The World’s First Film Studios ? Putting R W Paul back on the Map

This year sees the 150th anniversary of Robert W Paul, British film pioneer. Paul founded an innovative studio in Muswell Hill in the late 19th century and produced – in a controversial partnership with Birt Acres – Britain’s first commercial “animated photographs” in 1895.

About Ian Christie

Professor Ian Christie is a film historian, curator, broadcaster and consultant and has been Anniversary Professor of Film and Media History at Birkbeck College University of London since 1999. He has written several books including studies of the works of Michael Power, Emeric Pressburger, Martin Scorsese and early cinema.

Professor Christie has a longstanding interest in the work of R W Paul, and has curated a BFI DVD of Paul’s films.

Doors Open

Doors open at 7.30pm for the sale of refreshments and publications and close at 8pm. The main doors have to be closed at that time for security reasons, so anyone arriving after then will be unable to gain access.

A donation of £2 is requested from non-members.

Image – detail from illustration of R W Paul’s animatograph – Creative Commons