Part 6 Advanced Auteur. Aesthetics and the Auteur: Signature Styles

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Reynold Richard
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This theory: Assumes the director is the author of the film and is responsible for the style of the film.

1 Part 6 Advanced Auteur Aesthetics and the Auteur: Signature Styles What is an Auteur? This theory was originally penned by American film critic Andrew Sarris in Notes on Auteur Theory This theory: Assumes the director is the author of the film and is responsible for the style of the film. Explores how well a director translates their artistic vision to the screen. Sarris explains in Notes on Auteur Theory that an Auteur Director must: Have excellent technical competence Personal style Interior meaning 1

2 Task: Not all directors are Auteurs. Complete the table to discover if your favourite director is an 'Auteur'. Who is your favourite director? Aesthetic Motifs: Thematic motifs: Describe the distinctive visual style of their films with examples: Describe the recurring themes in their films with examples: Tick as appropriate: This director has a unique personal style and message. This director makes enjoyable films, but they are the same as many others in the genre, and I cannot identify a signature style or repetition of thematic motifs. 2

3 Auteur case study Ridley Scott & Blade Runner: Task: What content or themes does Scott seem to be drawn to? What are the main content/thematic similarities amongst the films? Create a context timeline for your Hollywood Comparative Films. It should detail key events in the years preceding production: Write a summary of the contexts explored in the film: EXAMPLE SUMMARY: Blade Runner is a product of early 80 s Society: Post-Vietnam ( ) 1. An increased amount of immigrants from Southeast Asia Boat People, an ongoing struggle for Amerasian children to be allowed to immigrate to the USA. 2. USA failed to defeat communism. 3. Reports of atrocities causes in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal (1972) led the Baby Boomer generation to become mistrustful of authority. 4. Soldiers with post-traumatic stress syndrome. 80 s 5. Former Hollywood film star Ronald Reagan elected as President in Consumerist boom, an obsession with commodities, shaking off post-war concerns. 7. Backlash against 2nd wave feminism. 8. Hollywood era of High Concept big budget entertainment. 9. Popularity of Hard Body action. 3

4 Use these contextual ideas to justify themes and representations in the film: Blade Runner is a product of early 80 s Society: Post-Vietnam ( ) An increased amount of immigrants from Southeast Asia Boat People, an ongoing struggle for Amerasian children to be allowed to immigrate to the USA. USA failed to defeat communism. Reports of atrocities causes in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal (1972) led the Baby Boomer generation become mistrustful of authority. Soldiers with post-traumatic stress syndrome. The film shows us a dystopian future LA where the Immigrants (we mostly see Asian and Hispanic immigrants in the city scenes) live on the crowded ground levels white the privileged ruling classed live high above the city in glamorous penthouses (Much like Fritz Lang s Metropolis). The USA is a country made of immigrants. Historically, the USA is a wild west frontier land, like the future LA. The replicant workers are demanding equality. The class divide is shown as unfair and manipulated by the ruling class. The violence is casual and glamorised. The ruling classes are untrustworthy. Patriotic spirit has been tested and shaken. Deckard is, detached from society, violent and cannot manage his relationships with others. 80 s Former Hollywood film star Ronald Reagan elected as President in Consumerist boom, an obsession with commodities, shaking off post-war concerns. The world of Blade Runner is image obsessed, style over substance. Future LA is a land of neon Billboards, the mise-en-scene of the city is crammed with adverts. Backlash against 2nd wave feminism. Hollywood era of High Concept big budget entertainment. Popularity of Hard Body action. It can be argued that although the female replicants are physically powerful, they are still sexualised through costume. Pris is a Basic pleasure model and Zhora was trained for an off-world kick murder squad, but she becomes an exotic dancer and flees from Deckard in a see-through trench coat. This film offers the audience spectacle and a big screen experience. There are no Schwarzenegger style bodies, but there are scenes of hyper-real violence. 4

5 TASK: In groups, present a scene from another Ridley Scott Film and explain the similarities and differences with Blade Runner. Key Questions to consider 1. Can Scott tell a story visually? Does he have a unique visual style? If so, what is it? How would you describe it? 2. What are some common characteristics of each film in terms of cinematography and mise-en-scene? Look out for Scott's use of aesthetic motifs: Noir Style Mise-en-Scene Smoke as atmospheric Fans Low key lighting Venetian blinds Rain 3. What are some common characteristics of each film in terms of representation of Gender? 4. What is the message of this film? 5. Can you identify Scott's thematic motifs? Killing of the Father Colonisation Androids and identity Strong female lead -but not in Blade Runner? 5

6 Counterpoints and Institutional factors , There are other elements to consider as you explore the auteur status of your director: The collaborative process of filmmaking, can one person really be responsible for all aesthetic choices in a studio production? -what about the input of other individuals like the Cinematographer, Costume Designer, Composer, Visual effects artists? Ultimately if a director is working within the studio system, the studio has control. How do the films studied fit into the Old/New Hollywood landscape? Old Hollywood This era spans from the height of the Studio era to its demise. During the Studio system, the studio was considered an entertainment factory, the Big Five studios such as Warner Bros would produce mass amounts of generic films, in the case of Warner Bros, the Gangster Film. There were few directors who could assert their strong creative control and make films that were not just studio distinctive, but director distinctive. New Hollywood The introduction of TV and the demise of the Old Studio System meant that hollywood was not doing well in the early 60 s, this was the era of the rise of a new kind of film and director appealing to a younger audience. The Director takes on more authorship than the studio. Films often deviated from traditional forms of narrative and characterisation. KEY QUESTIONS: Auteur Theory, further development, counterargument: Considering Production Contexts, is it possible to be an auteur within Hollywood systems? Do directors have sole responsibility for the creative process? How important is the political and social climate to the construction of themes, representations and messages? How important are changes and developments in technology to the Aesthetic of the film? 6

COMPONENT 1 Varieties of film and filmmaking

GCE A LEVEL WJEC Eduqas GCE A LEVEL in FILM STUDIES COMPONENT 1 Varieties of film and filmmaking ADDITIONAL SAMPLE QUESTIONS: 2 A LEVEL FILM STUDIES COMPONENT 1 Varieties of film and filmmaking SAMPLE