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Illo Tempore Film Awards
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William K.L. Dickson - First Tributaire (19th of February 2003) The Illo Tempore Tribute honours the life of William Kennedy Laurie Dickson (winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Achievement Award in Production, as well as the Merit Prize in Production). The first inventor to see a significant artistic use in motion pictures, Dickson is the most notable personality in the history of cinema. His inventions have opened the door for one of the most successful businesses of the contemporary time. Though the films he produced are of little commercial interest after 100 years, they are still of remarkable importance when evaluating the role of cinema in the modern time. The Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1st Illo Tempore Film Awards has gone to William Kennedy Laurie Dickson. The illustrious inventor of the kinetoscope has contributed to the production of more than 100 silent films in the last decade of the 19th Century, either as producer, director, cinematographer or actor. Dickson's monumental inventions into the world of motion pictures are marked by their continuous actuality (i.e. films are still made 35mm wide). It is an honour to award the Lifetime recognition to one of the most important (probably the most) personalities in the field. The Achievement Award for Male Performance celebrates the impact of James C. Duncan to the concept of acting in films. Perhaps one of the few people to appear in a film in the early years that was unknown to the public, Duncan could be truly considered the first movie star. Though appearing only in a handful of productions in 1891, Edison’s employee managed to give the most original performances of the time. William K.L. Dickson also gained the Achievement Award in Production. Most of the films were produced in the first half of 1890s, all having the same style of the producer – partly documentaries, partly fictions, partly entertaining. Carmencita, Edison Kinetoscopic Record Of A Sneeze are some of the titles which carry WKLD’s signature. Recognition for the work in the field of cinematography has been given to William Heise, who contributed to the production of circa 100 films between 1891 and 1897. As Dickson’s closest assistant, Heise has defined what we understand by cinematography and his input remains as a testimony of his brilliance. Enthusiasm and workaholism contribute to the wider picture of the man, who was to play such a special role in the development of motion pictures. The worthy winners of the Merit Prizes are Fred C Devonald, William K.L. Dickson, James C. Duncan and William Heise. |
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Copyright © Illo Tempore Film Awards 2003. The copyrights of the pictures are kept with the authors. |