollywood

Origin of the term Hollywood

Long time back when the Spanish explorers entered the canyons of Santa Monica Mountains, the Native Americans used to live there. Over a period of time the Spanish people made that place their habitats. The Native Americans were moved from that place and the place was divided into two halves by the Spanish Government. The west part was named as Rancho La Brea and the east as Rancho Los Feliz. From the website address mentioned below, we also come to know that by 1870s that place flourished. Agriculture was the main reason for flourishment.

http://www.historicla.com/hollywood/history.html

During the 1880s, the Ranchos were subdivided and in 1886 H.H. Wilcox bought the area of Rancho La Brea and was renamed as 'Hollywood'. In 1911,  the Nestor Company opened Hollywood's first film studio. Later directors like D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille started making movies which became revolutionary.

Technological innvoation of Hollywood

The essay 'The evolution of sound in Cinema' by Jay Beck talks about the relationship between soind and image in cinema. The time period between 1895 and 926 is referred as the "silent era", however during that period the films were never known as silent. Edison's 'Kinetoscope' and Lumière brothers' 'Cinematoscope' were the pathbreaking innovations in the hsitory of cinema. During that period cinema meant moving images with orchestra playing at the background. Other tools which were being used to show moving images during that period were the magic lanterns. Jules Marey's chronophotographic gun was another device to show moving images. Eadweard Muybridge was known for his pioneering work of making a photographic sequence of horses in motion.

Kinetoscope

Cinematoscope

Marey's Chronophotographic Gun

L-R: Fairbanks, Pickford, Chaplin and Griffith

Later 16 mm film and more lightweight equipment such as the Akeley camera were invented.

United Artists Corporation (UA) was founded in 1919 by D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. This studio played a huge role in promoting Hollywood and the films made in Hollywood.

Over a period of time Hollywood has gone through many changes, many inventions have happened which has brought a new dimension to the art of Cinema. From moving pictures to 16 mm films, from silent films to first film having sound - the 'Jazz Singer', from animated movies to movies based on computer generated imagery technology.

Off late computer generated imagery (CGI) is the most discussed one. The article found in the website talks about the advent of CGI and its usage in films, TV programs, print media and even in games.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/computer-generated_imagery.htm

CGI is used to produce visual effects. The quality of a product after using CGI is much better than any other technology used. The qualities of the effects are higher and sharper. 'Tron' which was released in 1982 was devoid of CGI, however 'Tron: Legacy' which was released in 2010 used CGI technology. One of the path breaking movies of all time 'Avatar' had also used CGI technology and the outcome was exemplary.