Page 5 - 2022-03

The Equation:
Laurie had an idea. He obtained from
George Eastman a 50 foot roll of the
new celluloid based film that the Kodak
Company was making for their Box
Cameras. This flexible film was
2¾ inches wide and was available in the
long lengths that Laurie Dickson was
seeking.

He split the film down the centre to
provide two rolls of film-one roll to The World's first Film Studio, Edison's "Black Maria". A pine
frame covered with black tar-paper it rotated on a huge
make a negative and a second roll to
make a positive print. So, as Einstein turntable to follow the sun from east to west. The studio
would have expressed it: 2¾ ÷ 2 = 1⅜ roof hinged back to allow the sunlight to enter, it was the
only light source strong enough to expose the film.
= 35mm ... a significant equation in
our Cinema History. This was the exposed, then rapidly move the film on ready
breakthrough that would make continuous to expose the next picture. A gear driven rotary
Motion Pictures possible. shutter would stop the light reaching
the aperture plate while the film was being
He then proceeded to create a camera moved, to avoid
that would use the 35 mm film rolls. The film streaking of the
was perforated with rectangular holes down image. The camera
both edges-these were to provide a positive was driven by an
means of moving the film through the electric motor at
camera. Dickson selected an image size of 1 the rate of about 46
inch wide x ¾ inch deep. A short focal length exposures per
lens would focus the image through the second.
aperture plate and the resulting picture would
sit neatly between four of the perforations Edison called the
either side of the film. camera the
Kinetograph and it
After much experimentation he designed a was with this
sprocket wheel with two rows of teeth to machine that the
engage the perforations in the film. This first practical
sprocket would pull the film past the camera Motion Pictures
picture aperture intermittently by means of a were made in
four-slot Maltese Cross system that would 1893. What is truly Full frontal: Sandow the
hold the film stationary while it was amazing is that we Strong Man - filmed by
are still using Edison in 1894. Obviously
Laurie designed to thrill the ladies.
Dickson's
original film format (with minor
variations) over 100 years later.

Inside the "Black Maria" the hidden camera
films the action while an Edison Phonograph
records the sound-Talking Pictures in the
1890s! - to be used in Edison’s Kinetophone.
The action was always filmed against a black
background.
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