Psst, hey, smarty pants, can you guess where I am?
I've got a big bucket of popcorn, an unnaturally large soda, and I'm sitting in a big chair in a dark room with a big screen in front of me.
No, I'm not at the controls of the Millennium Falcon, the Enterprise, or the Benatar.
I'm at the movie theater, also known as a cinema.
I came to watch one of the biggest most exciting movies out today and it was sold out so I ended up here watching whatever this is but no matter the movie it's still always fun to go to the cinema especially with great friends like you smarty pants movies can make us feel all kinds of emotions and take
us to far away places Because most times what you see on the screen is the work of hundreds of people using their imaginations and a little bit of what we in the business call movie magic.
Hey, Smarty Pins, why don't you listen closely and see if you can pick out what parts of this movie are real and what's movie magic.
Ah, ma seree, how long I have awaited your return.
My dear Vivian, I only went to the bakery to get some doughnuts.
Ooh la la, I love doughnuts.
But I must confess, I met someone else.
Someone else? Ooh, the butcher, the candlestick maker.
Frankly, my dear, I met a dinosaur.
saw. And I think they followed me home.
Oh la la. Run! Better yet, let's take the Millennium Falcon.
Wait, go back. I forgot ze donuts.
Wow, this movie's cooler than I thought.
So, Smarty Pants, what parts were movie magic?
You probably guessed the dinosaur wasn't real since they haven't been around for, you know, 65 million years.
And the sound effects are clearly movie magic, from the roar to the donut munching to the spaceship.
We actually did a Who Smarted episode on sound effects, which you should check out.
But that's not all.
The people in most movies are actors pretending to be the characters you see.
On screen, I sound like this.
But usually I talk like this.
And in real life, I can't fly spaceships, and I never eat donuts.
Not me. So you can say the dinosaur, sound effects, and characters are movie magic.
But so is the movie itself.
It's an optical illusion, meaning it plays tricks on your eyes.
Believe it or not, there's no real motion inside a motion picture.
Whoa. The truth is, everything is movie magic, and people just can't get enough of it.
Some studies say you might end up watching 5 ,000 movies in your lifetime.
So what's the secret to how movies work?
Who invented the idea of lights, camera, and action?
And how can you make your own feature film?
It's time for a whiff of science and history on...
Who's smarted? Who's smarted?
Who's smart? Is it you?
Is it me? Is it science or history?
Listen up, everyone.
We make smarting lots of fun on Who's Smarted.
Hey there, Smarty Pants parents.
You love Who's Smarted because it makes learning fun for your kids.
But what about your brain?
I'm Jerry Kolber, the co -creator of Who Smarted.
And yes, your very own trusty narrator.
And I've got something just for you.
It's called The Daily Brain.
A quick 10 -minute podcast designed to help you think sharper, stress less, and boost your brainpower with simple science -backed exercises.
From problem -solving hacks to memory tricks and focus boosters, The Daily Brain is like a mini -workout for your mind.
No heavy lifting required.
So, after Who Smarted, treat yourself to some brain -boosting fun.
Listen to The Daily Brain wherever you get your podcasts.
ask something like, why does the wind blow?
Or, does skyscrapers actually scrape the sky?
And you weren't quite sure of the answer?
Well, but why has you covered?
They've answered questions from over 16 ,000 kids across 90 countries, and they're not afraid to tackle any topic, even the gross ones that make grown -ups squirm.
I mean, they have whole episodes about poop and making paint from spit and rocks!
How cool is that? Their team gets real experts to answer real questions from real kids like you.
So if your family loves learning interesting stuff on Who Smarted, you'll definitely want to check out But Why.
You can find But Why wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch out, smarty pants.
You know a movie can make you feel like you're in the middle of the action.
But the truth is, all the exciting stuff you see isn't really moving.
Movies are actually a collection of still photographs, Like the pictures you take with a smartphone.
Remember when I said movies are an optical illusion, a trick on your eyes?
Well, when you go through these still pictures rapidly, your brain believes the images that you're seeing are moving.
Whoa. If you've ever created a flip book by making slightly different drawings on each page, you're performing the same trick.
