AUTEUR

WHAT IS AUTEUR? A film director whose personal influence and artistic control over

his or her films are so great that he or she may be regarded as

their author, and whose films may be regarded collectively as a

body of work sharing common themes or techniques and expressing an

individual style or vision.

HOW DO WE TELL WHO IS AN AUTEUR? a film-maker must have a body of work which can be analysed for ongoing

themes

Must have a recognisable style of filming

Challenges the ideas of genre

CASE STUDY: STANLEY KUBRICK A distinct style; long shot durations, use of intense sound (The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut)

Themes: morality, aggressive males;

Unusual narrative structures; (2001, Full Metal Jacket)

Works across genres:

Fear and Desire (1953): warKiller’s Kiss (1955): film noirThe Killing (1956): film noir Paths of Glory (1957): warSpartacus (1960): sword & sandal epic, warLolita (1962): black comedy, romantic melodramaDr. Strangelove (1964): black comedy, war2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): science-fictionA Clockwork Orange (1971): science-fiction, black comedyBarry Lyndon (1975): costume dramaThe Shining (1980): horror Full Metal Jacket (1987): war Eyes Wide Shut (1999): psychosexual melodrama

CASE STUDY: TIM BURTON have a very distinct style, a very Gothic feel

deals with similar themes in his work (the lead character is separated from the norm of society in some way - a misfit. (Edward Scissorhands,  Batman, Beetlejuice,, Jack Skellington )

reusing actors and actresses, in particular Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Danny Elfman regularly provides the right music for the soundtrack.

Tim Burton has directed many movies, each of which can be compared for similar styles and recurring themes

CASE STUDY: HITCHCOCK Recognisable style (strange camera movement and iconic sound)

Recurring themes; taboo subjects, murder, eyes, crisis of identity, voyeurism (Psycho, Vertigo)

Casting; ‘the blonde’ (Rear Window, The Birds)

CASE STUDY GUILLERMO DEL TORO Challenging use of genre; fantasy and horror hybrid (Pans Labyrinth,

Cronos)

Themes; fairytales and social realism (Hellboy)

Colour wash (low key lighting contrasted with gold and luxurious warm washes)

Tends to work with the same cinematographer

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Recurring themes

The ‘look’ of the film

Casting/Production habits

ASSIGNMENT You will have to prepare a presentation in pairs

You will look at an auteur

Look at a minimum of 2 films by that auteur

Pull out specific examples of style (using cinematography, mise en scene, editing, sound, sfx)

Pull out specific examples of themes (discussing narrative & genre)

Discuss casting habits or production methods