A World of Film

Alivia Weddingon

English III Honors

Mrs. Kopp
2/26/15

Alivia Weddington
Mrs. Kopp

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English honors
2/26/15
The World of Filmmaking
Filming, a great source of entertainments in America since the late 1870s, continues to
evolve with technology, visual effects, and sound. Over the years, Hollywood has created
countless cinemas and Tv shows that ranked among cinematic history. Films have inspired
people in some way, shape, or form to change their lives in many ways. Most colleges and art
schools have film majors for students who wish achieve a career in film with well known film
studios, like Paramount. Filming has become a challenging field to join and many of the workers
in a film studio show hard work and dedication into creating memorable films.
The first motion picture film appeared in October 1878 when an English photographer
named Eadweard Muybridge (who became known for his photography) created The Horse in
Motion. A capable and successful commercial photographer, Eadweard began to consider
rapid motion photography in 1872 when approached by Californian racehorse owner, Leland
Stanford. (wildfilmhistory.org)
Eadweard, also known as the father of motion picture, had set the bar for modern cinema and
quickly became director of photographic surveys for the U.S government. Years later, motion
pictures rapidly grew popular all over the U.S and contained no sound. That all changed when
The Edison Company attempted to combine sight and sound, to create the first motion picture
with sound in the early of 1890s with W.K.L. Dickson. Once sound became synchronized,
cinema changed forever in 1913 with a different version of a Kinetophone at the end of the
theatre and placing a phonograph (with a pulley) at the other end of the theatre. This time, the
sound was made to synchronize with a motion picture projected onto a screen. A celluloid

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cylinder record measuring 5 1/2" in diameter was used for the phonograph. Synchronization was
achieved by connecting the projector at one end of the theater and the phonograph at the other
end with a long pulley. (The Marriage)
The 1930s became the time when synchronized sound and dialogue was standard in
theatres. Once films had synchronized sound and motion, it opened the filming industry up to
improve and create film equipment, introduce visual effects, and better quality cameras. During
the Great Depression, the money needed for creating films were limited so making any kind of
film became difficult. During such a difficult time in American history the iconic movie The
Wizard of Oz was currently under filming, the editors had to decide whether or not to include
color because adding color to a film cost a large amount of money. The 1930s introduced
Technicolor system, which made it possible to make colored films. (This same system became
apart of finishing the colored portion of The Wizard of Oz).
The major advance of the 1930s was the introduction of synchronous sound and
dialogue in the late 1930s. First invented and shown in the 1920s, it became the
standard by the early 1930s, partly due to the invention of a device based on the radio
that could effectively amplify sound in the theater. (Scene 1)
About twenty years later, a new kind of way to watch a films changed the film industry
again: 3D films. 3D filming worked by using a certain lens that film the movie and the audience
viewed this film by wearing 3D glasses. Hollywood made about 35 3D movies while it had a
following popularity, but soon audiences quickly became bored with 3D films and Hollywood
had to cancel their production of 3D movies. As the film industry continued to grow, more
equipment also started to improve or currently in the process of creation.In the 1970s Jaws and
Star Wars reached theatres across the country. What do both of these films have in common?

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Their special effects brought back the large amount of audiences while special effects became a
new trend in filming. Skip ahead to the late 1970s when a new camera rig called the dubbed
steadicam made it easier to film. A kind of rig that attaches to the camera making it easier for the
cameraman to move and film; much easier than setting a track or cart to move the camera. The
1980s introduced the rise of cable companies. With cable companies growing in popularity in the
U.S, a new trend for independent film productions was discovered. Several years later in the
1990s, the major technical age for film arose. This time period introduced DVDs and VHS
tapes, breakthroughs in computer effects, and George Lucas releasing the first Star Wars
movie. Looking back in time, the world of filming grew immensely from a soundless, black and
white film.
How does one create a film? It can help to start by creating a blueprint, obtaining the
required equipment, and software can help kick start the film project.
One of the biggest problems most first-time filmmakers face is that of planning
for and providing the right resources for the all-important shoot. Youve written the
script, or found someone to write it for you. Youve found a cast, and youve arranged a
day (or days) on which to shoot. And youve raised a budget that will allow you to make
a film without also serving up a significant dent to your personal bank balance. (Kozuf)
A budget can help the director manage the amount of money spent on equipment and editing
software. First, a film needs a film crew, which the director is responsible for finding: a camera
crew, casting director, and a editor.
Run an ad requesting that people apply for crewing your film. You can run an ad
in one of the trade publications, like The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, or
Backstage (if you live in Los Angeles or New York). If you live outside of the Hollywood

