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346 Arts and Entertainment

Cinema

Cinema is a hugely popular modern art form that uses

moving pictures to tell a story. Early films were in black

and white, and silent. The Jazz Singer (1927) was the

first “talkie”, and colour films appeared in the 1930s.

Today many films use. SPECIAL EFFECTS.

STAR WARS 3

Star Wars (1977) by George

Lucas, with its stunning special

effects and epic story, was a

landmark in cinema history.

It won seven Oscar awards

and started the trend for

summer blockbusters.

1 BOLLYWOOD

Bollywood is the nickname of the Hindi film

industry, centred in Mumbai (Bombay). The films

are often romantic, with singing and dancing.

1 ADAPTATIONS

Many films are based on books. An Ideal Husband (1999)

was taken from the 1895 play by Oscar Wilde. Films that

re-create a historical period are called costume dramas.

WHERE ARE FILMS MADE?

Films are made in studios using sets – life-sized

models of buildings or places. Underwater scenes are

sometimes filmed in huge tanks. Films are also shot

on location (outdoors or in a real building). Location

filming in towns or cities is often done early in the

morning when the streets are empty.

WHAT DOES A DIRECTOR DO?

Directors decide which script the film will be based

on and use their personal vision to create the overall

style. They advise the actors on how to play the

characters and tell the camera crew when and how

to film. They also choose the music for the film.

HOW OLD IS CINEMA?

Motion pictures were invented in 1889 in the USA

by Thomas Edison. In 1895 in France, the Lumière

brothers projected films for the first time to a paying

audience. Within 20 years. HOLLYWOOD

dominated the film industry around the world.

1 SHOOTING A SCENE

The famous director Alfred Hitchcock (second from right) works with

actor Paul Newman (left) and crew on Torn Curtain (1966). The camera

sits on a dolly (a wheeled platform) so it can move smoothly.

C-3PO is an android, an

intelligent robot. He has a

smaller companion called R2-D2

Spaceship set was amazing at

the time. The director, George

Lucas, drew his ideas from

science-fiction books and films

Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) is a

rebel leader fighting against the

evil Galactic Empire. She is

helped by the smuggler Han

Solo (Harrison Ford), shown right

1 STUNTS

Most stunts, such as fast car chases, are done by doubles of the

lead actors. However, in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Zhang Ziyi, playing the Jade Fox, did all her own martial art fights.

cinema