D.W. Griffith; Film Documentary Project

D.W. GRIFFITH

D.W. Griffith was called the "Father of film technique" & "the man who invented Hollywood"

Birth of a Nation trailer.

With cinematographer G.W. Bitzer, he created and perfected the film devices:

• the iris shot
• the flashback
• crosscutting

He directed the very controversial The Birth of a Nation (1915) Based on Thomas Dixon's stage play "The Clansman." Over 3 hours long, the racist epic included a cast of hundreds. The film contained many new film innovations:

• Special use of subtitles
• Its own musical score with orchestra
• Introduction of night photography
• Used a "still shot"
• Used an "Iris shot"
• Used parallel action
• Used panning and tracking shots
• Used close-ups to reveal intimate expressions of actors
• Used fade outs and cameo-profiles
• Used high-angles and panoramic (extreme) long shots
• Used cross cutting between two scenes to create excitement and suspense

Here's a few clips from Birth of a Nation with hundreds of extras.
The film is now regarded as terribly racist as it actually has the KKK riding in to save the day. Here's a few more objectionable scenes:
Negro Majority in the House of Representatives
Origins of the Klan & The Klan to the Rescue!
Mae Marsh jumps to her death...(as Sis)
And the suggestive ending...

Here's the entire film, if you have the interest and 3-hours to spare. Or in 8 minutes if you don't (with commentary)

In the lab, please work on your documentary films. Once you have your script, create your voice over by recording your voice reading the voice over. Use photographs or youtube clips to go along with your script information.