The History of Film Timeline — All Eras Of Film History

The Silent Era (1895-1927): This era saw the invention of motion picture cameras and the first public screenings of
films. These early films were usually short, silent, and black-and-white. Key figures in this era include the Lumière
Brothers and Georges Méliès.

The Classical Hollywood Era (1927-1960): This era saw the rise of Hollywood as the center of the film industry, and the
emergence of the “studio system” in which major studios produced and distributed the majority of films.

The films of this era were characterized by a strong narrative structure, and often featured stars such as Greta Garbo and
Clark Gable.

The Golden Age of Hollywood (1930s-1950s): This era is considered the peak of the Hollywood studio system,
characterized by high-quality, big-budget productions and the emergence of the auteur theory, which emphasized the role
of the director in the creation of a film.

The New Hollywood Era (1960s-1970s): This era was marked by a shift away from the studio system, with a greater
emphasis on independent filmmaking and the rise of a new generation of filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Francis
Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg.

The Modern Era (1980s-Present): This era has seen the emergence of new technologies such as digital filmmaking, and
the globalization of the film industry. It’s also characterized by the increase of superhero and fantasy movies, sequels, and
remakes.

The Streaming Era (2010s- present): The rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ has
led to a new era of film production and distribution, with streaming companies producing and releasing their own films
and series, and the decline of the traditional theatrical release.

Each era of film history has contributed to the development of the medium in different ways and has shaped the way we
experience movies today.

When Were Movies Invented?

Movies, also known as motion pictures, were invented in the late 19th century. The history of film can be traced
back to the invention of the motion picture camera, which was developed in the late 1800s by inventors such as Thomas
Edison and the Lumière Brothers.

In 1895, the Lumière Brothers, Auguste and Louis, presented the first public screening of motion pictures in Paris,
France.

In the United States, Thomas Edison and his associate, William Kennedy Dickson, had developed a similar device, the
kinetoscope, in the early 1890s.

The kinetoscope was a peephole viewer that allowed one person at a time to watch short, looping films.

Thus, movies can be considered to have been invented in the late 19th century, with the invention of motion picture
cameras and the first public screenings of films.

The Lumière Brothers and Thomas Edison are considered to be among the early pioneers of the motion picture industry.

The First Motion Pictures

The first motion pictures, also known as movies, were developed in the late 19th century by inventors such as the Lumière
Brothers and Thomas Edison.

The Lumière Brothers, Auguste and Louis, were two French inventors who developed the Cinématographe, a motion
picture camera, projector, and printer all in one.

On December 28, 1895, they presented the first public screening of motion pictures in Paris, France.

The program consisted of ten short films, each lasting about a minute, that featured everyday scenes such as a train
arriving at a station and workers leaving a factory.

In the United States, Thomas Edison and his associate, William Kennedy Dickson, had developed a similar device, the
kinetoscope, in the early 1890s.
The kinetoscope was a peephole viewer that allowed one person at a time to watch short, looping films. The first
kinetoscope parlor opened in New York City in 1894, where customers could pay a nickel to watch short films.

While both the Lumière Brothers and Thomas Edison contributed to the invention of motion pictures, the Lumière
Brothers’ public screening in 1895 is considered the first true motion picture exhibition.

Their films were shown on a large screen to a paying audience, and this model of exhibition would go on to become the
standard for movie theaters in the 20th century.

When Was Film Invented?

Film was invented in the late 19th century. The history of film can be traced back to the invention of celluloid film,
which was developed by George Eastman in 1884.

Eastman’s invention made it possible to take photographs on a roll of film, rather than having to use glass plates.

This made photography more accessible and affordable, and it paved the way for the development of motion picture
cameras.

In the late 19th century, inventors such as the Lumière Brothers and Thomas Edison developed motion picture cameras
that used celluloid film to capture and project moving images.

The Lumière Brothers presented the first public screening of motion pictures in 1895, and Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope,
which used celluloid film, was also first publicly displayed in 1894.

