Repeating Patterns in the Evolution of Film

Ivy Chen

Films changed the way people experienced stories and culture. Before movies, most [2.1][3.1]entertainment was live theater or music.[4.1] The digital filmmaking revolution during the 1990-2000s mirrors the 19th century’s silent film era demonstrating the transformation of both film production and how audiences experienced different types of movies. This repetition shows a clear historical pattern where new technology changes both moviemaking and audiences across time. [5.1][6.1]

The silver screen is a type of projection screen that was popular in the early 19th century, after which silent films were made.[7.1] It’s a film without synchronized recorded sound. Silent films convey narrative and emotions visually. Its key lines of dialogue may be necessary. During the silent era which existed from the mid 1890s to the late 1920s, theater organists or even in larger cities an orchestra would play music to accompany the film. However, after the 1920s,recorded dialogue and sound effects replaced live music. Even Chaplin had given in and started making movies with dialogue. Time passed, which had changed America’s relation to the world and also how young people embraced the modern lifestyle. The early films which added voice over had to totally change the way people experienced movies. These primary steps in the commercialization of sound cinema were taken 1927-1929. T[8.1]echnological developments film often follow similar repeating patterns and keep changing how people experience and understand visual media.

The current filmmaking industry shifted from traditional film to digital production, and many new viewing platforms have emerged. [9.1]Netflix expanded and served over 130 countries, making films instantly accessible worldwide. Compared to the silent film era and early movie experience, urban digital movies allow us to use higher standard cameras, editing software and are able to create complex visual and sound experiences. All of those innovations continue to reshape filmmaking. The global streaming expansion during 2016 is similar to the large shifts of the silent era and the digital filmmaking revolution. Both events follow the same historical pattern where new technologies expand access and change how films are made and seen. [10.1]
Time goes fast, global streaming expansion began in 2016, making films instantly accessible worldwide. One historical repeat compared to now times is technology in the early 19th is the
actuality films. It was the most common kind of movie of that time. It was typically a very short
film, similar to TikTok and vlogs. The videos were often just a minute or two, that simply showed real people, places or things. The digital filmmaking revolution mirrors the silent film era, demonstrating the transformation of both film production and how audiences experienced the improvement of films and the historical pattern of the film industry. [11.1]

Technology propels human progress and new inventions help improve the quality of life.The history of film shows how people’s views and ways of appreciation change with new technology. These repeating patterns prove that film technology always shapes culture and audience experiences over time.

Bibliography

C&I Studio[12.1]s, “Digital Filmmaking Revolution,” 2024,[13.1] https://c-istudios.com/the-evolution-of-film-production-techniques/.

Fiveable, “Cinema Evolution: Silent Era to Digital Age,” 2024, https://fiveable.me.

International Documentary Association, “Early Actuality Films,” 2004, https://www.documentary.org.

Library of Congress, “Silent Film Era,” Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division, n.d.,
https://www.loc.gov.

Library of Congress, “Silent Film Era,” Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division, n.d., https://www.loc.gov.

Netflix, “Global Market Expansion Announcement,” Netflix Press Center, January 2016, https://press.netflix.com.

OCS, [14.1]“Film Industry Evolution,” Gale, https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Reference&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&retrievalId=d00ce9aa-b769-48aa-85b0-b6c29de4fa44&hitCount=11&gtmSearchId=514db697-0aae-4882-bba6-af9cee9ad8a2&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=9&docId=GALE%7CCX1303400022&docType=Topic+overview&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=9781414411811&prodId=SUIC&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX1303400022&searchId=R14&userGroupName=west23105&inPS=true