David Wark Griffith revolutionized both the film industry and cinema itself and is undoubtedly "the most important individual in the development of cinema as art” (Drew). He built the film industry from the ground up, "reshaped the very language of cinema" (Drew) and shook the country with his film The Birth of a Nation which fueled the rise of one of the terrorist organizations the most important and influential nationals of all time. (Niderost). DW Griffith and his films transformed the way movies are made and had a tremendous impact on the film industry not only in the United States but around the world. The beginnings of cinema were radically different from those of today. The films were just skeletons of what they could be. Companies like Edison produced large numbers of simple short films purely for money. These shorts showed little character and plot development and often followed the same generic structure (Everson 32). Any suspense in the film was often betrayed by the title, which said what was going to happen before it happened (Everson 33). When Griffith stumbled upon the industry, it was barely progressing, just like him. After a failed career as a stage actor and writer, David Wark Griffith turned to film in hopes of greater success (Everson 42). The first film that Lawrence Griffith (as he was now called) starred in was the 1907 film Saved from an Eagle's Nest, the story of a couple whose baby is kidnapped by an eagle. The film was directed by Edison and, like most films of the era, was very simple in terms of camera and plot (Blum 9). Griffith continued his acting career by working for Biograph for about a year. Then, in June 1908, biography director Wallace McCutcheon ...... middle of paper ...... f the sound film, Griffith could not keep up. He relied solely on his reputation and fame to gain an audience, but that no longer worked (Everson 177). The public wanted to see different things than what he was producing, and he just couldn't change. With the exception of one or two films, and a few others to which he contributed, Griffith was no longer a crucial part of the film industry. But even though Griffith was no longer making films, he had done his part. He had succeeded in expanding the cinema audience, introducing the feature film to America and creating one of the first blockbusters of all time. The techniques he used to make his remarkable films, such as wide shots, close-ups and rapid editing, are still key elements of modern films. It is Griffith's legacy that makes him "the most important individual in the development of cinema as an art" (Drew).