Quentin Tarantino's filmmaking style is examined to determine if he is an auteur or if he plagiarizes ideas from other films. Reservoir Dogs is analyzed as the focus film and compared to City on Fire, which is alleged to have inspired some of Reservoir Dogs' plot points. Secondary research from articles and viewing the films helps evaluate the plagiarism claims and ascertain Tarantino's signature directorial techniques like nonlinear storytelling and graphic violence. It is ultimately concluded that while Tarantino is inspired by other films, he develops his own unique style and is indeed an auteur.

1. What is your investigation question/ statement? Quentin Tarnantino's auteur signature What were your thoughts on your investigation before carrying out any research? I though he was definitely an auteur but I was amongst the people who didn ’t that a lot of his ideas stem from other films. For example one of my focus films is Reservoir dogs which I believed was 100% original, but after viewing City on Fire my second focus film I noted some repetition with some of the plot points. What film is your focus film and why? Being his first major hit I decided that reservoir dogs would be a good focus film for research it contains many of the auteur techniques that I believe are Quentin Tarantino ’s own. Not only this but after some research I found some controversy about the films with some allegations that his work is plagiarized from Ringo Lahm ’s City on Fire. And seeing as my question is weather he is an auteur it would be a good focus film.

2. What additional films have you chosen and why? City on Fire (Ringo Lahm) Inglorious Barsterds (Tarantino) The reason I chose city on fire is because there have been many articles I have found that suggest that Reservoir Dogs is a “ rip off ” of Ringo Lahm film, I though it would be interesting to see for myself the similarities and differences to make my own judgement. Inglorious Barsterds is a remake of a film called the inglorious barsterds (1978) and it is also his latest film which is more of the reason why i chose this film. I was certain I would choose two or more Tarantino films to compare and to see whether the director has used similar techniques. Discuss specific scenes from your films that have helped your investigation: A lot of the scenes in reservoir dogs give indication of Tarantinos techniques such as contrasting sequences, explicit violence ect. An example of this is the scene where Mr Blue is torturing the police officer caught by the gang of thieves. City of fire especially the final scenes or acts of the movie really connected the it with Reservoir dogs before this point I could only see the plot as similar but nothing else but at the end I really saw the similarities, for example there is a shot exactly the same as in both films which definitely indicates an influence at the least.

3. What have you found out from secondary research? (Refer to specific quotes how are they relevant?) I found useful information on the internet to start with like some of the films he got some of his influences from for example the taking of Pelham was a film that used the colour coded names which Tarnation used in the film Reservoir dogs. From my trip to the BFI I found some article on to what extent City on Fire influenced on Reservoir Dogs. As well as an article which simply lays the key points in which are similar of the same in each film. I also have an article which comments on Taratino’s choice of how to set out the film “Tarantino boldly deprives heist movie of its most essential element”. From a different article the author says this “I don’t think you could say they were plagiarized; says Philip Thomas, managing editor of empire magazine”. Being my question is whether or not Tarantino is an auteur or just uses other films to make his films this statement is key. For starters it is from a reliable source the managing editor from the empire magazine, and he is trying to give his opinion of the matter not trying to persuade you on one thing or the other. From another article it ends with this “In the end, Tarantino took no more from this than he did from the killing, the taking of Pelham 123 and day of the wolves.”. So have two articles than definitively say that Tarantino’s movies or at least Reservoir dogs is mostly derived from his own style and techniques, definitely indicating that he is an auteur.

4. What pieces of secondary research are not so good (why?) The only article which doesn't help me with my investigation is the article called “backing the future” a review of Inglorious Barsterds. What primary research have you done so far? (apart from looking at the films) From watching City on Fire I could make a judgment for myself I concur with the articles that I have read because only about 15 minutes of the last sequences of the film actually reminds me of Reservoir Dogs and yes the plot has similarities but both films went about depicting the situation in different ways. If you haven't started primary research you need to have done so when I meet with you or have a very clear plan of how this will be carried out Give questionnaire to a focus group

5. How do you want to start your presentation script? Introduce my investigation (define auteur), then the films I have chosen and explain why I have chose them. Give example of what I think Tarantino’s auteur signature is( e.g. techniques used). Demonstrate some of these techniques with a clip from reservoir dogs Talk about City on Fire and allegations of plagiarism, show clip and talk about why I believe these allegation can be refuted using my secondary research and my own knowledge. Show clip of my final focus film Inglorious Barsterds talk abut how he tackled telling the story\(e.g. narrative style, techniques used. Then conclude my investigation by saying whether I think he is an auteur or not.

6. What would be good clips to show during your presentation: Scene with Mr. Blue torturing the captures police officer (Demonstrates contrasting music sequences, style of violence) City on Fire end scene ( Most common to reservoir dogs showing anything else won’t help)