An innovative research project is set to challenge how we think about the birth of cinema. CIPPM’s Dr Claudy Op den Kamp has been awarded a fellowship by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to create a groundbreaking videographic monograph at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Titled ‘First,’ the project will produce 24 interconnected video essays exploring a crucial moment in the 1890s when two British photographers, Eadweard Muybridge and W.K.L. Dickson, were registering their work at the Library of Congress. While Muybridge is known for his serial photography of moving subjects, Dickson helped develop what we now recognise as early cinema through his work with Thomas Edison.

The video essays are split into two parts: the first twelve explore the historical narrative of how early filmmakers protected their work by registering motion pictures as series of photographs, while the second twelve offer unprecedented behind-the-scenes insights into the research process itself. At the heart of this story is Ainsworth Rand Spofford, the Librarian of Congress at the time, who played a crucial role in establishing this early framework for film copyright.

What makes this project unique is its format – combining archival footage, primary source documents, and contemporary filming to create a rich, multilayered exploration of both historical events and research methodology. By examining unique historical records and copyright registration books at the Library of Congress, Dr. Op den Kamp aims to piece together not just what happened, but how we discover and tell historical stories.

The project promises to offer valuable insights not only for film historians and copyright scholars, but also for anyone interested in how new technologies are legally protected and culturally understood.