Making a Silent Movie (Part 2) - Assembling Your Film Crew
Early filmmaker Dorothea Mitchell discussed the formation of the Port Arthur Amateur Cinema Society and how they chose their members:
 [Fred Cooper
Photo courtesy Andy & Laura Carlson] |
Getting Started:
"Fred Cooper, a business friend of mine, had purchased a 16 mm. Movie-camera – something of a novelty 35 years ago! – to accompany him and his wife on a trip to England…Cooper asked me …if we could make a picture. It transpired that any published movie-scripts intended for amateur production were altogether too brief for fund-raising purposes. Then he proposed that I write a story. This was in mid-February, 1929."
Choosing a Director:
"The man we selected to direct, Harold Harcourt, had at one time lived in Hollywood, when he was technical advisor on Army matters, so had at least watched directors at work."
Call for Members:
"We three – cameraman, director and I – formed the Amateur Cinema Society of Thunder Bay, calling a meeting for the first of March, to which perspective performers were invited, and of course enrolled each paying a fee of $1 per month, to help with initial expenses as members."
Casting Characters:
 'Laddie'
[Photo courtesy Library and Archives Canada] |
"Because I [Dorothea] had written the story, and knew the theatrical talent available, I had been permitted to select the cast. All were experienced with the exception of the crooked timber-dealer, Cheetham…chosen for his type; the lame boy Jack, whose crutch was rather well acquired for the occasion; and 'Laddie'. This dog was truly a find; one might almost call him a "natural". He had never seen any of us previously, yet behaved as though he belonged to any member of the cast to whom he was assigned.
At the outset, I had no intention of myself taking a role, but could find no one willing to play Aunt Sarah."
Source: Dorothea Mitchell, "A Race for Ties (Its Inception)" (1963): 1-2. Personal Collection of Elinor Barr.
Film Group Members
Here are the jobs or tasks that are usually required to make a silent film:
| Producer |
This is usually the person who finds the funding or money to make the film. This person may also be involved in various aspects of developing the film as well. |
| Director |
Person who organizes the film making from beginning to end; plans the script, selects the talent, decides which shots the videographer will take and makes decisions regarding final editing |
| Cameraman |
The cameraman controls the camera; films the movie scenes; assists the director |
| Editor |
Works with the director to select the best "takes" or filmed scenes and then put them in sequence to create the film, from start to finish. Now this process is completed on the computer, but during the 1920's, editors physically cut and spliced the film footage. |
| Title Card Artist |
Paints fancy title cards for the beginning and end of a movie; writes out title cards with character words or time lapses for insertion into the movie. Usually these are white lettering on black background. |
| Set Decorator or Creator |
Creates the sets as specified in the script. |
| Actors or Talent |
Main characters; note that one actor may play more than one character. |
| Musician(s) |
Most silent movies had scores or musical compositions that were written to match the action of the story. Each theatre or cinema then had a musician who played an organ or piano while the film was being shown. The score or musical script would help tell the story. The musician who played to accompany the movie would have to watch the movie and be prepared to match the appropriate theme to the correct scene. The music was very important to the story because it helped set the mood for each scene. |
Of course, today there are many other people involved in making movies – just watch the list of credits at the end of the next movie you attend. When you are making your own movie, you often have to work with the talent of your friends and family.
ACTIVITY: CREATE YOUR OWN FILM CREW
Consider your classmates and friends; assign jobs to create a silent film. Use the following list as a guide; remember that one person may take on more than one role.
- director
- camera person or videographer
- artist / set creator
- editor
- actors
- musician, if you are not using pre-recorded music
- props/ continuity
|
