Wilson Film Influence

Words: 1861
Pages: 8

Wilson in this Together (We’re so in this Together) Hollywood had grown exponentially since 1910; the year David Wark Griffith merged his love for motion picture and California to start one of the most important eras. Prior to United States’ entry into the Great War, film companies like MGM, Universal, Paramount, Vitagraph and Fox were already in full swing. Motion picture during this period had played a huge role in people’s daily lives, being a major source of entertainment to their monotonic lives. The strong influence these films had on the people was a reason for the government’s interest in wanting to build a connection with the motion picture companies. Despite their hesitation in the beginning, they could not deny the fact that films …show more content…
Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation, where Wilson referred to the movie as a “writing history in lightning” (Ward 7). This movie was one of Griffith’s best works; from his editing to camera techniques, it made the scenes even more realistic. It made Wilson realize motion picture’s “growing importance as a medium of mass communication” (Ward 8). This was how his view regarding motion pictures was completely changed. He could see by then that films were undoubtedly a tool in gaining support for him and his beliefs in ruling the country. However, despite knowing that a connection between the government and the present film companies during that time could produce outstanding results, government regulations was in their way. These regulations were a blockage for the film companies to create a connection that could expand their business and increase recognition from the …show more content…
As much as they wanted to witness the war sites themselves and have a certainty on what was going on in the field, they could only rely on the limited documentation that the cameramen had shot. Despite the lack of footage of the actual combats, the Americans were still curious in catching a “glimpse of the competing armies and the newest military hardware” (Ward 23). Since one of the film industry’s goals was to educate the public, information on why the war had started in the first place could easily be included in these films. They serve as answers to the infinite number of questions that go through the people’s heads everyday. Their minds were constantly filled with fresh images of “another vision of reality and…a genuine production” (5