Abel Gance and Georges Melies

Georges Melies and Abel Gance were very similar men in many ways. To start with they were both Frenchmen,  both born in Paris in fact, both men of the 1800’s just 27 year apart, but most importantly they were both innovators in the production of film. Gance was known for his experimental  practices that involved manipulation of the camera to create special effects. Melies preferred more performance style special effects using and manipulating the cinematography,  such as the stop trick. Melies was known as the first ever “Cinemagician." While Gance experimented with filming in sound and color, Melies was hand painting his film to personally add color.  Both men were breakthrough artist in the art of film.