The scope of cinema

Since 2009, the Seine-Saint-Denis County Council has been backing “la Culture et l’Art au Collège (CAC)”. This project is based to a large extent on the presence in class for several weeks (40h) of an artist or scientist whose mission is to engage the students in a process of research and creation. 

Tutors:
Camille Degeye, Pierre-Alain Delisse, Étienne Barrier/ Filmmakers

Project Manager:
Lucille Negre

Objectives:
This is a journey to the farthest reaches of cinema and illusion, a time when the zoetrope, stroboscope and praxinoscope reigned. These three inventions all reproduce motion using drawings or photographs and have the brain’s perception as a point in common, adding movement where there is only static.

Workshops:
The Story Factory
Since the beginning of the course, the class had access to real animation devices: folioscopes, thaumatropes, zoetropes and phenakistoscopes. Using drawings and photographs, the students began experimenting with these devices. The contributor guided them in this initial stage of familiarisation and helped them define situations and loops.

In a Few Seconds
Following in the footsteps of Marey and Muybridge, the students applied to photography the principle of breaking down movement: behind or in front of the camera, they tested various techniques and devised a motion picture production. Using high-speed continuous shooting or placing one image after the other, this procedure enabled them to produce sequences à la Méliès. The photos were printed and set up for viewing.  

Motion Pictures
The final phase involved the class experimenting with the production of 3D zoetropes. The device works with the help of a flashing light. The luminous flash of the stroboscope plays the role of the cylindrical zoetrope’s slit. This is a step closer to animation and stop-motion techniques. Figurines and other items were used by the class and came to life before our eyes.

Showcase:
Throughout the summer of 2018, the classes’ productions were brought together in an exhibition and presented at the Le Méliès cinema in Montreuil. The exhibition also presented interactive zoetropes, folioscopes, phenakistiscopes and stroboscopes, inviting the public to experiment with each device.

Remerciements:
F93 would like to thank Le Méliès cinema, its director Stéphane Goudet and the Est Ensemble network

Outings :
- Cinémathèque Française, Paris
- Cinéma Le Méliès, Montreuil

Participating schools:
- Class 4ème 1, Collège Jean Zay, Bondy.
- Class 4ème D, Collège Jules Michelet, Saint-Ouen.

Scenography: ELODIE DESCOUBES

Photos: PIERRE ANTOINE