Part 2.The sound era. Further development

Experimentation with sound film technology, both for recording (запись) and playback (воспроизведение), was virtually (практически) constant throughout the silent era. Eventually, in 1926, Hollywood studio Warner Bros. introduced (1) the musical film, producing short films of live entertainment acts and public figures and adding recorded sound effects and (2) the stringent limitationsto some of its major features. During late 1927, Warners released The Jazz Singer, which was mostly silent but contained the first synchronized dialogue (and singing) in a feature film. The trend convinced the largely reluctant industrialists that “talking pictures”, or “talkies”, were the future.

The change was remarkably swift. By the end of 1929, Hollywood was almost “all-talkie”, with several competing sound systems.
(3) global appeal was slightly slower in the rest of the world, principally for economic reasons. Cultural reasons were also a factor in countries like China and Japan, where “silences” co-existed successfully with sound well into the 1930s.

Thus began what is now often called “The Golden Age of Hollywood”, which refers roughly to the period beginning with the introduction of sound until the late 1940s. The American cinema reached its peak of efficiently manufactured glamour and (4) total changeover during this period. The top actors of the era are now thought of as
(5) the classic movie stars, such as Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and the greatest box office success of the 1930s, child performer Shirley Temple.

Creatively, however, the rapid transition was a difficult one. The films were full of static, stagey “talkies” as actors in front of and behind the camera struggled with (6) orchestral scores of the early sound equipment and their own uncertainty as to how to use the new medium. Many major silent filmmakers and actors were unable to adjust and found their careers ended.

Most obviously, sound benefited different genres. (7) The “Vitaphone” system was born; the first classic-style Hollywood musical was The Broadway Melody (1929). Nowadays, the idea of a film with no sound is only absurd to us. On the whole, synchronous sound emphasized the importance of films as an art form.

(http://www.filmbug.com/dictionary/moviehistory.php)

10. Answer the following questions taking into account the information given in Part 2 of Text 1:

1) When and why did “the sound era” begin? – in 1926

2) What does “The Golden Age of Hollywood” mean? - refers roughly to the period beginning with the introduction of sound. There were total changes during the period.

3) Can you describe the transition from “the silences” to “the talkies”?

11. Paraphrase the following sentences using the new vocabulary:

1) The Lumières are world-widely recognized as Europe’s main producers (film makers) partially due to their shooting of short episodes (film snippets). -

2) There were many actors who took part (starred) in this film, many of them quite famous, that is why when the film became available to the public (was released), the reception (feedback) was positive, and many people were eager to watch the film in the cinema (go to the cinema).-

3) Sound (Film score) became simultaneous (synchronous) with the image only after the invention of the “Vitaphone” system. -

4) This scene was filmed (shot) several times, because of the thrilling trick (stunt) the actor performed jumping from the rooftop. -

5) Probably most of Charlie Chaplin’s movies were received with flying colours. (his movies brought much box office successes)

6) The music in the film (The film score) created the right atmosphere, but because I watched it with the Russian translation (with Russian subtitles) most of that was lost, it’s a shame they don’t show films in the original with the printed translation of the words of a foreign film that are shown at the bottom of the picture (screen) in the cinema. -

7) Since 1920s all “talkies” have been of the same length and based on a thoroughly prepared script.

8) Unfortunately for the producers of the series, the written form of their last episode (the script) became known to the public, which is why they had to come up with some new ending, and that’s the reason for so many negative critical appraisals of it. -

12. Prepare a summary of both parts of Text 1 (see Appendix 1). Mention the names in bold, try to use the new vocabulary and some additional information from Video 1.

Video

VIDEO 1

13. For further extension of your knowledge watch an extract from the documentary entitled “Side by Side” (2012) produced by Keanu Reeves on the history of filmmaking. Read the following information before watching Video 1:

- DP (= a director of photography) –is the chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film;

14. Answer the questions:

1) What does a standard camera use?

2) What’s meant by “dailies” in this movie?

3) Why the directors with digital cameras don’t use “Cut!”?
How were the computer programs for editing adopted?

4) What is CGI?

15. Fill in the gaps with the words or word combinations from the film. Read the sentences beforehand!

1) One of the simplest definitions of ____________ is the number of pixels that is recorded by the camera – the higher it is the more ____________.

2) The first HD ____________ was shot in 2002.

3) The final cut is determined by the director and the ____________, as well as the colour timers who became more involved in the ____________, especially with the advent of colour film.

4) The ____________ photochemically adjusts the balance of green, blue, red and brightness after the movie is shot and
edited.

5) In digital colour correction the colourist can change any kind of hue inside the so-called ____________.

6) Thomson Viper HD camera was able to shoot scenes
in ____________.

7) Genesis, created by the partnership of Panavision and Sony, was the first ____________ for shooting feature films.

8) The RED 1’s resolution, the way ____________, proved it was of the new generation of digital cameras.

9) Silicon Imaging (SI-2K) is a ____________ with a computer at the back of it.

10) Furthermore even when it was off the ____________, or the steady cam, or off the crane it no longer connected to the cameraman’s body, thus enabling him to be more free and creative, ____________ during the scene.