Contextual Studies: Authorship and Auteurs



Who is 'the author' in film and TV? And who do we define the role and function of the 'author'?
The 'auteur' theory: Advantages, limitations.

Production hierarchy

Executive Producer- Primarily responsible for financial control but may have creative imput, particularly in editing and post-production stages.

Producer- Primarily supervises production logistics and budget in tandem. May organise project and usually hires writers and director and be involved in casting.

Director- Primarily responsible for the creative vision and creative decisions.

Writer- Responsible for authoring original script or adapting

Changing face of creative control

Cinema

Silent era (1900-1927) (director Charlie Chaplin)
Studio era - (1930s to 60s). The producer (freed, selznick)
'New Wave' (1960s-80s)
Directors and writers

Television

'Golden Age' (1950s and 60s): Producers and writers
'New Wave' (1960s and 70s): producers and directors
'Writers' (1980s-present)- Producers-writers and show runners.

Origins of the auteur theory
Cahiers Du Cinema (radical French film journal)
Reaction against 'Bland' commercial cinema where the director largely regarded as 'chief technician' who just shot the script (meter en scene)
Truffaut and fellow critics wanted instead director-writers mise en scene

Definition of 'auteur'
Sarris states three key criteria
The technical competence of the director- ability to organise a film with clarity and coherence
Distinguish a signature style
Interior meaning: cinematic art. Visually representing this








By having this model it was rationalising the idea that even if they made disappointing films, as long as theres something of interest it can still be looked at. No bad films, only a bad director.


Issues of auteur theory
Doesn't recognise collaborative nature of film and television, and contribution of writers and technicians. What directors were attempting to portray was secondary to the actual visualisation on screen.
Only a few rare directors have a final cut.
Films are actually better defined by considering them elements of genre
Generic similarities
How texts are determined by historical/social/political contexts
How texts emerge as commercial products from an industry


How do theories of authorship relate to television




Personal style of Pol


Long tracking shots
Deep focus
Clash between modernity and traditional
Slowpace
Clash between modern age


Interior meaning
Secrets
Social Class
Themes of power and control


Interior meaning with stuff can contain different themes.

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