Have you ever witnessed a Directors Authority Undermined while on set?

**X o Zelig o X** · January 28th, 2005, 10:57 PM

I havent worked on any sets yet as a director, but when i do.... I plan to carry a big bowie knife... and if i get any lip from people... you know what'll happen. [img]wink.gif[/img]

**tim partridge** · January 29th, 2005, 07:34 PM

If the director hadn't been undermined by EVERYONE (cast, DP, special effects, crew) on the original 1977 Star Wars I'd hate to think what a gaint disaster that would've turned out to have been!

I think these new Star Wars "prequels" need to have cast and crew undermining the director, it's the only way to get some soul in there. I think this is also the case with 90% of the cack churned out in Hollywood these days, nobody has the balls to challenge anyone, and as David Fincher famously said "you can't physically create anything without friction".

**Alex** · January 29th, 2005, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by tim partridge:
If the director hadn't been undermined by EVERYONE (cast, DP, special effects, crew) on the original 1977 Star Wars I'd hate to think what a gaint disaster that would've turned out to have been!

I think these new Star Wars "prequels" need to have cast and crew undermining the director, it's the only way to get some soul in there. I think this is also the case with 90% of the cack churned out in Hollywood these days, nobody has the balls to challenge anyone, and as David Fincher famously said "you can't physically create anything without friction".

That's a cool saying by David Fincher.

But in Lucas's world disgreeing with the master of the digital domain can have you eviscerated from the movie and replaced with a furry head.

I bet you didn't know that Jar Jar Binks was originally Tom Cruise. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

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Speaking of Jar Jar...

**peter_g** · January 30th, 2005, 12:05 AM

as David Fincher famously said "you can't physically create anything without friction".

Perhaps Fincher was simply saying that when making something that has input from many people friction is inevitable, but was not saying specifically that it is essential or conducive to good filmmaking.

it's also important for the director to swallow his or her pride, be humble, and be open to other ideas from anyone, even if it's a radical change from the original plan.

I agree.

In my experience it is ultimately a positive thing when cast or crew take issue with direction. It becomes a problem when a group or even the whole crew undermines the Director in concert. The Director should always reserve power of veto.

**Alex** · January 30th, 2005, 04:52 AM

Originally posted by Initiate:

Same day two of the actors were choreographing a fight scene, the director came up to them and told them to try something different but the two actors got all huffy, told the director to leave them alone and criticize it after they finish working on the moves.

That's a catch-22. If the director waits until the two actors have finished choreographing their moves, the actors may be so in love with what they've created they won't appreciate any criticism. but if the director critiques them while the actors are still coming up with the moves, the actors feel like they are being prematurely dissed.

Sounds like a fight choreographer is needed so the director can whisper a couple of suggestions to that person, the choreographer nods, throws out 2 of the 4 suggestions away, gives the two suggestions he/she likes to the actors, who then will probably ignore one of the two suggestions.

So the director got one of their four suggestions to fruition without offending anyone! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

**tim partridge** · January 30th, 2005, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by Peter_G:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> as David Fincher famously said "you can't physically create anything without friction".

Perhaps Fincher was simply saying that when making something that has input from many people friction is inevitable, but was not saying specifically that it is essential or conducive to good filmmaking.
<hr /></blockquote>He actually said it in reference to his dismissing of DP Darius Khondji on Panic Room who walked off the set after breaking point- ironically, I found the advent of Connie Hall Jrs. sons flat, grainy, over DI'd photography to have been the lazy rot that ultimately undermined Fincher's movie the most...

**untamed_aggression** · January 30th, 2005, 11:11 PM

I was working on a friend's project in 2003. I'd read the script, had some ideas. He had other, different ideas. There was some friction. Ultimately, I let him do what he wanted. The outcome was less than stellar.

Sometimes friction is needed to make a quality flick.

But, back on topic, never had a DP so I wouldn't know. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

**Alex** · January 30th, 2005, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by Untamed Aggression:

But, back on topic, never had a DP so I wouldn't know. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Naw, you were exactly on topic,

the DP thread is here.

I can relate to the part about reading someone else's script. I inevitably will have one suggestion that I think improves the script. I don't think it's a big deal because I don't think my one stupid lil improvement somehow matches the effort it takes to write an actual script, but usually the other person is bugged that I have an idea to contribute.