Hitchcock Auteur Theory

Les 400 Coups by François Truffaut displays personal cinema by sharing his own thoughts through the eyes of Antoine. As stated in the lecture video, cinema was a way for Truffaut to escape from his unhappy home life. His unfortunate home life is shown through the perspective of Antoine to display how Truffaut may have felt when he was a child. François Truffaut makes the audience feel sympathy and a sense of understanding for Antoine's predicament through the use of realistic and noteworthy sets.

By that he meant that the success of an artistic project depends on the stylistic qualities of the author, and not on the work itself. Based on the specific argument, Truffaut stated in a provocative way that “there are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors”. Thus, Truffaut praised the remarkable visual style that is reflected in the director’s body of work (the film) through a consistency of themes. He also believed that even if a film is produced collectively, the director’s artistry outshines any further interference from the film

Hitchcock utilizes sound, camera work, MacGuffins, and plot twists to tell the storylines of the movies. Hitchcock understood the importance of camera work and sound because he began his career making silent films.12 It is why he uses many close up shots so the audience can pay attention to specific details and the emotions on the character’s face. He does not rely on dialogue to tell the story. He uses sound to help convey the message of a scene.

auteur əʊˈtəː,ɔː-/ noun a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their author. There are distinctive similarities between all Hitchcock Films, some of the being voyeurism, falling, transference of guilt, food and death. There are two Hitchcock films that are going to be the main focus for this piece of writing, ‘Rear Window’ (1954) and ‘Shadow of the doubt’ (1943). Alfred Hitchcock’s distinctive style can be seen in both movies. Young Charlie (shadow of the doubt) and L.B Jefferies are both similar, in which they are both trapped.

In films made by a director labeled as an auteur, spectators are able to associate the films together and may already harbor certain expectations because of the identifiable pattern and trends each of the films posses. In earlier accounts of the term, an auteur was studied through something called an auteur theory, which identifies the director as the primary author and creator of his or her film. A well-known auteur that is commonly referred to when discussing its concepts is Alfred Hitchcock. His films contain similar structures and motifs, which manifest the authorship he takes in the films he would make and produce. Hitchcock proves to be an auteur and a renowned “master of suspense” because of his employment of continuity editing

For a director to be an auteur, he or she must exert their own creative insight throughout all aspects of their cinematic works, such as the cinematography, all the way to the characterisation of each role. Anderson is a perfect example of an auteur because he communicates his stories through a signature camera style, and a narrative that conveys the humanness that one does not expect to find underneath the pompousness and flamboyant cinematic elements. Despite create a form of detachment from the viewer to the film (such as meticulous use of symmetry and miniatures), the current events that surround him allows him to create hidden links that we can relate to. He uses his films as a form of social commentary. In a world where brutality is commonplace, Anderson uses the obscure violence in his films to raise questions about society’s own ethical issues, while also relating the struggles the characters personally face to his audience.

The most recognizable names in directing have become well known because of their signature style of directing. The auteur theory, defined by Bringing out the meaning: Deacy, Nolan, Scorsese, and what films 'mean', is giving the director credit as the author of the movie due to the directors creative hand through the filmmaking process (Ellis). Throughout the decades, some names have stood out more than others based on the critical acclaim of their films. Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick are two well known directors, both considered to be highly influential people in film; even with their varying directorial styles and techniques. Alfred Hitchcock is known for his mystery/horror films, earning him the title as the "Master of Suspense".

“I think a lot of kids feel alone and slightly isolated in their own world,” said Tim Burton. In this quote it says how kids have a aura of isolation and still have an innocence that has yet to go because of believing they are the only ones alone. Tim Burton directed both, Edward Scissorhands, a drama fantasy, and Big Fish, a comedy drama. In both, they exhibit cinematic techniques to convey emotion, and the director does his job well if you feel anything while watching a movie. Tim Burton, in Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish, uses lighting, angles, and music to display the innocence of characters throughout the movies.

This would help in making the audience connect with the story and the characters more easily. I now have a better understanding of film in general and how it can move and transcend people of the society at a particular time when it can take them to a different world and make them forget about their worries. Just like German Expressionism inspired me, a budding filmmaker, this specific translation of cinema as craftmanship would go ahead to impact the absolute most essential filmmakers of the twentieth century, including Alfred Hitchcock, Werner Herzog, and Tim

The film uses cinematic techniques to further push this implicit meaning by ways of cinematography, mise-en-scene, and editing. Cinematography:

: For my presentation I have chosen to examine Steven Spielberg and what stylistic features he uses to make himself considered as an auteur. An auteur is a director that has a unique style in filming and has complete control of the production process of the film. The three films that I have chosen to focus on are E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001) and Close Encounters (1977). These are three of Steven Spielberg's most known films.

Like a gothic mastermind, Tim Burton incorporates dark, grotesque, child-like themes in his cinematic style. A director’s cinematic style is how their film is recognized and the techniques in their films to give their work value. Tim Burton is known for his unique cinematic style that has made his films one of a kind. Tim Burton’s style is made so unique through his use of sound tracking, lighting, and costuming for his films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Edward Scissorhands. Tim Burton applies sounds such as background music and sound effects to add reality and emphasis to the film and to create a certain, precise moods.

Baz Luhrmann is widely acknowledged for his Red Curtain Trilogy which are films aimed at heightening an artificial nature and for engaging the audience. Through an examination of the films Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby, the evolution and adaptation of his techniques become evident. Luhrmann’s belief in a ‘theatrical cinema’ can be observed to varying degrees through the three films and his choice to employ cinematic techniques such as self-reflexivity, pastiche and hyperbolic hyperbole. The cinematic technique of self-reflexivity allows a film to draw attention to itself as ‘not about naturalism’ and asks the audience to suspend their disbelief and believe in the fictional construct of the film.

Baz Luhrmanns contribution to the art of film, brings about a flamboyant and revitalizing side to the industry. Through the use of cinematic language, his story telling techniques and belief in the theatrical cinema come to life. Baz Luhrmann has a very distinctive directing approach with particular techniques that define his style. He presents his films as if he were telling a story, which he invites you into. His stories are simple and he tends to give away the ending at the beginning of the film, which intrigues you to find out more about what had taken place.

The Auteur Theory-Intro Part Considering the collaborative process of filmmaking, especially nowadays in most film production, the concept of there being a singular creative supervisor is debatable. Nonetheless one cannot deny the existence of directional motifs and instances of thematic and stylistic elements within the work of filmmakers like Tim Burton and Alfred Hitchcock. These directors indicate that within traditions and genres lies the overall definition of an auteur: a director whose inventive traits are listed throughout his/her work like a signature. Auteurism rose to the surface in the 1950s French New Wave criticism as an appraisal of Hollywood directors who were ready to avoid the rules of the studio system and create films that were distinctively their own.