Robert Paul is a largely forgotten name today, but he was a major pioneer of British cinema, and was quick to grasp the commercial potential of cinema in ways that better known pioneers such as William Friese-Greene were not. He was more of a mechanic than a filmmaker making, with Birt Acres, his own camera on which to shoot films in 1895, and also Britain's first projector, the Animatograph, with which to screen them in 1896. Early in the 20th century he had a custom-made studio built in Muswell Hill.
This short film shows the amusement of a diner in a restaurant when he discovers tiny people emerging from his meal. The shot is achieved by superimposing a matte shot onto the main picture. It was pretty new back then, but it obviously looks a bit amateurish today.
This short film shows the amusement of a diner in a restaurant when he discovers tiny people emerging from his meal. The shot is achieved by superimposing a matte shot onto the main picture. It was pretty new back then, but it obviously looks a bit amateurish today.
