The Painted Lady - 1912
Typical Conventions
Firstly, I have noticed that this film only lasts 12m 23s long. This is a typical time length for a film during the 1910 time period as they didn't have the technology or funding to make the film any longer. Also, the ideas for the films were very short and sweet which is the style that attracted the audience. Anything too long would be too drawn out and the audience would loose interest in the film. As this film is one of the earliest films created, the technology wasn't around to have the film in colour or in sound. To get around this, these films were called silent films and were shown in a local cinema with someone playing a piano live in the cinema to go with the storyline of the film. This would add a bit more life to the film and also make the film more interesting for the audience. Also as the film is silent, various catchphrases appear up on the screen after a specific action has taken place so that the audience can understand what the characters are saying or doing. Certain aspects of the film have had increased speed such as when one of the sisters is applying powder to her face. This could be to emphasise the point that the other sister doesn't want to put any powder on her face whilst the other one doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Finally, I have noticed in this film there are only mid shots and some close up shots used. This is because again, the technology wasn't around for the film makers to shoot high angle shots or extreme close up shots, etc. It was a lot easier for them just to continue using one shot the whole time rather than use different camera shots. It would have also taken long using different shots to shoot the film. Also because of the lack in technology, the picture quality is quite low as in this time period, these films would have been kept on a film reel.
1920s
The Frozen North - 1922
Typical Conventions
In this clip I have noticed many similarities to the clip from the 1910s. The screenplay is still in black and white with the low picture quality. There is also no sound to this film so it is a silent film. The camera shots are also similar in the way that they haven't got a wide variation of high angle shots or tracking shots etc. These ideas could suggest that the technology hasn't improved that much within ten years. The significant difference that I have noticed between the two films is that 'The Frozen North' has a longer running time of 17 minutes. From my own research, I know that around this time, it was typical for films to run around 17 minutes long. This could suggest that filmmakers had better funding, plot ideas and also better technology to create a longer film.
1930s
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1939
Typical Conventions
This is a film clip from the film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1939). By watching this film clip, I can see that there are significant differences in it. Firstly, I have noticed that the running time is over an hour long. This could suggest that the filmmakers are able to have a bigger budget allowing them to film for longer. The idea of this drama film also has a proper in depth plot to it as well rather than a shot and simple plot like the films from the 10s and 20s. As this film has a longer plot it, the film would need to have a longer running time which could also be another reason why the filming is longer. I have also noticed that in this film clip, there is a much wider range of camera shots which are used in the clip such as low angle shots, mid shots, long shots, etc. This makes the film clip more interesting as there is more excitement shown on the screen.
1940s
How Green Was My Valley - 1941
Typical Conventions
In this clip, there is a definite difference in the picture quality. There are less lines moving across the screen and also the picture is a lot more sharper. This suggests that the cameras were improving which means that technology around this period was also improving. There is also a good range of camera shots in the clip such as close up shots, mid shots, etc. However, there still isn't a range of any high angle, low angle or even extreme close up type shots which could suggest that the cameras still aren't advanced enough in technology to be capable of completing any of these shots.
1950s
A Streetcar Named Desire - 1951
Typical Conventions
I can see that the picture quality of the film has improved yet again. It is a lot easier to see where the light falls in various places and the picture is also a lot sharper. This makes the overall quality better for the audience to watch which makes it more enjoyable. I have also noticed in this clip that there is non-diagetic music playing in the background. This helps to create a relaxed atmosphere as Stella walks down the stairs, which could hint that there is no longer any danger from the male character and she has forgiven him. The non-diagetic music fits much better than just having silence as it would create an uneasy and almost tense atmosphere as you wouldn't know what is about to happen.
1960s
A Taste of Honey - 1961
Typical Conventions
Once again in this clip there is another clear difference in the picture of the clip from the previous clips. The filming is still in black and white, but the picture is quite light which means that you can see the actors and the objects in more detail. There isn't a wide range of different camera shots used in this clip. Each camera shot is quite similar with slow changes to the next shot. However, this works well with the acton going on in this clip because the atmosphere appears quite laid back despite what is going on. Camera shots which were too quick changing would create a more panicked and fast moving atmosphere which is not what the director intend to portray.
