Information about Polyvision
Polyvision was the name given to a specialized widescreen film format devised exclusively for the filming and projection of Abel Gance's 1927 film Napoleon. It involved the simultaneous projection of three reels of silent film arrayed in a horizontal row, making for a total aspect ratio of 4.00:1 (1.33:1 x 3). This configuration is considered a largely similar precursor to Cinerama, which would debut a quarter of a century later; however, it is uncertain whether or not it was a direct inspiration, as the Polyvision sequence of Napoleon was cut from the film by its distributors after only a few screenings and was not restored again until Kevin Brownlow compiled his restorations from the 1970s onwards.
Three cameras were stacked vertically to shoot the widescreen compositions which would be viewed across all three sections. Gance also used the three strips to create triptych compositions of panels contrasting or simultaneous action, mirrored sides framing the center strip, and perceptual cross-cutting. In this respect, Polyvision arguably be said to have inspired split screen compositions as well as in-eye edited experiments such as Mike Figgis's Timecode.
Polyvision was only used for the final reel of Napoleon, both to create a climactic finale, and also due to the problems of projector interlock and changeovers which would remain unsolved until the development of Cinerama. When the film was severely re-cut by the distributors very early on during exhibition, the new version only retained the center strip in order to allow projection in standard single-projector cinemas. Brownlow's restored version not only shows off the format as intended by Gance, but finishes with a flourish. By using tinting in conjunction with the last shot of the film, Napoleon ends with three black and white panels of his soldiers marching, which then cuts to the same composition, only with the left and right strips tinted blue and red respectively, thus creating a "living" French flag of Napoleon's triumphant army. Brownlow then cuts to a white-on-black signature of Abel Gance which is spread out across the three strips. Difficulties in mounting a full screening of Napoleon with three simultaneous projectors mean that a true Polyvision presentation is rarely seen, and the last documented screening of Polyvision was for the December 2004 screenings of Napoleon at the Royal Festival Hall.
Gance continued to tinker with the system with Andre Debrie for several decades afterwards, and by 1956, it evolved into a system called Magirama very similar to the later Cinemiracle format. Magirama used three 35 mm film cameras at Academy format with the two side cameras shooting into mirrors; the projectors then used mirrors in an identical configuration in order to reverse the side images back properly. This system was only used on a limited number of shots.
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc, and for the
..... Click the link for more information.
Three cameras were stacked vertically to shoot the widescreen compositions which would be viewed across all three sections. Gance also used the three strips to create triptych compositions of panels contrasting or simultaneous action, mirrored sides framing the center strip, and perceptual cross-cutting. In this respect, Polyvision arguably be said to have inspired split screen compositions as well as in-eye edited experiments such as Mike Figgis's Timecode.
Polyvision was only used for the final reel of Napoleon, both to create a climactic finale, and also due to the problems of projector interlock and changeovers which would remain unsolved until the development of Cinerama. When the film was severely re-cut by the distributors very early on during exhibition, the new version only retained the center strip in order to allow projection in standard single-projector cinemas. Brownlow's restored version not only shows off the format as intended by Gance, but finishes with a flourish. By using tinting in conjunction with the last shot of the film, Napoleon ends with three black and white panels of his soldiers marching, which then cuts to the same composition, only with the left and right strips tinted blue and red respectively, thus creating a "living" French flag of Napoleon's triumphant army. Brownlow then cuts to a white-on-black signature of Abel Gance which is spread out across the three strips. Difficulties in mounting a full screening of Napoleon with three simultaneous projectors mean that a true Polyvision presentation is rarely seen, and the last documented screening of Polyvision was for the December 2004 screenings of Napoleon at the Royal Festival Hall.
Gance continued to tinker with the system with Andre Debrie for several decades afterwards, and by 1956, it evolved into a system called Magirama very similar to the later Cinemiracle format. Magirama used three 35 mm film cameras at Academy format with the two side cameras shooting into mirrors; the projectors then used mirrors in an identical configuration in order to reverse the side images back properly. This system was only used on a limited number of shots.
See also
widescreen image is a film, computer, or television image with a wider aspect ratio than the standard Academy frame developed during the classical Hollywood cinema era. Silent film was projected at a ratio of four units wide to three units tall, often expressed as 4:3 or 1.33:1.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
A film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film, for either stills or movies. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Abel Gance (October 25, 1889 - November 10, 1981) was a French film director, producer, writer, actor and editor best remembered for his work in silent film.
