In 1891, Thomas Edison and his staff, led by William K. L. Dickson, successfully produced demonstration films on the Kinetograph camera, and showed them to one person at a time through the Kinetoscope projector. For 1892 and the early part of 1893, Edison and Co. Geared up for commercial production. As part of this endeavour, Dickson oversaw the building of a dedicated motion picture studio, the Black Maria. This film was one of the first ones to be made at the Black Maria.
Blacksmithing Scene is notable for a number of developments. This was one of the first films to be shown to general public instead of just a specially invited in audience. This happened at the Brooklyn Institute of the Arts and Sciences. For the first time, the film featured actors playing a role - this is not a documentation of a real-life scene. Also, note the clothing, sets, and the habit of drinking while working. This shows the film was set in the early 19th century. By 1893, when the film was made, this behaviour was long outdated. Thus, in the very first scripted and acted film, we have a period piece. From the beginning, nostalgia has been a big part of film-making.
Blacksmithing Scene is notable for a number of developments. This was one of the first films to be shown to general public instead of just a specially invited in audience. This happened at the Brooklyn Institute of the Arts and Sciences. For the first time, the film featured actors playing a role - this is not a documentation of a real-life scene. Also, note the clothing, sets, and the habit of drinking while working. This shows the film was set in the early 19th century. By 1893, when the film was made, this behaviour was long outdated. Thus, in the very first scripted and acted film, we have a period piece. From the beginning, nostalgia has been a big part of film-making.