1970s
A Woman Under the Influence - 1974
Typical Conventions
There is a definite clear difference between this clip and the previous clip which is both the picture and sound quality. This is one of the first films to have the funding to create a film in colour. With this, again the picture is a lot sharper and much more clearer which automatically improves the overall quality. This makes the film a lot more enjoyable for the audience to watch. The sound has also improved greatly as it sounds less muffled and a lot more clearer. This is due to improved technology which would initially cost a lot more. This would mean that the film would have to have a bigger budget in order to cater for it.
1980s
Field of Dreams - 1989
Typical Conventions
During the 80's every film that was created was in colour. This is because all the video cameras used were in colour. The colour filters used for the cameras during the 80s were of better quality than those which were first used. Again this is due to improved technology. The difference between the two is that the colour quality from the 80s is more brighter and clearer whereas the colour from the early 70s isn't as bold. I have also noticed that there is a wider range of different camera shots being used such as high angle and low angle shots. The camera shots also don't last for a long time focused on one specific shot which makes the film a lot more interesting to watch. This would attract a bigger audience which would increase the amount of profit from the film which would increase the profit for the filmmakers.
1990s
The Shawshank Redemption - 1994
Typical Conventions
This clip makes a good use if camera shots to represent things such as status. For example, there is a shot reverse shot between the man in the suit and the man in prisoner uniform. In the shot reverse shot, there is a low angle shot facing the man in the suit with a high angle shot facing down on the prisoner which suggests that the man in the suit has a higher status. This can also be seen as the man in the suit dominating the prisoner which could suggest that the man in the suit is a threat to the prisoner. This is a suggestion that film directors are thinking more about the meaning of each camera shot for effect. The picture quality hasn't changed much since the 80s but it is still of a good quality.
2000s
The Duchess - 2008
Typical Conventions
The camera shots have yet again improved during 2000. This is because the cameras have the ability to zoom and also focus on a specific person or object, etc. For instance, during the conversation between the two women, there is a shot reverse shot. During this, the camera shot is focused on the woman speaking leaving the background blurred which doesn't catch the viewers eye contact, making them focus on the woman speaking. This creates a professional look on the piece but also makes the shot a lot more clearer. It helps to create a better effect and improves the overall quality making it more enjoyable for the audience to watch.
2010s
Starred Up - 2013
Typical Conventions
Here this clip uses a variety of camera shots such as close ups and mid-shots. The close up shots demonstrate the facial expression so that you can see what the character is feeling. This suggests that this is an important moment as it's the first time this character has entered prison before. There is also a mid-shot of the man walking into the cell filmed from the outside. This shows the surroundings that this character is in and also hints for the first time that he is vulnerable and on his own in the cell. The picture quality hasn't changed much since the 2000s but is still of a good quality with a good range of different camera shots used.
Summary
Looking 100 years back to when drama films first began right up until the 2010s, the are many significant differences to the films.
Firstly, the ideas and running times of the films are completely different. Over the years, the ideas and plots for drama films have become a lot more developed and in depth which increased the running time of the film.
Also, the camera shots have also developed by having a wider range of different types of shots which are used. This makes the film a lot more interesting for the audience to see. It can also imply different meanings. For instance, fast moving camera shots help to create a sense of tension and speed to the film, or a high angle shot on a person could suggest that they are a victim or are vulnerable.
What has stayed the same throughout the drama films is the drama genre. This is because a drama features realistic issues that often have something bad which occurs. Through my research of all the films over a period of 100 years, I have seen that every one of these films maintains the same drama genre features.
Finally, with the improvement of camera shots and running times of the films all comes from the improvements of technology.
For example, the video cameras have developed from a blurry black and white picture to crisp, clear colour footage. Colour films didn't properly come in until the 70s, even though colour film has already been experimented in the early 1900s and wasn't used for the first time until 1938 for the film 'The Wizard of Oz'. Colour footage would have cost more to make a film so it would have been a lot more realistic for the film company to film in black and white as it would have fitted in with their budget.
After colour film was fully introduced in the 70s, the quality of the camera shots became a lot better in picture quality. They also began to film more focus shots too which would allow the audience to focus on one specific actor.
Filmmakers nowadays are a lot more fortunate now with filmmaking due to the fact that there are a lot more opportunities to get themselves a bigger budget for their film such as the 'Lottery' and media conglomerates taking ownership over a film company and supplying them a budget.
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