A Brief History of Moving Pictures

In the beginning, people had to grasp onto the few minutes of show time that films received in crowded, public events. To prolong this rarity, these films included accompanying commentary, music, and participation from these bustling audiences. But the people were intrigued - they wanted more. A world bathed in moving lights.

The breakthrough came in 1895 when the Lumière brothers invented a machine called the Cinématographe, a marvel to embrace that could shoot, process, and project movies all in one. Suddenly, movies could be shown in darkened rooms, away from the drowning distractions of the outside world. Cinemas were born with passions ablaze. The darkness of the cinemas may seem to be a gloom; but moving projections captivated and entertained.

During the late 19th century up to the 1920s, cinemas were proposed as a new form of pleasure that provided a convenient alternative to traditional plays. Unlike the latter, which required live actors, elaborate props, and various other preparations, cinemas offered the ease of showing pre-recorded visuals on a screen. This marked the emergence of silent films which due to the lack of synchronised sound, relied on powerful visuals and potent storytelling to convey their narratives. The audience were compelled to reflect on the moving expressions and actions in front of them as the films were devoid of meaningless dialogue.

Hollywood, of course, was the epicentre of this new industry, with its sunny weather and star-studded culture drawing filmmakers and actors from all over the world.

From there, movies continued to evolve, with new technologies and techniques pushing the boundaries of what was possible. Coloured movies, special effects, and CGI all made their mark on the industry, creating ever more dazzling spectacles for audiences to enjoy. And now, a long way from those grainy films that people watched, with the advent of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, movies are more accessible than ever before, bringing the wonder of films to audiences all over the world.