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area, run an ad in your local newspaper or neighborhood flyer. Go on a local TV show or
news program and get the word out that youre looking for crew. Post ads at local schools
and colleges (Stoller 110)
The director must trust the crew that chose to work on this film project. While the film continues
to progress, the crew needs to ensure that everyone works together and communicates in order
for the filming and editing process to go smoothly. A film could not be shown in theatres
without the necessary equipment needed to start and finish the film. A film project can have
many different kinds of equipment and editing software. The camera crew should research
certain cameras and camera rigs that can help with particular scenes, considering the directors
budget can come in handy at this phase in the film. The camera crew needs to consider the
possibility of shooting the same scene at different angles and can buy more than one camera,
depending on the directors budget. Before any filming can begin, the film project must contain a
storyline.
Before you create your storyboards, you have to perform certain tasks and make
certain decisions. First, begin by evaluating your screenplay and picture it in terms of
separate shots that can be visually translated into individual storyboard panels. Then you
determine what makes up each shot and also which images need to be storyboarded and
which ones dont. After you start storyboarding, youll need to determine whether youre
shooting for a TV movie or a theatrical release, which may affect the frame dimensions of
your panels. (Stoller 131)
Everyone in the crew must agree on a genre for the film, creating a storyboard to show a clear
description of how the film starts and ends, and where and when to film the particular scenes.
Once the storyboard reaches the final stage and the equipment gathers, the project can now begin

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to shoot. The location manager finds locations that best fit the particular scenes in the film. When
filming a scene, the camera crew and director should discuss various shots and angles that will
help open a scene, close a scene, or introduce a character. The camera crew should film a scene
at multiple angles so that the editor has a variety of shots to use. Once the shooting and the
editing is complete comes the next step: distributing the film. One way to distribute the finished
film is to find an audience to watch and rate the film. When a new director seeks inspiration it
would help for him or her to visit a couple of film festivals. This will help the director with
finding inspiration for the next film or a current film project.
The filming basics can overwhelm even the most academic minds. Consider it an
important and crucial reason for applying to a film school or a school that offers film as one of
the majors to get a better understanding of filming. When applying to a film school, the student
should consider art schools because filming often links with modern art. Some other ideal
schools the applicant may want to consider applying for a art school, generally ranging to
schools located in the south. States like Florida and the South Carolinas contain excellent art
schools.
Florida offers schools with well-developed film programs such as Full Sail
University, Florida State University's Film School, and University of Central Florida's
Film Program. Or, take a look at film schools in California like the University of
Southern California, California State University of California, Loyola Marymount
University, and the University of California Los Angeles. In New York City, you may
want to research New York University, Columbia University, Syracuse University and
Ithaca Film School. If you choose not to go to California or New York, try some other
artistic schools like Savannah School of Art & Design (SCAD). Anywhere with a good

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film program will give you a great learning experience; however, Florida, Southern
California and New York City have the benefit of major film studios and professionals
working in the surrounding region, along with professors who are actively participating
in the industry. (How to Apply for Film School)
Applying to art school contains similar qualities as if a student applies for a regular college,
meaning that the student will need to send applications, letters of recommendation, and their
transcripts. This also means that the student applying must meet the deadlines for applications
and check for any possible early deadlines that may emerge. However, if the student has decided
to attend a college or university that offers a film school, then the student must apply for the that
film school within the college or university. If the student successfully gets accepted into their art
college or university, they now pick the major and minor classes to take in filming. Art colleges
offer a wide range of majors and minors dealing with the professional art field. When the student
picks their classes, they should consider taking a master in the area that the student is majoring
in. When he/she is looking for a job in filming, they would already have gained the experience
and training for the particular job at hand. Skip ahead a couple of years, when the student
graduates from college with a Masters Degree in filming.
With the training and hard working complete, the young graduate needs to apply for a job
in filmmaking, in order to utilize the experience the student has gained over the last several
years. A career contains in film many hard working and time consuming positions on and off the
set of a film. A few examples of filming jobs induce the set director, makeup artist, costume
designer, script supervisor, etc. Even though most of these jobs do not take place on set, each and
every person still makes a contribution to the film in some sort of way. When the person
applying for the filming job write their resume, it must contain at least a page length discussing

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the experience the applicant learned in the area that he/she applies for. It remains wise for the
applicant to mention any externships, internships, or film projects that were achieved during the
applicants time at the college.
Life as part of a film crew can be very demanding. To show employers you have
what it takes, highlight any experience you have working hard or long hours (but be
subtle about it). (How to Apply for a Film job)
The applicant must consider that film employers and Tv employers can differ in experience. In
the filming career, the cinema and Tv productions working force may vary. The applicant
choosing to work in cinema filming should learn that the cinema working field contains a union.
The applicant choosing to work in a television production must prepare themselves for a
unionized working field. This means the station fulfills a legal obligation to hire a union worker
and no one else. So the applicant must pick the right union that works best for them.
Once he/she earns a job at the desired studio in their desired work area, the next
step in their film career begins. Now, the young filmmaker can participate in creating cinema
masterpieces in their designated work area. For example, if the applicant wanted to work as a set
designer, they would work on creating a set based on detailed sketches and they would draft
blueprints from descriptions of drawings. Each worker in a movie or tv show supports the film
(on and off the screen).Some well known roles on a movie or Tv set ranges from director to
cameraman while off the set, the set designers, script supervisor, and show runners work.
Show Runner:A writing executive producer who is in charge of the creative direction
of a show. This person hires the writing team, signs off on all aspects of the storylines and
scripts, and signs off all decisions regarding the look of the show; including wardrobe, set
dressing, props and art direction. (Film/ Tv careers)

