auteur theory - by fateh khaled
Post on 01-Jul-2015
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Fateh Khaled
*Auteur Theory
*Introduction*The term ‘Auteur’ is French for Author.
*The Auteur theory was introduced during the 1950’s.
*The theory was proposed by French directors like Francois Truffaut; he focused on particular aspects such as the contribution that directors made towards the style and form of a film.
*According to Francis Truffaut; “A true film auteur is someone who brings something genuinely personal to his subject instead of producing a tasteful, accurate but lifeless rendering of the original material”
*In the simplest form, an Auteur is a film maker whose style is distinctive and recognisable to it’s consumers which ultimately creates a signature Auteur status.
*Truffaut expressed that directors should use mise-en-scene to imprint their vision of their work; an Auteur can also use staging, setting, lighting and editing to add to their vision.
*However this has been heavily criticised by Aljean Hermetz who argued that the Auteur theory “collapses against the reality of the system "suggesting that realistically a lot of these features are not available in most studios.
*Key Information
*Additional Information*According to Truffaut “there are no good and
bad movies, only good and bad directors”
*After Truffaut introduced the Auteur theory, it was further developed by American film director Andrew Sarris; he developed it through ‘The Village Voice’ and it had originated from his essay ‘Notes on the Auteur Theory’.
*Sarris used Auteur theory as a way to analyse what is actually define as a director through the study of respected directors.
*Emphasis on collaborative work*In the Auteur theory, there is great emphasis on
group work (collaborative work).
*For example, making a music video; the director is considered as Auteur, however the task cannot be accomplished independently.
*So instead, they team up with actors, writers, cinematographers etc, but the Auteur is still considered as the leader who controls everyone and others will take an Auteur’s order.
*An Auteur would place a distinctive visual style which would be easily recognised by the audience.
*HYPE WILLIAMS – CASE STUDY
*An Example – Hype Williams*Harold ‘HYPE’ Williams is a key example of an
Auteur in terms of music videos.
*Hype is an American film and video director who has worked with many famous artists such as Kayne West, Wu Tang Clan and even Missy Elliot!
*He launched his company on 1993 and created his first major music video in 1994 for Wu Tang Clan’s “Can it be all so simple”
*Within only a few years, Williams became an award-winning director with multiple awards MTV, (best rap video 1998) and NAACP (image award 1997).
*Distinctive Styles*One of the key features of an Auteur is to have a
distinctive style which is recognised by its consumers.
*Williams did this and had particular noticeable features within his music videos:
*For example coloured banners were used significantly instead of the conventional black letterbox (black banners seen in most music videos - 16:9 aspect ratio)
*Use of fisheye lens*Williams used fisheye lens quite frequently in his
music videos, fisheye lens is a type of camera lens which has ultra wide lens.
*The name fisheye derives from American Physicist and inventor Robert W. Wood and based it on how a fish would see (hence the name).
*R&B and Hip Hop themes*Williams also reinforced the R&B/Hip Hop culture
through his work, some key conventions of the Hip Hop Culture was rich cars and money!, not oDollar
Sign (Money)
Fast cars = Money and wealth
*His name on music videos (watermark)
*Like film directors, Williams puts his name on each of his music videos. This is like a personal watermark, so the audience can familiarise with his work.
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