Avant Garde Cinema is something I have learned little about. So, I thought I would check out two films by Edwin Porter, who was mentioned in this week’s chapter. When I typed in Porter’s name into YouTube, I got “Life of a Fireman” from 1903 for the Edison Manufacturing Company. It was an interesting silent film that depicted the activities of a fireman from that era. The film showed the rescue of a woman and her child from a burning building and was one of the first narratives in film ever.
The next film I checked out was also by Porter called “The Great Train Robbery,” which was also mentioned in this week’s chapter. Also produced in 1903 for the Edison Manufacturing Company, “The Great Train Robbery” is a Western, best known for its use of time and space. Wide shots, close shots, and pans helped give the film a feeling of proximity. The movie had a creative ending with a close shot of a cowboy shooting directly into the camera.