“Tidsmaskin” is one of the Norwegian words I’ve managed to retain. Pronounced TEEDS-mah-sheen, it means “time machine”. I’ve found over the years that I have an affinity for being in the places where silent film happened. Props, pieces of costuming,… Read More »Silent Movie Time Machine
I don’t know if it’s because I think like a filmmaker that makes me add some light production values to using Skype. I’m aware of how what I’m shooting will look to the person or audience viewing it on a… Read More »Skyping With An External Mic
I’ve been seeing items posted online over the last few months commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passing by Congress of the 19th Amendment. This reminded me of a joke in a Buster Keaton film. It’s a topical joke, one… Read More »A Keaton Short and the 19th Amendment
Trade ads proclaimed Alice Howell as a (or the) female Chaplin. I’d initially thought this was a parallel to Chaplin’s being the number one star. There are similar proclamations about Mabel Normand, and the analogy fits. Mabel was the top… Read More »A Chaplin-esque Alice Howell Comedy
It’s a wonderful thing when a community is able to raise money to save, refurbish and reopen its town’s original movie theater. It’s even more wonderful when the people involved with programming at these theaters are interested in presenting silent… Read More »The Park Theater in Glens Falls NY
My rule of thumb with projection speeds and silent comedy films used to be guided by whether there were audience laughs or not. Later, once I’d done a lot of research into the difference between taking speed and projection speed… Read More »The Speed Is Mutual
One of the insights I’ve had into film programming has come from my many years’ experience accompanying silent films. Literally, it’s the experience of accompanying films during a show, and sensing the vibe in the theater. One thing I’ve learned… Read More »In Film Programming 1+1+1+1 Can Add Up To More Than 4
As silent film fans, we’re past the point of going to a show, seeing empty seats and blaming the venue for not doing enough to get people in. There’s no budget for advertising for silent film shows, really, and ads… Read More »Why Wasn’t This Advertised More?