Since a film's script contains instructions for everything that goes into the film why is the director's role considered so important?
Surely whichever director adapts the script will do pretty much the same job?
This video essay aims to show why that's not the case but why some of the oft-cited cliches about how a director influences an audience just don't hold up.
A list of film clips used is in the credits. (All clips used for educational purposes only.)
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FAQs
Q. But isn't it the DP who decides the camera positions and lighting?
A .Depends. There is no official or correct break down of responsibility between the director and the DP. Some directors are very detailed in what they want and some may just give the DP an idea of what they want and the DP will interpret it.
It would be uncommon for the director not to pick the camera angles or at least give the final nod to them if suggested by the DP.
Like all parts of filmmaking this is a collaboration. However, in feature films made today the director will usually have the strongest influence in guiding these decisions. Even in the occasions where they don't someone is 'directing' those choices which influence the way the story is presented to the audience so I have no hesitation in including them in a video on this topic.
Audio
Some of the source audio was low on a few of these clips. If you find the volume too low, I've cleaned it up on the version on Vimeo:
[ Ссылка ]
Book Recommendations
If you like any of my videos here’s a bunch of the best books I’ve ever read about filmmaking.
Some of these books aren’t about filmmaking directly, some of these books aren’t even books.
(Affiliate links - please consider buying through these links. This helps me keep making films and film related stuff)
The Visual Story - Bruce Block
This book is about how the different elements of a moving picture; lines, shapes, colours, movement etc can be used to convey emotion in a story. This is a brilliant book with concepts I’ve never read anywhere else and certainly not all in the one place.
1st Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
2nd Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
3rd Edition Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
3rd Edition Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
On Filmmaking - Alexander Mackendrick
Alexander Mackendrick is the only filmmaker I know of that made brilliant films then decided to retire and spend the next twenty years teaching people to be filmmakers. This collection of his notes is the most concise and brilliant bunch of film learning you’ll ever find.
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
Impro - Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone sort of invented improv comedy. He learned story telling the best way, he went out night after night in front of an audience and saw what worked and what didn’t.
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
Picture this: How Pictures work - Molly Bang
This is a cool little book. It shows in a simple visual way how objects in a frame have weight and they can be used to effect the emotion of the viewer(or not)
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
Directing Actors and The Film Directors Intuition - Judith Weston
I did some courses with Judith back when you still could. She now works as an acting consultant on massive films like The Revenant. These books is a great path to learning how to help actors give great performances as a director.
Amazon US (Directing Actors) - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon US (Film Director’s Intuition) - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - (Directing Actors) [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - (Film Director’s Intuition) [ Ссылка ]
Writing Dialogue for Scripts - Rib Davis
There are soooooo many scriptwriting books. This one is unique in that it focuses just on writing dialogue which is something other books ignore
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
The Chair (TV Show)
Two young directors are given the same script and go out to make their version of it. If you don’t understand how much impact a director’s voice can have on project you’ll see it here.
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - N/A
The Sopranos Script Book
You’ve got to read scripts and what better ones to read. Has a great little intro from David Chase too. With the finest response ever to an actor saying “My character wouldn’t do that….”
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
Film Directing Fundamentals - Nicholas T Proferes
This is almost like a “how to direct” textbook and I mean that in a good way. Starts with ways to break down a script and then how you can apply these ideas to a visual medium. Also has the simplest explanation of how the 180 line rule works.
Amazon US - [ Ссылка ]
Amazon UK - [ Ссылка ]