Napoléon (1927) is among his most innovative works.
..... Click the link for more information.
Napoléon (1927) is among his most innovative works.
..... Click the link for more information.
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile
Napoléon is an epic (1927) silent French film directed by Abel Gance that tells the story of the rise of Napoleon I of France.
..... Click the link for more information.
IMDb profile
Napoléon is an epic (1927) silent French film directed by Abel Gance that tells the story of the rise of Napoleon I of France.
..... Click the link for more information.
split reel is a motion picture film reel in two halves that, when assembled, hold a specific length of motion picture film that has been wound on a plastic core. Using a split reel allows film to be shipped or handled in a lighter and smaller form than film would on a "fixed" reel.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
silent film is a motion picture with no synchronized recorded sound, especially spoken dialogue.
The idea of combining motion pictures with recorded sound is nearly as old as the motion picture itself, but because of the technical challenges involved, most films were silent
..... Click the link for more information.
The idea of combining motion pictures with recorded sound is nearly as old as the motion picture itself, but because of the technical challenges involved, most films were silent
..... Click the link for more information.
The aspect ratio of an image is its displayed width divided by its height (usually expressed as "x:y" or "x×y," with the joining colon or multiplication symbol articulated as the preposition "by" or sometimes "to").
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
For the UK rock group, see .
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc, and for the
..... Click the link for more information.
Kevin Brownlow (born on June 2, 1938 in Crowborough, Sussex) is a filmmaker, film historian, television documentary-maker, and author. Brownlow is best known for his work documenting the history of the silent era.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film. In contrast to a still camera, which captures a single snapshot at a time, the movie camera takes a series of images, each called a "frame".
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
triptych (pronounced "trip-tick," from the Greek tri- "three" + ptychē "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
should be added to this article, to conform with Wikipedia's Manual of Style.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page.
In film, split screen is the visible division of the screen, traditionally in half, but also in several simultaneous images, rupturing the
..... Click the link for more information.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page.
In film, split screen is the visible division of the screen, traditionally in half, but also in several simultaneous images, rupturing the
..... Click the link for more information.
Mike Figgis
Birth name Michael Figgis
Born January 28 1948
Carlisle, Cumberland, England, UK
Awards
Academy Awards
..... Click the link for more information.
Birth name Michael Figgis
Born January 28 1948
Carlisle, Cumberland, England, UK
Awards
Academy Awards
..... Click the link for more information.
IMDb profile
Timecode is a 2000 experimental drama film, directed by Mike Figgis.
The film is constructed from four continuous 90-minute takes that were filmed simultaneously by four cameramen; the screen is divided into quarters and the four shots are
..... Click the link for more information.
Timecode is a 2000 experimental drama film, directed by Mike Figgis.
The film is constructed from four continuous 90-minute takes that were filmed simultaneously by four cameramen; the screen is divided into quarters and the four shots are
..... Click the link for more information.
Film tinting is the process of adding color to black and white film, usually by means of soaking the film in dye and staining the film emulsion. The effect is that all of the light shining through is filtered, so that what would be white light is, in fact, another color.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
The national flag of France (known in French as drapeau tricolore, drapeau bleu-blanc-rouge, drapeau français, rarely, le tricolore and, in military parlance, les couleurs
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Royal Festival Hall is a concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London, England. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Cinemiracle was a widescreen cinema format competing with Cinerama developed in the 1950s. It was ultimately unsuccessful, with only a single film produced and released in the format. Like Cinerama it used 3 cameras to capture a 2.59:1 image.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
35 mm film is the basic film gauge most commonly used for both still photography and motion pictures, and remains relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1892 by William Dickson and Thomas Edison, using film stock supplied by George Eastman.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
The Academy ratio of 1.37:1 is the standard aspect ratio of a frame of 35mm film when used with 4-perf pulldown, and was standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the standard film aspect ratio in 1932, although it was used as early as 1928.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
This list of film formats catalogues formats developed for shooting or viewing motion pictures, ranging from the Chronophotographe format from 1888, to mid-20th century formats such as the 1953 CinemaScope format, to more recent formats such as the 1992 IMAX HD format.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus
