Selected Works (1902-1914)
By Segundo de Chomón
Spanish film pioneer Segundo de Chomón spent most of his influential career associated with Pathé Laboratories. Chomón joined the company in 1901 and set up a laboratory for adding color to film in Barcelona. He started directing newsreels the following year. Chomón's innovations include the development of several camera tricks, including single-frame techniques, optical dissolves, and complicated traveling shots. In 1902, Chomón successfully combined live-action with miniatures in the short Choque de Trenes/Collision of Trains. In 1905, he was the first Spanish filmmaker to use stop-motion techniques in Eclipse de Sol/Eclipse of the Sun. Toward the end of 1905, Chomón relocated to Paris to direct over 100 short films for Pathé; he also shared his techniques with other directors. He first used the traveling shot (the first time it was ever used) in a scene for La Vie et la Passion de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ/The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1907), which was directed by Ferdinand Zecca and Lucien Nonguet. Chomón accomplished the shot by devising a special skating device, and perfected the special shot while filming Cabiria for Italian director Giovanni Pastrone in 1914. I…
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