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Other examples of roles in filmmaking jobs exist such as gaffer, who takes over all of the
lighting setup and production, the dolly grip, who controls a platform for the camera to sit on, the
prop master, who is in charge of the prop breakdown and budget for selecting and maintaining
the props. Finally, the casting director chooses the actors and actresses for a the roles that they
audition for and also picks the supporting roles. Whatever the new employe wrote in the
application he/she and work in their designated work area for their duration of employment.
Once filming begins, the new worker will not know how long the actual filming will last. The
time of filming depends on the genre of film. For example, a film that contains action and
suspense may several months or even a year,while a film contains animation the filming process
could take longer because of the digital animation process and the voice -over process, or if the
new employer works for a company that produces commercials the filming process could only
take several hours or an entire day. In the end, the new employer will receive their salary based
on title and experience in the area they worked.
Finding a filming location for a movie or Tv show can become a challenge for the
location manager, especially when the director demands an affordable filming location. Luckily
for the location manager, North Carolina may renew an incentive which allows film companies
to film in North Carolina for affordable prices. This can benefit the North Carolina area in
several ways; one of which involves making the price for filming in the North Carolina
affordable. With this particular incentive production companies will save a large quantity
compared to last year and the year before filming in the NC state.
The total is less than last years record $278 million, but this year we didnt have
a big-budget film like Iron Man 3. Even so, the past three years have marked a revival
of the states film industry, thanks in large part to production tax credits expanded in

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2010. Projects are eligible for a 25 percent tax credit up to a maximum of $80 million
spent. Beyond the $80 million there is no need for the N.C. Department of Revenue to
count, so in some cases we dont know the full extent of the impact a major production
might have had on the state or local economy. (editorial)
Another way this will benefit the state involves attracting tourists so they can see where their
favorite movie location and where tourists can see their favorite Tv show during filming. Even
though this serves as beneficial to the NC region, this can lead to harmful effects not only the
state, but on several filmmaking jobs. Once this tax credit expires, it will soon raise the price to
film in North Carolina which was also discourage future film production companies to film in
North Carolina. The state will not only lose opportunities to feature in films and Tv shows, but
the employees in the NC filmmaking industry will lose their jobs if the General Assembly
chooses not to renew the incentive, then other states will soon begin to take over the incentive
business. One particular region, the Cape Fear region, has a well known significance to the film
industry and most crew members call Cape Fear home. The General Assembly currently reviews
the incentives uses. If the incentive renews then lawmakers will decide on how the incentives
will work for film production companies.
Filming can be viewed as one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world
and also viewed as an outstanding work of art. The whole of life is just like watching a film.
Only it's as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one
will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues (Film quotes).
Working in the filming industry can create a mental challenge everyday. The work can be time
consuming and takes time when participating in any role on or off the set. Each worker takes
time and dedication in creating each film or Tv show. Applying for a job in the film industry or a

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college that offers a major in film can take time and planning when the young filmmaker writes
their applications. Filming went from silent short films with no sound, to films with IMAX 3D,
high definition color, and stunning visual effects that look too real to believe. Filming will
continue to evolve with more advanced sound, color, and visual effects.

Work Cited
"Eaweard Muybridge." Wildfilmhistory.org. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.
(http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/person/180/Eadweard+Muybridge.html/)
"Editorial- State Lawmakers Must Carefully Consider Future of Filming Industry Incentives
Starnewsonline.com.., 27 Dec. 2013. Web. 29 Dec. 2013.
(http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20131227/articles/131229774)
"Film/ Tv Job Descriptions." Filmmaking-careers.com., 2005. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.
(http://www.filmmaking-careers.com/TV-jobs.html)
"How to Apply to Film School." Www.internationalstudent.com. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
(http://www.internationalstudent.com/study-film/how-to-apply-to-film-school/)
"How to Apply for a Film Production Job." Film Connection Film Institute How to Apply for a
Film Production Job Comments., 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.
(http://www.filmconnection.com/reference-library/film-entrepreneurs/how-to-apply-for-a-filmproduction-job/)
Kouzf, Orestes. "Your Basic Filmmaking Kit and Crew: A 3-Level Guide." Raindance.org. 2012.
Web. 20 Jan. 2015. (http://www.raindance.org/your-basic-filmmaking-kit-crew-a-3-level-guide/)
"Quotes About Movies." Goodreads.com. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
(http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/movies)
"The History of Film Making." Media.timetoast.com. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.

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(http://media.timetoast.com/timelines/the-history-of-film-making)
"The Marriage of Sight and Sound." Lcweb2.loc.gov. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.
(http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edmrrg.html)
"Scene 1: Enter Future Filmmaking." Library.thinkquest.org. Oracle ThinkQuest Education
Foundation, Web. 17 Jan. 2015. (http://library.thinkquest.org/29285/history/)
Stoller, Bryan Filmmaking For Dummies, Hoboken, New Jersey, Wiley Publishing Inc, 2009
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