blog #1 - option 2

The significant film achievements of Edwin Porter were that he directed "The Great Train Robbery", perhaps the most influential film of that decade. The significant achievement for D.W. Griffith was "Birth of a Nation" which was almost banned by the NAACP, it was still highly successful at the box office. The elements that Edwin S Porter introduced to the film making process of his time was that Porter was central in the organization of the first projected movie show in New York on April 23rd 1896. Porter also attempted to create his own camera and projector but his efforts were in vain. Porter was also one of the first directors to shoot at night in his "Pan-American Exposition by Night". The elements that D.W. Griffith introduced to the film making process of his time was that Griffiths use of intricate editing and film techniques such as alternating close-ups and long-shots from varying camera angles, were revolutionary and inspired a generation of directors. What ultimately led to D.W. Griffith's falling from grace from the film industry was that Griffith was hurt deeply by the accusations of racism form "Birth of a Nation", his next film "Intolerance" was a quartet of stories of a mans inhumanity to man. Griffith's attempt to compensate for the politics of the "Birth of a Nation" was a commercial flop. Intolerance left him heavily in debt and over the next few years Griffith desperately attempted to make films that would enable him to pay off his creditors. Edwin Porter never fell from grace from the film industry, after the "Great Train Robbery" Porter returned to his first enthusiasm, projectors and remained involved with projection for the rest of his working life. I do believe that both of their work is still valuable and interesting to film today because both created unique techniques in editing and camera work that are still used today by directors, so i think both were vital to the film industry.