The cuts that transition between settings are the most obvious way these films are different in editing styles, to me. The great train robbery seems to be overly focused on using the location of the camera to note location. This was before there was more creative usage with the position and movement of cameras, or at least this film doesn't utilize anything more than the slightest pan in one scene. In "I Was Born but..." the camera is shown to use the double over the shoulder shot as well as shifting the camera to the eye level of the characters. This is very familiar to viewers today and narrative film with conversation as the driving force. Yet, as a silent film, the dialogue is supplemental despite complex amounts of communication happening between the characters. "The Great Train Robbery" feels free from a lot of narrative convention, despite it being one of the first to use many editing techniques that are commonplace now. It probably felt new and experimental now but the way this became narrative films now the connection is more clear. But it's interesting how one film trying different things can stick and become the norm.
your observation of these 2 films are interesting! My reflection of the comparison of these 2 films are also about the different but clear use of cinema editing and shooting angle. We all see that! Editing class kids!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an astute post in relationship to the developing techniques of cinematic language. I also find it interesting what sticks and what doesnt in terms of cinema culture but I also think its interesting that things come back around in an unanticipated way. For example, static camera angles are very popular in new media formats such as tik tok and vine.
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