Auteur TheoryAnnie Sadowski

Introducuti

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This theory was first introduced in the 1950’s by French film directors such as Francois Truffaut, who advocated a focus on the contribution directors made on the style and form of film, stating

“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”

The Auteur theory is one that holds that a film's director is its “author” (French, auteur). An auteur refers to a film maker whose style and practise is distinctive which creates a signature auteur status for them. It is also a film maker who has a personal, signature style and keeps creative control over his or her work.

Expanded

Making music video or any film in fact the director is the auteur however it would not be possible for them to create the whole production on their own. Therefore they will often collaborate with others and team up with; writer, cinematographer and actors but the director is still an auteur in a sense as they control everyone and everything in the production.

Supporters maintain that the most successful films bear the distinctive imprint of their director and that an auteur would place a significant visual style that would be visible throughout their work.

Chris Cunningham, a British music video film director and video artist, is an example of an auteur. Best known for his warped style and disturbing imagery, he has worked and produced music videos for the likes of; Aphex Twins, Bjork, Placebo and Madonna.

Case Study: Hype Williams

Facts & Background

Harold "Hype" Williams (born 1970), previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director.

Born in the Hollis, Queens, neighbourhood of New York to working-class parents. He attended Adelphi University, where he studied film, and subsequently joined Classic Concept Productions, where he swept floors on the sets of golden-age rap video shoots.

As the definitive video director for late-'90s rap music, he worked with every major rapper of the era, such as Nas. Kanye West and Puff Daddy.Williams even progressed to feature films as well.

It was In 1993 that he launched his own production company, known as Big Dog Films, making his first major video in 1994, Wu-Tang Clan's "Can It Be All So Simple."

After the video's airing, offers began pouring in, and Williams took on as many as possible, directing numerous videos every year until the decade's end.

Progression

For Williams within only a few years he had become an award-winning director, taking home the 1996 Billboard Music Video Award for Best Director of the Year, the 1997 NAACP Image Award, and the 1998 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video, among others.

In this 90s run, he worked with every major rap artist imaginable, which earned him a reputation for incredibly stylish videos characterised by fish-eye lens work and glitzy wardrobes. The Artisan-released film starring rappers DMX, Nas, and Method Man became a substantial cult hit among the urban audience.

Signature Styles

Throughout his work, certain iconic auteur styles and elements can be seen time and time again. Some examples of this include:

Use of coloured banners across the top and bottom of the screen

Use of bold colours - often block

Sexualisation of full figured through dance

• Singing, rapping to the camera- lots of close ups

Now puts his name on each of his videos

RnB focus in his music videos

Use of fish lens