Can A Director Make a Film without looking through the Lens?

[Alex]

Originally posted by GREATwarEAGLE:


Here's a question - do you believe that you, yes YOU, are capable of making a film that once finished, you can be proud of, that you can call successful, not in terms of money, but in achieving everything you set out to with absolutely no problems, everything came out perfect, but without any concern for cinematography? In other words, in making the film, you never once looked through the lens, never once composed a shot, never once chose the angle (unless of course it was something necessary like th shot was up at a rooftop from the street and the camera had to tilt up. You left it all up to your DP, and even he kept style to a bare minimum, ensuring that none of the shots drew attention to themselves.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No.

Well, the director can make the film, but it is important that what the director sees in his or her mind is what the DP is actually framing.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

Video assist and or professional, mutual trust.

I'd be more than willing to take that leap of faith. With Nigel.

I'm not being sarcstic either. After reading Nigel's posts, even though sometimes disagreeing with him, I'd be more than happy to collaborate on a short film with him.

Especially considering our perspectives on the director/DP relationship. Cinematography isn't my major concern, and Nigel believes the director should let the DP do his/her job. Perfect match.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 03, 2003 02:17 PM: Message edited by: GREATwarEAGLE ]</font>

[Nigel]

Thanks--Next time I am in NYC we will have to have a beer or three.

Good Luck

[Alex]

Well, I've watched miscommunication occur first hand between a director and a DP which resulted in a the director not getting the shot framed the way he needed.

Is the point being made that a director should not look through the viewfinder before the first take of a sequence?

Boy can this open up a can of HD worms.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

When I originally posed the question, I meant it to be rhetorical. The point being, "what else should I, as the director, be doing to direct the film?"

I think it would be extremely unusual for a film to be made without the director ever once looking through the lense. But I don't believe it 's absolutlely necessary in making a film. Which is why I'd be more than willing, and comfortable, to do it.

The comfortability part depending on working with a DP that I've of course sat down with, making sure we're both in agreement on certain things. That should go without saying even on a traditional film set with the director constantly swarming the camera.

Well, I've watched miscommunication occur first hand between a director and a DP which resulted in a the director not getting the shot framed the way he needed.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And stuff like that would probably happen. Just gotta be patient adults about it.

I'm also all for the extreme opposite. Remember the posts about Rodriguez, and I was saying why can't one man sometimes wear many hats? Remember, Alex, I used my father as a carpenter as an example? - He was a carpeneter who built huge decks by himself. This was like over a year ago.

But it all depends on the load of responsibility, size of the project, complexity of the project, etc. Sometimes you need an experienced pro and sometimes you can handle something yourself. Realizing your own strengths and weaknesses.

-Knowing when to swallow your pride and call for help

-Having the confidence (not to be confused with cockiness) and applicable skill to be able to tackle something alone

Some directors do double as the DP for certain projects, but hire a DP for others. Just as some directors star in one film they're directing, but hire someone else to be the lead in another. Can they handle it and are they right for it - actor or DP.

<font size="1">For someone who's such an advocate of "less is more" I just can't help writing theses darn essay-posts! Sorry.</font>

[Kev Owens]

I think it would be extremely unusual for a film to be made without the director ever once looking through the lense. But I don't believe it 's absolutlely necessary in making a film. Which is why I'd be more than willing, and comfortable, to do it.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can a director make a film without looking through the lens? &gt; Yes.

Can a director make a film without directing the actors? &gt; Yes.

Both have been done before. Different directors, different styles, different levels of control.

My main problem with the idea of a DP 'doing their job' is that it is the director who is responsible for the final product, he 'realises' the vision, he 'translates' the screenplay and brings it to life. Many DP's I've worked with and observed sometimes forget those facts. DP's are also creative minds, they are technicians- but also artists at the same time; which can lead to some interesting debates when the director and DP have different ideas as to how a scene should be shot.

As for not directing actors... it worked for Hitchcock.

[twister!]

[quote]Originally posted by Kev Owens:

As for not directing actors... it worked for Hitchcock.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And Hitchcock didn't look through the lens either.

[belovedmonster]

yeah but didnt hitchcock make the movie in storyboard form and then essentialy see filming it afterwards as a chore?

[GREATwarEAGLE]

That question was "Would you rather participate on a successful movie having done one specific task and being credited for that specific task, or be successful on a movie in which you did two or three tasks and were credited for each specific task you performed?"

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What difference does it make - either way, due credit is received, unless I'm not understanding your question.

Yes I remember that topic post quite well, you seemed to get somewhat offended at my analogy/response and stopped posting on my forum.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What I remeber is somehow offending you, which resulting in you deleting my post, then I mentioned how filmmakers should be allowed to be independent, then you began writing about interdependence and the thread went into an entirly new direction, one that I was no longer intereseted in. Believe me, I never take offense on this web site.

[Alex]

I'll have to research that. I don't recall it occuring that way.


As for my multiple credits question versus one task, I think it's an interesting question.

Oh well.