What is Film: Learn Film History & Storytelling at Delight Technical College
Long before streaming platforms, cinema halls, or even television screens, stories lived only in the moment.
A play ended when the curtain fell.
A storyteller’s voice faded when the crowd dispersed.
A dance existed only as long as the body moved.
Then film happened.
Suddenly, time could be captured. Movement could be preserved. Stories could travel across borders, cultures, and generations without losing their heartbeat. Film did not just change entertainment—it changed history, memory, culture, and identity.
But what exactly is film?
And how did it evolve from flickering black-and-white images into one of the most powerful creative and cultural forces in the world today?
This is the story of film—where it began, how it grew, and why learning it still matters.
- What Exactly Is Film?
At its simplest, film is the art of telling stories using moving images and sound.
But that definition barely scratches the surface.
Film is:
- A visual language
- A historical record
- A cultural mirror
- A technical craft
- A collaborative art form
Film combines multiple disciplines into one medium:
- Writing (scripts)
- Performance (acting)
- Visual design (cinematography, sets, costumes)
- Sound (music, dialogue, effects)
- Editing (rhythm, pacing, emotion)
Unlike a photograph, film moves.
Unlike a novel, film shows.
Unlike theatre, film can be paused, replayed, shared, and preserved.
It is both art and technology—emotion shaped by structure.
- Film as a Visual Language
Film communicates without needing words.
A close-up can reveal fear.
A wide shot can express loneliness.
A slow pan can build tension.
This is why film is universal.
Across languages and cultures, humans understand movement, expression, rhythm, and imagery. Film speaks to instinct.
Learning film is learning how to:
- Direct attention
- Control emotion
- Shape meaning visually
It is not just about cameras—it is about seeing.
- The Birth of Film: When Images Learned to Move
The history of film begins with curiosity.
In the late 19th century, inventors and artists asked a simple question:
What if photographs could move?
Early Experiments
Before cinema, devices like:
- Zoetropes
- Phenakistoscopes
- Magic lanterns
created illusions of motion using sequential images.
Then came a breakthrough.
The Lumière Brothers
In 1895, Auguste and Louis Lumière publicly screened short films using their invention, the Cinématographe.
Audiences were stunned.
People reportedly ducked when a train appeared to rush toward the screen.
Film was born—not as storytelling, but as spectacle.
- Silent Film: Storytelling Without Words
Early films had no recorded sound.
This forced filmmakers to master visual storytelling.
Actors used exaggerated expressions.
Directors relied on movement and framing.
Live music often accompanied screenings.
Icons of the Silent Era
- Charlie Chaplin
- Buster Keaton
- Georges Méliès
Méliès, in particular, introduced film fantasy—editing tricks, special effects, and narrative imagination.
Silent film proved one thing clearly:
Film does not need dialogue to communicate deeply.
- The Arrival of Sound: Film Finds Its Voice
In the late 1920s, everything changed.
The release of The Jazz Singer (1927) marked the rise of sound film, or “talkies.”
Film could now:
- Capture dialogue
- Preserve music
- Record atmosphere
This transformed acting styles, directing methods, and storytelling itself.
Film was no longer just visual—it became immersive.
- Color, Technology, and Expansion
For years, films were black and white.
But as technology advanced, color emerged—not as decoration, but as emotion.
Color allowed filmmakers to:
- Set mood
- Symbolize ideas
- Enhance realism
Advances in:
- Cameras
- Lighting
- Editing techniques
pushed film forward rapidly.
By the mid-20th century, cinema had become a global industry.
- Film as Culture and Power
Film does more than entertain.
It shapes how societies see themselves.
Through film, we learn:
- What is celebrated
- What is silenced
- What is remembered
Film has been used for:
- Education
- Propaganda
- Social critique
- Cultural preservation
Stories on screen influence fashion, language, music, and identity.
Film is power.
- African Cinema: Film as Voice and Identity
Africa’s relationship with film is deeply tied to history.
During colonial times, film was often used about Africans—but not by them.
Early African filmmakers fought to reclaim narrative control.
Pioneers of African Film
Filmmakers like:
- Ousmane Sembène
- Souleymane Cissé
used film to challenge stereotypes and tell authentic African stories.
African cinema became a tool of resistance, education, and cultural pride.
- Film in Modern Africa: Growth and Global Recognition
Today, African film is thriving.
Industries like:
- Nollywood (Nigeria)
- East African cinema
- Independent African filmmakers
have proven that African stories matter globally.
Film now intersects with:
- Fashion
- Music
- Digital media
- Advertising
Visual storytelling has become an economic opportunity.
- Film Today: More Accessible Than Ever
You no longer need a massive studio to make a film.
Smartphones, editing software, and digital platforms have democratized filmmaking.
Yet this accessibility has created a new challenge:
Standing out.
This is where training, structure, and storytelling discipline matter.
- Film as a Career and a Craft
Film is not luck.
It is a profession built on skills:
- Scriptwriting
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Production design
- Directing
Each role requires technical knowledge and creative judgment.
Film professionals are trained—not improvised.
- Learning Film the Right Way
Passion alone is not enough.
To work in film, one must understand:
- Story structure
- Visual composition
- Collaboration
- Industry standards
This is where technical institutions play a crucial role.
- Delight Technical College: Preparing the Next Generation of Visual Storytellers
At Delight Technical College, creativity is grounded in skill.
Film, design, fashion, modelling, and creative communication are treated as serious disciplines with real-world application.
Students learn:
- How stories are structured
- How visuals communicate meaning
- How creative industries intersect
Delight prepares students not just to consume film—but to create it.
In a world driven by visual content, these skills are essential.
- The Future of Film Belongs to the Prepared
Film will continue to evolve.
Technology will change.
Formats will shift.
Platforms will multiply.
But one thing remains constant:
The need for skilled storytellers.
Those who understand film’s history, purpose, and craft will shape its future.
Part of the Story That Moves the World
Every generation adds its chapter to film history.
The question is not whether film will continue—but who will shape it.
At Delight Technical College, students are given the tools to turn imagination into skill and stories into impact.
If you are drawn to storytelling, visuals, fashion, media, or creative industries, Delight offers a place to learn, practice, and grow.
Enroll at Delight Technical College and become part of the story that moves the world forward.
