Why can early traveling projectionists be considered some of the first film directors?

During the "novelty period" of the silent film era (roughly 1896–1904), the film industry was structured differently than it is today. Initially, production companies leased a complete service to vaudeville houses that included the projector, the operator, and a program of short films.12

However, as the novelty of these films faded at specific sites, manufacturers began selling projectors and films directly to itinerant exhibitors. These traveling projectionists traveled between various venues, such as fairgrounds, circus tents, and lyceums. Because they were responsible for arranging individual, one-shot films into cohesive, audience-pleasing programs, they exercised significant control over the final presentation.12

This process of selecting and sequencing films—often accompanied by live narration, music, and sound effects—functioned as a primitive form of editing. Consequently, these itinerant projectionists are considered the earliest directors of motion pictures. This role was so foundational that several of these individuals, most notably Edwin S. Porter, were later hired as professional directors by production companies once the industry stabilized.12