Thus, celluloid film, invented by George Eastman in 1884, was the key element that allowed the invention of motion
pictures. Without it, the motion picture cameras could not have been developed.

The History of Film Timeline

The history of film can be traced back to the late 19th century, with the invention of motion picture cameras and the
earliest recorded screenings of moving images.

1895: The first public screening of a motion picture takes place in Paris, France, using the invention of the Cinematograph
by the Lumière brothers.

1896: The first commercial motion picture theater, the Nickelodeon, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

1903: The first feature-length film, The Great Train Robbery, is released.

1908: The first full-length narrative film, The Birth of a Nation, is released.

1927: The first “talkie” (motion picture with synchronized sound) is released, The Jazz Singer.

1930s: The Hollywood studio system, characterized by the major studios’ control over distribution and exhibition,
emerges as the dominant force in American cinema.

1940s: Hollywood produces many films during World War II, many of them aimed at boosting morale and supporting the
war effort.

1950s: Television becomes a major competitor to the film industry, leading to a decline in theater attendance.

1960s: The French New Wave, a movement characterized by a rejection of traditional Hollywood filmmaking techniques,
becomes influential in international cinema.

1970s: The rise of independent cinema in the United States and the emergence of new Hollywood, characterized by a
greater focus on personal expression and experimentation, takes place.

1980s: The advent of home video leads to a decline in theater attendance, but also allows for greater distribution of
independent films.

1990s: The emergence of digital technology leads to a new wave of independent filmmaking and the rise of the Sundance
Film Festival as a major showcase for independent films.

2000s: The proliferation of streaming platforms leads to a major shift in the way films are distributed and consumed.

2010s: The rise of superhero films and franchises dominate the box office and streaming platforms become the go-to
destination for film consumption
Video Editing Basics for Learning
Using video is a great way to keep your learners engaged. It provides them with a rich medium for
sharing information in an easily digestible format. That said, people’s time is precious, so your videos
need to be concise. And you don’t want to have to spend hours choosing the perfect blend of
footage. That’s why editing is so important for eLearning. You need to be pragmatic to ensure that
your final cut is comprehensive. In this post, I’ll introduce you to some basic video editing principles
that you can quickly apply to your own training videos. This includes:

 Planning
 Software options
 Basic editing techniques
 Transitions
 Adding detail
 Export

Planning your video

We regularly speak about the importance of proper planning for eLearning
programs. This is especially true for video-based course content. Good
planning sets out the learning objective each video is going to fulfill, and
how it’s going to achieve it.

What is the purpose of the video?

Ask yourself “Where does this video fit into the course? Is this video for the entire
course or simply an element or module?”. The answers to these will influence the
length, style and content covered. Run a whiteboard session to plan out the purpose of
the video and once you’ve worked through these questions you’ll come out with a basic
plan. At this stage, you may decide that video isn’t the right medium for your subject
matter. A step by step document may be easier for the learner to follow to meet the
learning objective. And ultimately, that’s what you should be aiming for. The
optimization of your training content by choosing the format or meeting that best meets
your learners’ needs.

Planning steps to follow

When planning your video you can follow these simple steps:
1. Storyboard: A storyboard is a way to map out and structure your video content in a comic strip style. It
helps you to visualize the basic steps or scenes of the video without putting in too much effort. For
 more information check out our simple guide to storyboarding.

