10 Facts About Billy Bitzer

Dickson, who directed the early Biograph shorts on which Billy Bitzer cut his teeth.

Billy Bitzer achieved success in 1896 when his film of William McKinley being notified of the presidential nomination of his party was exhibited on the Biograph Company's first program.

Until 1903, Billy Bitzer was employed by Biograph primarily as a documentary photographer, and from 1903 onward primarily as the photographer of narrative films, as these gained popularity.

In 1908 Billy Bitzer entered into his first collaboration with Griffith.

Billy Bitzer provided assistance during Griffith's directorial debut, 1908's The Adventures of Dollie, which was shot by Arthur Marvin.

Billy Bitzer eventually succeeded Marvin as Griffith's regular cinematographer, working with him on some of his most important films and contributing significantly to cinematic innovations attributed to Griffith.

Advances in lenses and filters developed by Billy Bitzer made soft focus possible.

Billy Bitzer was the first to use split-screen photography and backlighting, contributing to the development of three-point lighting.

Billy Bitzer improved in-camera fade and dissolve effects and invented what came to be known as transition tools.

Billy Bitzer, it is said, "developed camera techniques that set the standard for all future motion pictures".