2. 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.
3. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Signature Styles
Throughout his work, certain iconic auteur styles and
elements can be seen time and time again. Some
examples of this include:
8. Use of coloured
banners across
the top and
bottom of the
screen
