At TALK/SHOW: From Auteurs to Collaborateurs

TALK/SHOW Number Four at AFI Fest brought an eclectic and informative mix to the podium moderated by Los Angeles Times staff writer Kevin Crust on Saturday. The topic: "From Auteurs to Collaborateurs: Is Great Filmmaking the path of one or many?"

The panel consisted of director/ writer/ producer John Landis (Animal House), Denmark director/ actress Paprika Steen (WITH YOUR PERMISSION), cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (The Black Dahlia), and Director Chris Bowman with screenwriter/ actor Hubbel Palmer of AMERICAN FORK.

The discussion dealt with film as a collaborative art form, where Landis explained each film set works differently. He explained how sometimes the directing is done by the script supervisor, sometimes by the director of photography, and sometimes by the editor to enhance the actors' performances. And sometimes the actors even "helm" the director's chair. "Tom Hanks has final cut. Tom Cruise has final cut. They don't even give me final cut," Landis joked.

Zsigmond says his role as cinematographer is to collaborate effectively with the director. "What the director wants is most important. With young directors...they need my help more."

Steen's background as an actress helps her "performance" as a director, so it was a natural steppingstone for her. She said she involves everyone on the set, yet also realizes the individual departments work towards a final artistic vision. The experience as first time filmmakers, said Bowman and Palmer, gave them a consistent partnership. Because the story was semi-autobiographical the director and screenwriter worked well together.

Even though the directors often receive the most public credit, the crew knows everyone is integral to getting the artistic vision on the screen, said Landis.

Hopefully the general public will realize this too.