When you flip the pages of your flip book with your fingers, the image seems to move.
This illusion of motion is often referred to as persistence of vision.
And it works because your eyes and brain can only process 10 to 12 separate images per second.
So, smarty pants, when you're watching a movie, how many pictures do you think you're seeing every second to create this optical illusion?
Is it A, 5, B, 10, C, 12, or D, 24?
The answer is D. The average movie shows you 24 still pictures every second to create movement.
To make this happen, you need a camera that can take many pictures at once.
And early cameras just couldn't do that.
Ma, look at this giant fish I caught.
Ooh, let me take a picture.
Hold it up. Stay still.
Good. Now, don't move for an hour so the camera can get it.
Ma! Don't move your lips.
You'll ruin the picture.
Fortunately, during the 1870s, a British -American photographer named Edward Muybridge developed a type of camera that allowed for much faster photography.
And using several of these cameras, he created one of the first movies to solve a mystery.
In a world of horses.
One horse, one man, and one camera were about to change everything As they attempted to solve one of history's most baffling mysteries Coming soon to a theater near you The answer to the question Does a horse fly when it runs?
okay I know what you're thinking what kind of crazy question is that do horses fly was that really a mystery that kept people awake at night the answer is nay however to some people including Edward Muybridge's boss who happened to be the governor of California and a big time lover of horse racing it
was very important to know whether or not a horse actually lifted all four hooves off the ground at the same time while galloping.
It was impossible to tell with the naked eye.
So the governor instructed Muybridge to use several cameras to capture every part of a horse's movement.
Then, by studying each image, they discovered that, indeed, horses do fly.
When Muybridge put all his pictures together and projected them one after another, not only did he show all four hooves leaving the ground at the same time, he ended up creating one of the first motion pictures.
Unfortunately, Moivridge didn't know what he'd stumbled upon.
Instead, a number of other inventors took up movie making, including one very famous one.
Smarty Pants. Any guesses who?
Is it A, Nikola Tesla?
B, Thomas Edison? Or C, Bill Gates?
If you said B, Thomas Edison, you're right.
In the 1890s, Edison's company introduced a device called the kinetoscope, which allowed one person at a time to look through a peephole and see images of circus or stage acts printed on a long strip of strong, flexible material known as celluloid.
Do you know what this long celluloid strip is usually called?
Is it A, confetti? If you said C, film, you're right.
Inside Edison's device, the film would move quickly past a lamp and a shutter, making the images appear to move.
Two French brothers named Louis and August Lumière improved on this idea, creating a projector that would allow films like the ones made by Edison's company to be shown in a theatre.
They're credited with creating the first movie for a large audience who paid money to see it.
The Place, France. The Time, 1895.
In a world where people work in factories, comes a new film by the Lumiere brothers.
Exiting the factory, because nothing brings more happiness than watching people leave work.
So, the Lumiere Brothers movies were not very exciting Mostly, they just showed bits and pieces of everyday life Like factory workers heading home But their new camera and projector Did establish the modern movie experience And gave it a name Can you guess what they called their invention?
Is it A, the cinematograph B, the luminary Or C, the movie doobie If you guessed A, You're right!
The word cinema comes from the name of the Lumiere's device, the cinematograph.
Movies became more complex and popular since those early showings, and the 1930s saw a transformation to full -color films with better sound.
By now, many people were going to the movies twice a week, packing theaters that could hold thousands of people.
But that didn't last forever.
A new invention convinced many moviegoers to stay home.
If you know what it is, shout it out.
Yep, that's right. It's the television.
So, movies had to become bigger, bolder, and offer a lot more to compete with television.
They added stereo sound, 3D viewing, high -tech special effects.
Great storytelling and thrills you simply had to leave home to see.
And then, not too long ago, one movie completely changed the movie industry.
You may have heard of it.
It begins like this.
This movie led the way for films to stop being, well, films.
But it might not be the movie you're thinking of.
We'll explain right after this quick break.
This episode is brought to you by iXL.
As someone who's constantly balancing work and life, I know how tough it can be to make sure kids get the academic support they need, whether they're homeschooled or in a traditional classroom.
