The efforts of the SIMPP and the advent of inexpensive portable cameras during World War II effectively made it possible for any person in America with an interest in making films to write, produce, and direct one without the aid of any major film studio. These circumstances soon resulted in a number of critically acclaimed and highly influential works, including Maya Deren's "Meshes of the Afternoon" in 1943, Kenneth Anger's "Fireworks" in 1947, and Morris Engel, Ruth Orkin and Ray Abrashkin's "Little Fugitive" in 1953. Filmmakers such as Ken Jacobs with little or no formal training began to experiment with new ways of making and shooting films.