Evenings at the Barn: D.W. Griffith Night!

I am extremely pleased to announce next week Hollywood Heritage's Evenings at the Barn series will feature a night dedicated to D.W. Griffith!

Griffith entered films in 1908, first as an actor (his original goal) and then as a Director...ya know that thing he'd become known for. Griffith's films were extremely popular and he was the first to present film as we know it. Before Griffith film was thought to just be an expression of stage: shoot it as if the viewers were watching a play (very early Theda Bara and Helen Gardner films would show this). Nothing fancy. Heck THAT was an extension...most early film didn't even bother with more than a vague plot figuring the novelty of flickers was good enough.

Though Griffith didn't invent most of the technologies (Billy Bitzer, his cameraman deserves that credit) he was the first to use and pioneer things like the close up and of course cross cutting. He was also the first to make a feature film in the way we know it...unfortunately that film was "Birth of a Nation".

Hollywood Heritage didn't go THAT bold (if they ever do screen Birth in the future I'll be first in line) but they have a fine selection of rare and early Griffith shorts to commemorate his entry into filmmaking. You know come to think of it I've been running this blog nearly a year, and this is the first event I've heard of that honored Griffith's 100 years. Shame on the industry.

For those wondering the FTT Griffith Honor Project is still under way. The website (http://dwgriffithforever.com/) is currently being designed (and will take a few months on account of his filmography) and the petition to restore his name to the DGA Lifetime Achievement award is also still underway. If you'd like to sign please click here.

Every year during the winter season Hollywood Heritage holds an 'Evenings at the Barn' which runs sporadically until the Summer (When Silents Under the Stars takes over). This year they said the programming will be a little more infrequent, due to the Wattles Mansion Battle (which by the way has been extended till March 09). Griffith's night is the second in this series, and the last for 2008.

Program:

*Rescued from an Eagle's Nest

Filmed on: (1/18/1908) Griffith as an actor in an Edison production.

*The Redman and the Child

Filmed on: (7/22/1908) Griffith's early use of the point-of-view shot.

*The Fatal Hour

Filmed on: (8/8/1908) Griffith's early use of parallel editing.

*The Girl and the Outlaw

Filmed on: (8/29/1908) Starring Florence Lawrence and Mack Sennett.

*The Sacrifice

Filmed on: (1/14/09) The first film version of O'Henry's Gift of the Maji.

*The Lonely Villa

Filmed on: (6/10/1909) An early appearance by Mary Pickford.

Screening Information:

December 10th, 2008
HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM in the
Lasky-DeMille Barn
(across from the Hollywood Bowl)
2100 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90068
Hollywood Heritage Members: $5. Non-Members: $8
Admission sold only at the door.
Doors open 7 p.m., show starts 7:30 p.m.
FREE PARKING! Refreshments available.