LOS COMIENZOS DE HOLLYWOOD | Historia del Cine

The Birth of Hollywood

This section discusses the origins of Hollywood as the main film industry in the Western world. It explores the early pioneers and the influence of Thomas Edison.

The Early Pioneers

• The Lumière brothers, Méliès, and Thomas Edison were key innovators in the early 20th century cinema.

• Edison played a significant role in the emergence of Hollywood, although not in the way expected.

• Edison's inventions like the kinetoscope and vitascope couldn't compete with Lumière's successful devices.

• Despite this, Edison aimed to control all activities related to cinema, especially in the United States.

Formation of Studios

• In 1896, various entrepreneurs in America started venturing into cinema production and formed the first studios.

• Edison founded Edison Manufacturing Company while Biograph and Vitagraph also emerged as prominent companies.

• Biograph produced genre-specific films and introduced longer film durations.

• Each company had exclusive actors who were molded into stars.

• Films transitioned from being fairground entertainment to being projected in specialized theaters called nickelodeons.

Unregulated Era and Patent Wars

• During this period, there were no regulations governing filmmaking, leading to illegal practices by producers like Edison and Biograph.

• They distributed European productions without permission or made fake copies of films like "A Trip to the Moon" by Méliès.

• Lumière brothers cut ties with American cinematography due to these unethical practices.

• Edison aggressively pursued legal action against producers using his kinetoscope without permission, resulting in patent wars.

The Patent Trust

• On December 15, 1908, a trust called Motion Picture Patents Company was formed to monopolize the industry.

• It included companies like Biograph, Vitagraph, Essanay, Kalem, William Fox's company, and more.

• Edison led this initiative, imposing strict rules like tax payments by associated producers.

• The trust only had influence in America and did not extend to Europe.

Independent Producers and Hollywood

• Some independent producers chose not to pay taxes and faced persecution.

• Many of these determined producers were Jewish immigrants from Europe who continued working in empty warehouses with foreign equipment.

• They formed organizations like the Independent Moving Picture Company (IMP) to defend their rights.

• Due to escalating tensions with Edison, some producers emigrated to countries like Cuba or moved westward to Hollywood.

Hollywood's Appeal

• Hollywood was an ideal location for independent producers due to its geography, warm climate, and proximity to Mexico as a potential escape route.

• Pioneers like Carl Laemmle, Adolf Zukor, Louis B. Mayer, Harry Warner, Albert Warner, Jack Warner, and William Fox established major studios in Hollywood.

• These studios provided opportunities for actors and technicians away from Edison's influence.

The Rise of the Film Industry

This section explores the growth of the film industry in Hollywood. It discusses the star system for actors and the emergence of influential directors like D.W. Griffith.

The Star System

• Actors from the East Coast migrated to Hollywood, joining talents from theater backgrounds.

• Notable actors included John Barrymore among others who contributed to the star system's consolidation.

Influential Directors

• Hollywood became a breeding ground for talented directors who made significant contributions to cinema.

• One revolutionary figure was D.W. Griffith born in 1875 in the southern United States.

• Griffith was an avid reader with a vision that revolutionized filmmaking on a broader scale.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly depending on the source material used.

Early Career and Discovering New Talent

This section discusses the early career of D.W. Griffith and his role in discovering new talent in Hollywood.

D.W. Griffith's Early Career

• D.W. Griffith worked in Los Angeles and made the first film shot in Hollywood, "In Old California," in 1910.

• He had experience as an actor and used this to discover new talents that contributed to the Hollywood star system.

• Some notable talents he discovered include Mae Marsch, Lilian and Dorothy Gish, Mack Sennet, and Mary Pickford.

Ambitions for Bigger Productions

• Griffith wanted to make larger, more realistic films with greater production value and longer duration.

• In 1914, he made "Judith of Bethulia" using four reels, becoming the first director to do so in the United States.

