Who Makes a Film: The Director, the Writer, or the System?

The creation of a film is a collaborative process involving multiple key contributors, from the writer to the director. Each role plays a crucial part in the development and presentation of a film. While it is often argued that the director is the author of the film, it's essential to understand that this perspective is deeply rooted in a specific context and certain prerequisites.

Roles of the Writer and the Director

Writer: The writer is responsible for crafting the script, which includes dialogue, character development, and overall story structure. The script serves as the foundation of the film's narrative, providing a roadmap for the director and the entire production team.

Director: The director interprets the script and brings it to life on screen. They make decisions about the visual style, pacing, performances, and overall flow of the film. The director works closely with actors and the crew to realize the vision of the film. Essentially, while the writer creates the story, the director shapes how that story is presented to the audience. Both roles are vital, and their collaboration is fundamental to a film's success.

director as the Author: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives

In principle, the author of a film is its director. This is why you often see movies credited with "a film by" followed by the director's name. However, this theory depends on several factors:

The director must be a talented filmmaker with a unique vision. The director must be involved in the film's development. The producers and studio must support the director's creative ways and decisions.

When considering prominent directors like Wilder, Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Kurosawa, Kubrick, Spielberg, Altman, and Varda, it is evident that these directors not only have a say in their films but also have complete creative control. Their work is a testament to the directorial authorship.

Modern Film Production: Directors as Traffic Cops

Unfortunately, modern film production is not as ideal. Nine out of ten directors are more like traffic cops with a limited sense of creativity. They are hired or coerced into following the current franchise or IP's desires. Producers often do not want a director with noticeable talent standing out too much. The focus is on competent predictability, not artistic expression.

This shift in dynamics means that even the director's role in authorship is subject to constraints. Directors often have to make compromises to satisfy studio and franchise demands. As a result, even the "a film by" credit is questionable in many cases.

The Writer's Role in Modern Cinema

It's important to note that the original writer is not always the author of the shooting script. Many high-profile actors have their own writers who ghost write their lines according to their agents' instructions. This can lead to a situation where many A-list actors' lines are written by someone else, further diluting the original writer's input.

As a result, many well-cast, reliably high-production-value films come out as predictable and unoriginal. This is why it is often said that the author of the major Hollywood film of today lies somewhere between the franchise owner, the studio, and former agents filling in as producers. Today's producers want nothing more or less than competent, predictable films.

Creative Spirit in Independent Cinema

While the major Hollywood film system tends to homogenize creativity, there is still hope in the independent film scene. Indie filmmakers often retain more creative control, allowing for greater directorial and writerly authorship. Early works from indie filmmakers can be surprisingly innovative and original.

However, even independent filmmakers may be worn down over time. With families to support and the financial strain of filmmaking, many may sell their creative autonomy to ensure financial stability. In essence, truly independent cinema is becoming unfinanceable on any reasonable business basis.

So, who is the author? The short answer is that in today's system, it's a compromise between the director, the writer, and the producers. Quaker makes as good porridge as anyone. Might as well cut up some fruit on it and have breakfast.

Keywords: film director, screenwriter, film production