The Origins of Auteur Theory

Auteur – it’s a favorite term of cinephiles around the world. But what exactly is Auteur Theory? In this Filmmaker IQ course we peel back pages of time and explore the origins of Auteur Theory from the economically tumultuous adolescence of French Cinema to the culture war waged in the columns of competing American movie critics.

If you have any further questions be sure to check out our questions page on Filmmaker IQ:

[guillaumeerard]

This has to be one of the best channels on youtube. Thank you so much.

[NorthernRealmJackal]

I hope someone responsible for Filmmaker IQ reads this.. I subscribed about a minute in. Very nice, factual and down to earth, while still having enough graphics to make the points come across. It is so nice to see a channel, once in a while, that isn't just flashy fast-paced clickbait in video format. Pretty please do keep up the good work.

[Empri]

because of you i might be able to pass my film degree!

[LSMMIKE]

Just wanted to say that I love your videos. I've been watching them for a long time now and they're great. Very explanatory, well edited, and of course chock-filled with great examples of both Film History and Theory. Hopefully you continue to produce them so I can continue to enjoy them for much time to come. 

[forfluf]

John's passion and how well suited he is to make such presentations makes such a subject quite engaging.

[denverporter]

John, thank you for putting together such great lessons. I have used many of these to not only spur discussion in my high school film production course, but to inspire the upcoming generation of young filmmakers.

[zalagnes]

this was such pleasurable 17:37 minutes! I did not expect the end and embarrassingly, I teared up :) keep up the good work!

[videosideeffect]

An excellent study material . I take my hat off for each new lecture. And I hope that this invaluable guide will continue for a long time .. Cheers !!

[cashman]

Thanks again for your great work. This is really a high quality channel. I hope you get a lot more subscribers. This channel deserves it. Keep up the amazing work.

[XprPrentice]

It's very interesting to watch this again after a year away. Again, I've primarily been a stage actor, but I'm trying to get into more screen roles. This year, I've been working on a film with a very strong vision from the director-writer (and probably editor). It was very interesting to me, though, how much input the DP has in this collaboration. Not wanting to be too big (always the theater actor's worry), I was constantly asking about framing, and it was usually the DP that answered me. He also gave me some acting tips (direction) that were more helpful than the those from the director - such as how much I can move, should I turn just a peck more to the right. He understood the characters and scenes as much as the "creator" (director), and their collaboration was fascinating to me. Which makes me wonder even more about the relationship between these two roles - in our film, the director had storyboarded everything, but it seemed the DP was making as many choices as possible, based on the original intent. (Side note: it's my first time working with green screen, compositing, miniatures, puppet-demons, as well as my first time attempt at some ADR - in French, a language I don't speak, and it was tough enough to do on set - in a couple days.) Thanks, again, John, for your wonderful insights!

[DAVIDSDIEGO]

This is the *only* YT channel that I'm willing to watch videos longer than a *few minutes*. Always entertaining and informative, thank you!

[sickle]

I like Pauline Kael's take, as outlined here. The problem with hipster art, is it often becomes a reverb-chamber of a short list of acceptably cool styles. The best art is usually both innovative and appealing to the masses. The passage of time can be a great test of artistic merit.

[carlosmalache]

Great video, as always. Please don't stop making videos!

[techsavvydaddy]

John, I am impressed, , , ​your French is on point. Don't know how many bloopers you went thru to get to the final cut, no matter, you sir are a wealth of knowledge!

[NEMIHEMERA]

Another great piece John! Keep them coming please!

[JakeJarvi]

"...while systematically butchering the pronunciation of several French words." Love it. / Really fascinating breakdown. As always, guys.

[balloonskullproductions]

14:41 THANK YOU for discussing the myth that Tim Burton was the creative genius behind The Nightmare Before Christmas. I loved the movie, but I've always had a love-hate relationship with Burton, largely stemming from my feelings that one of his major claims to fame was truly someone else's work that he gave the idea to then slapped his name on.

[bluenetmarketing]

Kael has it right, and you have the best filmmaker channel on youtube, by far.

[ashbradford]

That was very interesting, but my god, the pronunciation of those French words. I'm in pain right now.

[ferariasup]

Great video, and break down, of a topic that many up and comers need to learn, to grow on they're journey to what ever they wish to master...