1/. Tonight I happened upon the grave of William Friese-Greene, “inventor of cinematography”
Born William Greene, he added his wife's name
In 1889, Friese-Greene patented his 'chronophotographic’ camera, which could take ten photographs per second, using celluloid film. #Oscars
Born William Greene, he added his wife's name
In 1889, Friese-Greene patented his 'chronophotographic’ camera, which could take ten photographs per second, using celluloid film. #Oscars

2/. Any money Friese-Greene earned he ploughed back into his inventions, going bankrupt 3 times & dying in poverty
His son, Claude, continued to his father's work, shooting "The Open Road", offering a rare portrait of 1920s Britain in colour. #Oscars2021
His son, Claude, continued to his father's work, shooting "The Open Road", offering a rare portrait of 1920s Britain in colour. #Oscars2021
3/. Just 50 years later, a very different type of documentary about travelling through Britain was made
"Black Safari" is about a group of African explorers who go on a safari by boat along Liverpool-Leeds canals to explore "darkest heart of Lancashire" #Oscars
#OscarsSoWhite
"Black Safari" is about a group of African explorers who go on a safari by boat along Liverpool-Leeds canals to explore "darkest heart of Lancashire" #Oscars

4/. Black Safari was perhaps one of the inspirations for another powerful mockumentary, made 16 years later in 1986, about racism & colonialism
Babakiueria (Barbeque Area) reimagines Australia from the POV of Aboriginals discovering White People #Oscars
#Oscar2021 #OscarsSoWhite
Babakiueria (Barbeque Area) reimagines Australia from the POV of Aboriginals discovering White People #Oscars

5/. On the subject of film & colonialism, a quick plug for @FiSahara - the world's remotest film festival, held in a refugee camp deep in the Sahara desert
It has dune parties, camel races & screenings beneath the stars & some politics #Oscars2021 #Oscars
https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1386355992087207939
It has dune parties, camel races & screenings beneath the stars & some politics #Oscars2021 #Oscars

6/. In 1933, Hollywood cancelled The Mad Dog of Europe, a film Herman Mankiewicz wrote that predicted a future Nazi genocide #Mank #Oscars
#Oscars2021 #AcademyAwards #Hollywood #FilmTwitter https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1325810685213880323
