10 Awesome Innovations That Changed Cinema Forever

7. Steadicam & Dolly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0gYPsTtvFo They might not be quite as obvious as some of the entries on this list, but steadicam and dolly techniques allowed filmmakers to create some of the most complex and unforgettable images in film history, helping to diversify the medium and expand filmmaker's imaginations. Though pretty much every major film will make use of both of these innovations, the steadicam, which can stabilise an image's smoothness even when the camera is being carried over a rough surface, was invented relatively recently. It first appeared in 1976's Bound for Glory; check out the video above to see how the crane shot changes instantaneously to a smooth behind-the-shoulder pass, thanks to the seamless join that steadicam allows. The camera dolly came first, being invented in the early 1900s, and involved the camera being placed on a track that would allow for smooth movement along a limited axis. Both of these innovations changed the language of cinema and helped filmmakers attain the best coverage of their scenes possible.