Your species has been recording moving images for over 100 of your Earth years. Prior to that, there were only still photographs, and before that, people with paper, charcoal, and artistic talent.
Many of the oldest movies, particularly those from World War 1, have been restored, digitised, "cleaned up" and often colourized - as a result, although they retain their jerky, low res quality, the visual impact on the audience is substantially increased.
However, when there's a documentary about the Napoleonic Wars (where the English beat up the french) or the battle of Agincourt (where the English beat up the french) or Culodden (where the English beat up the scots) or the the English Civil War (where, being unable to find opponents worthy of their mettle, the English beat up each other), the filmmakers employ actors (or re-enactors) in appropriate costume to portray the events under scrutiny.
The problem is (with the exception of epic productions like "Gettysburg") that it doesn't look that convincing. Although it was "a long time ago", the action looks too new, fresh and polished.
Now, BorgCo Studios are researching the possibility of intentionally making such historic reenactments convincingly "low quality". Scenes will be shot in long takes, with minimal editing, and from a fixed POV; wide angle lenses will be used with few close ups, and slow, jerky panning. Once recorded, the HD video with be converted to monochrome, have occasional frames randomly deleted, duplicated or distorted, and various blemishes and scratches will be added. The resultant footage will then be colourized.
Thus when watching Xerxes crossing the Hellespont, or William IV crossing the Boyne, the viewer will see not a 1920's Hollywood pastiche with cardboard armour and wooden swords, nor a historically accurate but altogether too modern depiction of events, but something that gives the illusion of being "restored contemporary footage" of the actual event.-- 8th of 7, Feb 26 2015 [+] how about this? https://www.youtube...watch?v=RdF3jbRgUiU [pashute, Mar 01 2015] The Blair Fight Project?-- bungston, Feb 26 2015 Should be animated drawings in period style.-- pocmloc, Feb 26 2015 Bun (possibly kept in escrow) for //the English Civil War (where, being unable to find opponents worthy of their mettle, the English beat up each other)//
Howevertheless, I feel bound to point out that there are many softwares available for adding artificial scratches, jerks, and sepia-tones to modern footages. For example, few people know that BBC1 switched to full-colour high-definition 3D in 1948, but deliberately degraded the images so as not to alarm the public.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 26 2015 Remind me: which side were the English on in Gettysburg?-- RayfordSteele, Feb 26 2015 They were with The south and big cotton's side. Big mills keep on rolling.
Proud Mary...-- popbottle, Feb 27 2015 I like this idea and put forward my services as a cameraman. I assure you that I am eminently qualified.-- AusCan531, Feb 27 2015 //the English Civil War (where, being unable to find opponents worthy of their mettle, the English beat up each other)// ...whilst simultaneously beating up the Scots, the Irish & the Dutch.-- DrBob, Feb 27 2015 [+] for the idea, especially for [pocmloc]'s addendum, and anything giving borgs some sanitary hobby.-- 4and20, Feb 27 2015 With just a smidge more pride they could start sounding like the French...-- RayfordSteele, Feb 27 2015 We are an agressive hegemonising swarm, completely lacking in any ethical sense, yes, but no other species in the Universe is as arrogant, egotistical, and entirely indifferent to malodorous sewers as the french.
Any more jibes like that and we will give you a right ding alongside the earhole.-- 8th of 7, Feb 27 2015 //indifferent to malodorous sewers // I'd always assumed they were quite enthusiastic about them.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2015 //Culodden// sp. Flodden.-- pertinax, Mar 01 2015 There as well. One amongst many.-- 8th of 7, Mar 01 2015 The simplest way to accomplish this would be to travel back in time (which we know you can do), and give someone at Stirling Bridge an iPhone, for example.-- tatterdemalion, Mar 01 2015 ^^^-- 21 Quest, Mar 01 2015 //give someone at Stirling Bridge an iPhone//
Better to give them all iPhones. Then, when someone shouts "Charge!", there's no movement but the insistent scratching of ten thousand men, hunched over, trying to operate touch screens with mailed fists.-- pertinax, Mar 02 2015 //when someone shouts "Charge!", there's no movement //
Yes, there is - a devil-take-the-hindmost rush to get to a power outlet before anyone else.
Some, of course, will be holding their iphoneys above their heads, screen facing down, executing clumsy pirouettes while muttering about "poor coverage" ....-- 8th of 7, Mar 02 2015 Clearly what's needed is a jousting armor Go-Pro attachment.-- RayfordSteele, Mar 03 2015 random, halfbakery