The Birth of a Nation by D. W. Griffith can be considered one of the most influential films in narrative cinema. Most film enthusiasts would even consider The Birth of a Nation as a pioneering force in narrative cinematic history. Although Griffith exposed this cinematic style in a film that has been reviewed as racist and stereotypical, the film explores two main narrative pillars, shot variation and cross-cutting. These functions can be seen in most films today, as they aid the film in having a narrative, a story and a plot. Shot variation and cross-cutting may seem similar, but they differ in definition and functionality. Shot variation is a cinematic technique used in most films. In this technique, many different shots are used to create