1. Who is David Fincher?
Auteur – ‘filmmaker, usually a director, who exercises creative control over his
or her works and has a strong personal style’.
Using Google and YouTube study the style of David Fincher, there are some resources on the blog to
get you started. Look at his other films (find clips on YouTube). Find out what other people have said
about him, what has he said about his style?
Make notes on the following
Define what his visual style is (with specific examples from films). Try to include things on
cinematography, mise en scene, editing, sound and performance
What themes he explores and what this reveals about the attitudes he has. Is there a
consistent use of symbolism, character types or narratives that he explores?
Are there similar situations and scenes that he includes in his films, whatever the genre?
Are there people that he works with again and again (production people, actors, scriptwriters,
cinematographers etc)
The way in which critics have responded to his work
The way audiences have responded to his work
Finally consider how useful is the idea of auteur in helping us to understand/appreciate the film
Fight Club. Does knowing about his style have an effect on the way we interpret the film?
Films by Fincher
The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo
The Social Network
Zodiac
The Game
Se7en
Aliens 3
Panic Room