• Dissatisfaction with Biograph led Griffith to pursue his own path.

Controversial Project: "The Clansman"

• Griffith chose to adapt Thomas Dixon's novel "The Clansman," which glorified racist attitudes including the formation of the Ku Klux Klan.

• Despite recognizing its controversial content, Griffith saw it as an opportunity to impact audiences.

• He partnered with Dixon and Harry Aitken from Mutual Film Corporation.

Impact of "The Birth of a Nation"

This section explores the significance of D.W. Griffith's film "The Birth of a Nation" despite its controversial nature.

Revolutionary Filmmaking Techniques

• Griffith applied various techniques he had experimented with in previous works.

• He refined and combined these techniques to solidify the language of cinema:

• Different shot sizes for narrative purposes

• Opening and closing iris shots for sequence transitions

• Use of natural and artificial lighting

• Dramatic use of chiaroscuro and out-of-focus shots

• Utilization of flashbacks and parallel editing

Naturalistic Acting and Longer Duration

• Griffith aimed for naturalistic acting, departing from the theatrical style prevalent in other films.

• "The Birth of a Nation" was one of the first films with a duration of nearly three hours.

• The film had a substantial budget of $110,000, which was considered significant at that time.

Impact on Cinema and Birth of Film Criticism

• "The Birth of a Nation" revolutionized not only cinema but also film criticism.

• It sparked debates among viewers due to its controversial ideology.

• Journalists began writing their own opinions and theories about the film, marking the birth of film criticism.

Challenges and Legacy

This section discusses D.W. Griffith's challenges after "The Birth of a Nation" and his lasting legacy in Hollywood.

Ambitious Project: "Intolerance"

• Encouraged by the success of "The Birth of a Nation," Griffith embarked on an even more ambitious project called "Intolerance."

• The film explored themes of intolerance through four segments set in different historical periods.

• Despite its cinematic rigor, monumental sets, thousands of extras, and three-hour-and-forty-minute duration, it received negative reviews and failed at the box office.

Career Decline and Formation of United Artists

• Griffith continued to make films but struggled to adapt to technological changes.

• In 1919, he co-founded United Artists with Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks.

• However, his career never regained its previous success as new talents emerged in Hollywood.

Erich Von Stroheim's Influence

• Erich Von Stroheim, a disciple of Griffith, transitioned from acting to directing after working with Griffith.

• He directed large-scale films with a focus on realism, such as "Blind Husbands" and "Greed."

• Despite conflicts with studio executives over creative control, Von Stroheim became one of the great directors of his time.

Thomas H. Ince and Cecil B. DeMille

• Thomas H. Ince, known for his attention to detail, played a significant role in elevating the Western genre to epic proportions.

• His meticulous approach contributed to the grandeur often associated with Western films.

• Cecil B. DeMille continued the tradition of costly epics initiated by Griffith, particularly in biblical-themed films like "The Ten Commandments."

Conclusion

This section concludes the discussion on influential filmmakers in early Hollywood.

Legacy and Technological Challenges

• D.W. Griffith's legacy remains significant despite his struggles to adapt to technological advancements.

• New talents emerged and took Hollywood in new directions.

Influence of Erich Von Stroheim

• Erich Von Stroheim, inspired by Griffith's work, became a renowned director known for his realistic approach.

Contributions of Thomas H. Ince and Cecil B. DeMille

• Thomas H. Ince revolutionized the Western genre by infusing it with epic qualities.

• Cecil B. DeMille continued the tradition of grand productions, especially in biblical-themed films.

The transcript provided does not specify any language other than None; therefore, I have assumed that English is the appropriate language for note-taking purposes.

History of Image and Sound

This section discusses the early development of image and sound technology, starting from 1923 with the inventor Lee De Forest.

Early Development of Image and Sound

• The testing of image and sound technology began in 1923 with the inventor Lee De Forest.

The transcript does not provide any additional information about the history of image and sound beyond this point.