THE DIRECTORS

Shaping the Face of Past/Modern Cinema

Mission Statement:

Provide information on some of the more prominant directors thoughout the history of cinema, world-wide, spanning from the Golden era through to modern times.

Each page will discuss a director, a brief biography, bibliography, synopsis of their work and the impact that the work has within the industry.

What Was What Is and Will Be

Skills of the Craft:

When we see a new film, we can be escape from reality for a few hours, be challanged by new ideas, and when we walk away, ultimately, we have hopefully been entertained. A film requires many people driving many components which make that film successful. However, we should consider who is ultimately responsible for bringing all the elements together into a cohesive work: The Director

A director must have a story to tell with the craft and tools to tell that story with clarity and detail. Directors must understand the script and how to film it. A director must be able to communicate his ideas to the other professionals involved in the process.


Kazan, right, with Martin Scorsese

A Unique Perspective:

In the autumn of 1973, Elia Kazan, director of such classic films as Gentleman's Agreement, A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront, was honored by a two week retrospective of his films at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. At the conclusion of the program, Mr. Kazan gave this timeless quote in a speach to the students:

"Some of you may have heard of the auteur theory. That concept is partly a critic's plaything. Something for them to spat over and use to fill a column. But it has its point, and that point is simply that the director is the true author of the film. The director TELLS the film, using a vocabulary, the lesser part of which is an arrangement of words."

Whether a director works in a for-hire situation, or they are, in fact, a true auteur, it is they who ultimately shape the image, story, style and content of films; be they serious, impactful work, or more standard (and enjoyable) popcorn fare.



Who's Who

  • Stanley Kubrick
  • Quentin Tarantino

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