2. Write a script: Depending on the style and content of your video you may want to take some time to
write a script. Even if you don’t stick 100% to it, it will gather your thoughts so that you are coherent and
succinct with your points. And you’ll save time when it comes to filming. This helps to keep your
audience engaged. It’s very difficult to edit out rambling! A great video is like a well-planned bank
robbery – get in, get the most amount of value, and get out. Each video should start off with a
statement of intent followed by a reason why it’s beneficial for your learner to watch it: “This short video
explains the new fire safety procedures so you’ll be prepared in case of an emergency”.
3. Collect content/media: The biggest stumbling block with editing is not having enough raw materials to
work with. Make sure you have enough images, video, and audio so that you don’t have to create extra
later. An important step here is to collect some B-Roll. This is footage that can be used to add variation.
From a pragmatic point of view, B-Roll makes life easier during the editing stage!
4. Rough cut: Always create a basic rough cut first. It will highlight any unforeseen issues. A rough cut is
where you put all of your media in place without spending too much time fine-tuning it. It gets you close
to where you need to be while giving you an indication of what you need to change.
5. Fine edit: This is the final stage of the editing process. You’ll spend time making sure that all of your
footage and B-Roll fits together perfectly while ensuring there are no sections that are jarring for the
viewer. It’s a good idea to share this cut with two or three of your colleagues to get their feedback in
case there’s anything you’ve missed or overlooked in the editing process.
 6. Music, lower thirds and other details: These can wait until the very end when you’re 100% happy with
your final cut. They add a nice level of professionalism and can be used over and over in other projects.

Editing software options

There are quite a few video editing software options on the market. And the right one
for you depends on the depth of your requirements and your budget. If you need to
simply trim some fat from a video you can easily get away with using ‘free’ tools,
like Quicktime or Movie Maker. If you need a little bit more functionality some good
options are:

 Adobe Premiere
 Camtasia
 Final Cut Pro
 Adobe Premiere Elements
 Lightworks

Most video editing software use similar symbols for each action. This makes it
relatively easy to pick up one if you’re familiar with another. For example, if you want to
cut a piece of footage look for the scissors or razor symbols! Editing used to involve the
physical cutting and overlaying of cellulose tape. Those days are gone, but software
design often takes visual cues from the past to make it easier to understand the
functionality at hand. This is called skeuomorphism. Naturally, the learning curve can
get a little steeper in more complicated workflows, but at least there are some similar
tropes that apply to each tool. That’s the reason why we can keep this largely agnostic
to editing tools. Let’s cover some basic actions that will help you cut your video content
down to size.

Basic editing techniques

Why is video editing important?
An unedited video is like a book without a cover – it’s missing an essential finishing touch that brings

everything together. If you don’t edit your videos, your content can give off the impression of being less

professional, lower quality, and more amateur. About 3.7m videos are uploaded to YouTube each day. This

makes it all the more important to stand out from the crowd with well-edited content.

Recording video footage is the first step to telling a story or spreading a message. Editing makes that content

enjoyable for the viewer to watch. Every editing decision you make, from a cut to background music, can

enhance the viewing experience. This will help you achieve better audience retention rates and grow followers.
10 Best Video Editing Tips for Beginners
It’s hard to learn how to edit when you’re a beginner. There’s so much information out there, and a lot of it’s

pretty complicated! This list is for you if you’re looking for simple skills that will take your content to a

professional level. Our 10 video editing tips and tricks will show you how to make the most out of your footage

effectively.

1. Remove unusable footage

What is unusable footage? Well, it includes everything from mistakes like misspoken words to shots where the

background noise is too loud to hear the speaker. Although you can sometimes save footage, cutting these

sections is usually the best solution. After all, you don’t want a reduced-quality video because of a few rough

sections.

You can remove footage by selecting the problem area – for example, the beginning of the recording when you

set up the camera and adjust the angle. Video editing software will allow you to delete the highlighted section.

With Riverside, this process is simple - you can easily remove sections of your video with our trimming tool.

2. Pace the video well

Pace refers to the speed and consistency of your video. A common problem video makers face is balancing

their video’s pace. While it’s natural for a video to be faster in some places and slower in others, a constantly

changing pace is uncomfortable to watch.

You can create a sense of pace by using cuts. Slower-paced scenes will usually be longer, with fewer cuts,

while fast scenes have more cuts that are closer together.

When you’re editing, consider the rhythm and atmosphere of your video. You should aim to move viewers

smoothly from one scene to the next. The speed of each scene should match its tone, such as a fast clip for an

urgent message.

