Ditto; I'd love to see some discussion here about this virtually unknown but fascinating period of film history. Because of the advent of DVD we have a much better chance now to re-discover the work of Lois Weber, Alice Blache, Nell Shipman and other great filmakers. For instance, Weber's "Hypocrites," available from KINO and shown on occasion on TCM has some of the most powerful, scathing scenes of any pre - WW I film.

I have some personal interest in this as well; my grandfather appeared in a few silent films, and I've been doing some of my own research into the early film era as background for a historical novel. The techniques & acting may have been rougher, but there was a lot more adventurous spirit and less of a direct concern for the box office when film companies & production were smaller & still on the mainstream fringe, mostly before 1919.

Thanks for the nudge, Shannon -