Photography and Film

Photography

• Photography combines the Greek words "photos" (light) and "graphos" (writing)
• Early photography focused on recording images using light-sensitive materials.
• Key figures include George Tapan, a travel photographer with PATA Gold awards and five published travel photography books.
• Also notable is John K. Chua, an experienced advertising photographer with numerous local and international awards, also known for showcasing Philippine beauty.

Film/Cinema

• Early film was also known as "motion pictures".
• Introduced the concept of moving images.
• Celluloid strip film enabled capturing successive still photos of moving subjects.
• By 1901, films progressed from one-scene studio productions to multiple-scene outdoor narratives.

The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking

Film Directing

• The director envisions the film's effect (visual, mental, and emotional).
• They utilize ideas, images, sound, and special effects to create the film's art.

Acting

• Film acting evolved from stage acting, initially requiring natural expression without exaggerated gestures.
• Sound's introduction in the 1930s required actors to deliver lines realistically.

Cinematography

• The art of film camera work, encompassing camera placement, movement, lighting, and other techniques; visualizing the director's scene.

Editing

• Selecting, sequencing, and joining film sections to create the intended visual and emotional impact.
• Developed sound editing for increasing film complexity beyond dialogue and background music.

Production/Set Design

• Physically recreates the director's mental image of the scene, including period, atmosphere, and setting elements.

Film Genres

• Silent Films: Featured Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton's slapstick comedies.
• Movie Musicals: Dominated American cinema in the 1930s, bringing theatre productions to the screen.
• Documentary Films: A non-fiction genre using real-life footage and documents to present issues.
• Art Films: A unique genre, often "indie" or independent films.
• Philippine Filmmakers: Notably, Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, Ishmael Bernal, and Marilou Diaz Abaya, whose films focused on various themes and periods in Philippine history.

Animation

• The Animation Council of the Philippines aims to establish the Philippines as a leader in global animation services including colleges/universities, TESDA and local government units to improve animation career opportunities.
• Urduja was the first Filipino full-length animated film.
• Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia was the first Filipino all-digital full-length animated film.
• RPG Metanoia was the first Filipino full 3D animated film.

Print Media

• Print media includes large-scale publications (newspapers, magazines, journals) and smaller formats (posters, brochures, flyers).
• Advertising heavily relies on print media.

Comic Books

• Local comic books were influenced by U.S. comics, incorporating superheroes like Darna and Captain Barbell.
• Tony Velasquez is considered the "Father of Filipino Comics."

Other

• Dita Sandico-Ong, known as the "Wrap Artiste," advocates for local weaving techniques and natural fibers.

This lesson covers the basics of photography and film, discussing early photographic techniques and the evolution of film from motion pictures to complex narratives. It highlights key figures in photography and the collaborative roles in filmmaking, such as directing and acting.