3. Balance audio levels

Audio is just as important as visuals when it comes to video editing. Distorted or unbalanced audio can even

make a video unwatchable, so don’t forget this tip when you’re editing!

You must try your best to capture high-quality audio when recording. It will then be easier to balance your

audio in postproduction. Balanced audio simply means that the audio levels in your recording don’t suddenly

spike or dip too sharply, which can cause discomfort for your listener.
To balance your audio, prioritize the sound of people talking. Make sure the audio levels of speech in your

video are fairly consistent. You’ll need to listen out for imbalances in the audio between different speakers.

When recording with multiple people, some audio tracks can come out louder and clearer than others. It’s a

good idea to make these as consistent as possible in post production.

Once you fix voice levels, adjust music and sound effects to create a smooth, clear listening experience.

4. Record in separate tracks

A track refers to the audio recorded through a person’s microphone. Whether you have two people or twelve in

your video, record each person’s audio individually. Multitrack recording is a great idea because it gives you

more editing flexibility.

For example, you can control the volume of each person’s audio separately. If one person sounds much louder

than another, you can create more consistency in noise levels. You can also cut sections from or mute

individual tracks to eliminate unwanted sounds like distortion and background noise.

5. Use cutaways
Cutaways are when one shot changes to another to show a different person or location. They are one of the

most common effects used by editors to alter the pace of a scene, draw attention to something, or keep a

viewer’s attention. They will be an essential part of your editing toolkit!

An example of when to use a cutaway is during a conversation. Here the shots change to show who is

speaking or reacting. Cutaways create a sense of dynamic movement in a scene.

6. Trim your clips

Clips that are too long can have the unfortunate effect of losing your viewer’s attention. A scene that drags on,

or periods of extended silence between people talking, creates a kind of dead space in your video.

You don’t want to give your viewers reasons to click away from your content. To keep them engaged, trim your

clips. By this, we mean paying attention to the beginning and end of a scene, conversation, or atmospheric

shot. Is there anything there that isn’t needed? Ideally, you only want to keep footage that’s essential to your

video's pace, story, or atmosphere. Anything else you should snip away!

7. Add Captions
There are several reasons to add captions to your video. They make your content more accessible to those

who speak other languages or are hard of hearing. Captions can also help clarify speech in your video if the

speakers have strong accents or are in noisy locations. You might be surprised that captions have even more

benefits. They can help boost your rankings in search results, and they can make your video’s message more

memorable.

So, how can you add captions?

Aside from manually entering them, some software will create captions for you. Alternatively, you can create

your own captions from transcripts, which are text files of all the spoken words in a video.

Did you know you can transcribe videos straight after recording with Riverside? Riverside producers accurate

transcripts in over 100 languages with just he click of a button. Learn more or try transcribing your own video!

8. Color correction

If you’ve never heard of color correction before, don’t panic. You might have done some color correcting before

when editing photos. It simply refers to editing contrast or brightness in your video to make the coloring appear

more natural.

Why is color correcting important? Color correction makes your footage resemble the natural colorings of the

world. This makes your video more pleasing to the eye, as well as more watchable.

‍ 9. Use a variety of shots

Varying your shots is a great way to keep your viewer on their toes. Switching angles, such as from a close-up

to a wide shot, is visually engaging. When you record your video, aim to shoot a scene from at least two

angles. When you edit, this will give you lots of scope to switch between shots.

However, you should be careful with this tip. Switching shots too many times creates an uncomfortable,

dizzying effect. To keep your video slick and exciting, use varied shots sparingly.

10. Cut during action scenes

You can make cuts by removing footage to progress a scene more quickly, or jump from one shot to

another. YouTubers frequently use cuts to remove pauses in videos and create a fast pace to their content.