That's why iXL has been a lifesaver.
It's an online learning program that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies with interactive practice problems, games, and video tutorials.
Plus, it makes learning fun, just like who's smarted.
For homeschool parents, iExcel is the perfect supplement to your curriculum, giving kids personalized learning at their own pace.
And for parents of traditional school kids, it is a great way to reinforce what they're learning in class, whether they need extra help or are just looking for a challenge.
Make an impact on your child's learning.
Get iXL today. Podcast listeners get an exclusive 20 % off when you sign up at iXL .com slash smarted.
Visit iXL .com slash smarted now to give your child the best learning support available.
iXL, where learning clicks.
This episode is brought to you by Squarespace.
Smarty pants, it's quiz time.
If you wanted to start a business, share your ideas with the world, or finally launch your site about history's weirdest inventions, what is the smartest way to do it?
Is it A, shouting your message from the top of a volcano?
B, training an army of synchronized skywriting parrots?
Or C, building a sleek professional website with Squarespace?
If you said C, congratulations, you win the internet.
With Squarespace's design intelligence, you can build a beautiful website in minutes.
No coding, wizardry, or secret handshake required.
Want to sell stuff?
Squarespace payments lets you accept Apple Pay, Klarna, and even credit cards.
And because social media runs the universe, Squarespace seamlessly connects your site to Instagram, YouTube, and more, so your fans or future customers can easily find you.
Start your free trial today at squarespace .com slash smarted.
And when you're ready to launch, use code smarted, to save 10 % on your first website or domain.
Now, who's ready to make history?
Now back to Who Smarted.
Smarty pants, I'm guessing you know that music is from Star Wars.
And you might also know that the Star Wars saga had a huge impact on the film industry, including when and how blockbuster movies are released, merchandising, and huge box office potential.
However, one episode of Star Wars actually change the way movies are physically made today?
Was it A, The Empire Strikes Back, B, Return of the Jedi, C, Attack of the Clones, or D, The Force Awakens?
The answer is C, Attack of the Clones.
When George Lucas made Attack of the Clones, it was the first big -budget live -action film to not be shot on celluloid film.
Instead, he used digital video, and it was all stored on a hard drive.
Today, almost all movies are shot this way, and they're shown using digital projectors.
Computers create each picture that's projected onto the screen, but they still move like before, with 24 pictures per second to give you the movie experience that people have enjoyed for decades.
These days, you likely have a device that can also make videos with similar digital technology.
You might even be using this device to listen to Who's Smarted?
Who's Smarted? Smarty Pants, call out what this device is.
That's right, a smartphone.
And guess what? You can make your own movie with one.
Of course, you're going to want to get permission first.
And don't use the phone right away.
Movies require a lot of planning.
First, you'll need a script.
Which is the story and includes the things that you want your characters to say and do.
Once you have a script, you need to figure out where to shoot your film and who will be in it.
Maybe ask some friends, parents, or siblings to be actors.
Somebody will also need to be the camera operator, you know, the person using the smartphone.
This might be a good job for an adult.
You also need someone to help guide everyone along as you turn a script into a movie.
And this person is called the director.
Action! With everything in place, you can record your video.
If you have a computer that can edit, you might want to try that, too.
If not, the scenes you make with one recording will still be movie magic.
We did it, Vivian. We escaped the dinosaur.
Phew, can I have a donut, Claude?
Here you go. Ah! Look out for that flying horse.
A four -way shout -out to Luke and Kyle O'Sullivan and Max and Margo Pillar from Astoria, Queens, New York.
Thank you all so much for being part of our Smarty Family.
This episode, Movies, was written by Dave B.
Movie Beaudry and voiced by Justin Daly's Dude, Jenny Cameo Chan, Jenna High Def Hobbit, Sheffield Call Sheet Chastain, Adam Dave for Night Davis and Jerry Colbert.
Technical Direction and Sound Design by Josh Handheld Hahn.
Who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios.
Our associate producer is Max CGI Kamaski.
The theme song is by Brian Soundtrack Suarez, with lyrics written and performed by Adam Textavis.
Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Textavis and Jerry Colber.
This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.
