Dawn of the Eye
From the invention of the first movie camera by the Lumières to the high-tech coverage of the Gulf War, this series traces the evolution of film and television broadcast journalism and its impact on our perception of world events. Each program provides an in-depth look at a different era in the growth and development of this controversial and fascinating industry. Co-produced by CBC and BBC, the 6-hour series was broadcast over 5 nights by CBC in its initial run, and 6 nights thereafter.
Cast: Kenneth Welsh
Miniseries
6 episodes
- 1. Born Among ClownsTraces the beginnings of the filmed-news industry from the development of the movie camera by the Lumière brothers in 1895. Within ten years, cutthroat news companies were in competition throughout the world. Newsreels graduated from vaudeville audiences to millions of movie-goers. Much of what people saw in this era, however, was actually staged by pre-Hollywood film studios. Rare footage includes some of the first images ever recorded on film.CC51minJan 19, 1997
- 2. Eyes of the WorldHollywood studios initially presented sanitized news as if the Depression or a growing Nazi threat did not exist. However, the March of Time theater newsreel company soon revolutionized the medium by establishing many of the standards still used by contemporary news organizations. News agencies were so proficient and numerous that World War II became a contest for public opinion among the various news machines. Includes footage of D-Day.CC48minJan 19, 1997
- 3. Inventing Television NewsNo one knew quite what to do with television news until radio news veterans introduced controversial subjects such as racial segregation. Then the public began watching in droves. The Senate anti-communist hearings conducted by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s drew thousands to their television sets each day. These innovations sparked public and private controversies, including the BBC battle with the British government over whether media information should be controlled by the state.CC48minJan 26, 1997
- 4. The Power and the ImageBy the early 1960s, television was the dominant source of news in North America. It provided publicity for the forces of protest and political opposition to such an extent that some claim the civil rights and anti-war movements could not have succeeded without it.CC47minFeb 2, 1997
- 5. The Electronic BattalionsIn the golden years of network news and the birth of the satellite age, "going live" became the order of the day, and anchormen and anchorwomen became mega-stars. TV news became a factor in events at Tiananmen Square and the Berlin Wall, as images were used to affect the tide of public opinion. Many predicted little success for television mogul Ted Turner's international news venture, CNN. Critics accused TV news of generally promoting sensationalism and violence.CC47minFeb 9, 1997
- 6. Embattled WitnessThe Gulf War demonstrated the global nature of television news, and how its presence can shape the events it witnesses. As new global news titans vie for network supremacy, the medium is fundamentally changing. Will network news remain the watchdog of democracy or lose its position to other media?CC48minFeb 16, 1997
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Dawn of the Eye
From the invention of the first movie camera by the Lumières to the high-tech coverage of the Gulf War, this series traces the evolution of film and television broadcast journalism and its impact on our perception of world events. Each program provides an in-depth look at a different era in the growth and development of this controversial and fascinating industry. Co-produced by CBC and BBC, the 6-hour series was broadcast over 5 nights by CBC in its initial run, and 6 nights thereafter.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Mark Starowicz
- Cast
- Kenneth Welsh
- Studio
- CBC, BBC
Maturity rating
Not yet rated.
Audio languages
English
Where to watch
Not currently listed on any streaming, rental or purchase service.