However, just using cuts isn’t the answer to increasing viewer engagement. In fact, knowing when to cut is

essential.
A useful tip is to cut during an action scene, such as someone walking down the street. You could cut the

footage partway through the action, then show the person further down the road or from a different angle. This

type of cut is highly effective because it gives the impression of movement within just a few seconds. The

watcher’s mind will naturally fill in the gap between one shot and another, creating a fluid feel to your video.

Dos and Don’ts of Video Editing

As well as tips and tricks for video editing, there are some habits every good editor should practice! To avoid

falling into any traps in postproduction, check out these dos and don’ts of video editing.

‍Do

Focus on storytelling

When editing, it is essential to have a vision or end goal. This helps you be purposeful with your cuts, angles,

and scenes. Focus on the story you’re trying to tell or the message you aim to spread. By doing this, you will

naturally create a more consistent video.

Check your analytics

Take a look at the insights into your viewers’ behavior. Do watchers tend to click off after the first minute?

Which parts of your video do people tend to skip? You should search for patterns in your analytics. This will

give you an idea of what to edit. For example, you could shorten the length of your videos to retain attention.

Review the next day

It can be hard to schedule a time to edit. Many content creators make the mistake of rushing their edits so that

they can post a video on time. If possible, finish your edits at least the day before you need to post. This gives

you time to sleep on your video and review it with a fresh brain. Having a clear perspective of your work will

help you better understand how a stranger will see it.

Don’t

Overdo jumpcuts and sound effects

It can be so tempting to go overboard with editing. It’s easy to get hooked on the thought that more cuts or

sound effects will grab your audience’s attention. But it’s all about getting the right balance. If you add too

many effects, you’ll bombard your viewer. Remember that sometimes less is more.

Use the wrong music

You might be wondering how music can be “wrong”. Well, it comes down to the atmosphere of your video. For

example, putting calm or light-hearted music over a dramatic action scene can take away from the tone of your

video. You must also be wary of which music you use, so you don’t incur a copyright violation.

Forget to save and backup your work

There is no worse feeling than making some great changes to your video in post-production, only to find that

you saved nothing. Set up automatic saving on your device, and back up the latest version of your video on an

external hard drive. This way, your work will always be safe.

How can I get better at video editing?

The road to becoming an editing aficionado can take some time. As a beginner, the very best thing you can do

is practice! A great way to do this is by recording some footage to experiment with. This could be intended for a

video or as a learning experience.

Make sure to shoot your practice footage from multiple angles, both indoors and outdoors, with more than one

person in some scenes. This will give you lots to play with in post-production. From there, experiment with our

10 video editing tips and see how they change your recording. Once you are familiar with the basics, you’ll be

able to show off your creativity in your edits.

FAQs on Video Editing Tips

What should you avoid in video editing?
When it comes to editing videos, there are a few mistakes to avoid. Errors that beginners commonly make

include: using copyrighted music, poor sound quality, shaky camerawork, and unbalanced audio. If you can

avoid these common pitfalls, your video will have better quality.

What are the stages of video editing?

Video editing usually consists of several stages, including: reviewing footage, cutting and pacing, balancing

audio and correcting color, and previewing the final version. However, over time most videomakers develop a

personal editing process. The more tips you learn, the more you can customize your editing workflow.

Here at LearnUpon, we mostly use Adobe Premiere Pro, but these steps are pretty
universal and can be applied to the software of your choice. We also use Camtasia,
predominantly for screen capture. Here are the steps to follow to edit your video:

1. Upload your media (video, images, and audio).

2. Add these pieces of media (scenes) to the workspace.

3. Chop up your scenes with the razor/scissors tool. This allows you to remove excess footage in
each scene and tighten up the overall video.
4. Arrange the trimmed down scenes into a sequence/order.
5. Add details such as overlays, lower thirds, and music.

Here’s an excellent breakdown of a common editing workflow for in Premiere Pro.

