10. D.W. Griffith
Widely known as the father of American cinema, D.W. Griffith is one of the most controversial figures in American cinema history. When we watch Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, we’re still seeing the visual language that Griffith developed in more than 480 movies and shorts between 1908-1925. Most renowned today for conceiving the racially charged yet technically ground-breaking historical drama Birth of a Nation, Griffith’s cinema has been instrumental in ushering in new and experimental film movements across the globe.
Though the controversy continues today (in 1999, the Directors Guild of America renamed the D.W. Griffith Award, their highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, citing that Griffith “helped foster intolerable racial stereotypes”), there is no denying his impact on the industry.
Image Source: PBS