1. Silent Films: All movies were silent, as sound recording technology had not yet been developed. Instead, emotions were conveyed through body language, facial expressions, and occasional intertitles to provide context and dialogue.
2. Short Films: Movies were generally very short, with most lasting only a few minutes. Feature films, which are longer than 40 minutes, were rare and often considered special events.
3. One-Reel Wonders: Many pre-World War I movies consisted of a single reel of film. Each reel ran for about 15 minutes, so filmmakers had to be creative and efficient with their storytelling.
4. The Nickelodeon: "Nickelodeon" was the term used for the early movie theaters that proliferated in the early 20th century. These theaters, aimed at the working class, charged about five cents for admission, and patrons could watch multiple short films for that price.
5. Popular Genres: Some popular film genres of the time included comedies, dramas, historical spectacles, and melodramas. Western movies also began to emerge during this period.
6. Early Special Effects: While filmmakers were limited in their capabilities compared to today, they started experimenting with special effects, including stop-motion animation, split-screen techniques, and hand-painted effects.
7. Pioneering Directors: Notable directors from the pre-World War I era include Georges Méliès, D.W. Griffith, and Charlie Chaplin. These pioneers helped establish cinematic techniques that would become essential in filmmaking.
Remember, these characteristics are generalizations and there were always exceptions and variations within the early film industry.