Transitioning between clips

Placing one clip after another in a Timeline panel results in a cut. The last frame of the
first clip is followed by the first frame of the second. Jumping from one clip to the next
without a transition will make your video appear amateurish, and even distracting. It’s
important to knit ‘scenes’ together in a way that isn’t distracting for the viewer. So
what are your options? Jumping directly from one scene to another can be jarring. This
method is very popular with YouTube vloggers who want to push the pace, keeping
their audience on their toes. There are countless options for transitioning between
scenes. Once you become aware of them you can’t really unsee them. The star wars
wipe transitions are iconic, but not necessarily suitable for your compliance training
videos! For eLearning, we suggest being a little more conservative and using some
other methods. Here are two simple transitions that add a little bit of flair to your videos,
but are not going to distract the viewer if they’re done well. Cross dissolve – The first
scene fades to black, and then the second scene fades in. This gives the effect of a
gradual transition from one image to another. It’s a great transition to use as it is almost
like a reset for the learner. They are giving a clear visual cue that the focus has
changed. Here’s how to achieve this in Premiere Pro. Split edit – This comes in two
forms: the L Cut and the J cut. It’s a great way to help transition the viewer to the next
scene. In an L cut, the audio from the first scene carries over to the next, making the
changeover seamless. A J cut is the opposite. The audio from the next scene invades
the current one. This signals to the viewer that a change is coming. This video is a
great explanation of how to achieve a split edit in Premiere Pro.

Adding some detail

Once the structure is in place and you’re happy with how everything flows it’s time to
finish up. These last little details are easy to achieve and add a layer of
professionalism.

Lower thirds
If you need to help the audience identify who the person on screen is, use lower thirds.
The term may not be familiar but you already know what a lower third is. Think of a
news anchor. A graphic is placed on screen with their name, title, and the broadcasters
logo. They are placed in the title safe area – the area of the screen that is “not in the
way” of the viewer’s gaze. ip: If you are placing text on screen it should be legible. One
way to ensure this is to place it on contrasting backgrounds. So if the background is
black, use white text. And if it’s white, use a dark color for the text.

Pan/Zoom on images
If you have static images that you want to add to your video you have two great options
that will ensure they look the part. These options are pan and zoom. Panning and
zooming over an image is often called the Ken Burns effect. This serves to “trick” the
viewer into thinking the image isn’t static, making these sections much more visually
appealing. https://vimeo.com/287686925 Check out these video guides on how to
pan and zoom in Premiere Pro and Camtasia.

Audio
Adding some background audio helps to reduce the sense of isolation. However, you
should only do this when appropriate. Any music added should suit the tone of the
video, so it doesn’t distract the viewer from the video itself. Try using music that is
cyclical in nature. And avoid tracks that are constantly changing or leading to large
crescendos! Make sure to reduce the volume of any background music relative to any
vocal tracks. The background music should be loud enough to hear, but not loud
enough to overpower! Tip: This one comes from experience. Set yourself a deadline
when adding embellishments. Editing is a task that can be perpetual, a constant
tinkering of elements. Reduce the likelihood of falling into a perpetual editing phase by
setting a deadline.

Exporting your video

When you’re happy with your video, it’s time to export. This is a step in the process that
causes the most amount of problems for people. A lot of the terminology and phrases
are quite technical in nature. Here’s the basic workflow to export a video for Premiere
Pro and Camtasia.

Exporting in Premiere Pro

1. To export a sequence as an H.264 file (the most popular option), make sure the Timeline panel
is active and choose File > Export > Media or press Control+M (Windows) or Command+M
(Mac OS).
2. Choose a format: H.264 is the best to go with for most use cases and choose the preset:
Match Source – High Bitrate.
3. To choose a filename and location to save (desktop etc.)
4. Save as mp4

Export in Camtasia
Camtasia’s export process is very simple.

1. Click the Share button

2. Choose Local file
3. Save as mp4 to a file destination of your choice (desktop etc.)

Hopefully, this is a good explainer for you to begin editing your eLearning videos. By
cutting away excess material and taking some basic steps to tie your video content
together, your courses will be more engaging for your audience. Let me know if you
have any questions in the comments section.