Auteur Theory Group Project

Introduction to Film/THEA-1023-015
Fall Semester 2015
Group Essay- Eduardo Cruz
Introduction
What makes a director an auteur is usually based in part on their upbringing and moral development
During my research on the background of director Wes Anderson, Ive uncovered something in his
childhood that may have possibly led to his intense creation in the way he directs his movies. The
reason why I say intense creativity is simply because during his childhood at the young age of eight, he
was going through a difficult time this was a period in his life that his parents, the two people closest to
him in his life have gotten divorced.

I'm sure that he was going through an extremely difficult time, trying to understand, why did this have
to happen?, What's going to happen now?, Do I have to chose between them? Also, coping with
the reality that his family would never be whole again. I don't have to imagine what thoughts were
possibly going through his mind during that rough period in his adolescent life. This is most likely why
he was acting out in school, I can relate to his situation, because I have experienced the same thing as a
child and I believe that it is the same reason why I have an intense creative imagination that I express
through my own art.

I believe that he was incredibly frustrated, confused and angry as a child and had a difficult time
dealing with his parents' divorce. But I also believe that he had learned to channel those emotions, he
had reached a point of maturity at his young age which had allowed him to find a more positive way of
expressing himself through the form of directing films.

Director's Background
What from the directors past contributed to their talent as a filmmaker?

According to Biography, the study found the following:

Early Life

Filmmaker Wesley "Wes" Wales Anderson was born on May 1, 1969, in Houston, Texas. His father,
Melver Anderson, ran an advertising and public relations company, and his mother, Texas, Anne
Burroughs, worked in both real estate and archeology. Anderson grew up with his two brothers Eric and
Mel, but their parents divorced when Anderson was eight. While trying to cope with the disintegration
of his parent's marriage, Anderson often misbehaved at school.

In time, he turned his energies from mischief making to artistic endeavors. The young Anderson
directed movies starring himself and his brothers, filming them with a Super 8mm camera. He read
avidly, developing a passion for novels and finding himself consumed by story telling. Anderson
attended St. John's School in Houston, where he became known for his large and complex play
productions. Often these productions were based on well-known stories, films and even TV shows: One
work was a sock puppet version of the 1978 Kenny Rogers album The Gambler.

After graduating from St. John's in the late 1980s, Wes Anderson enrolled at the University of Texas at
Austin. There he met Owen Wilson, who has been a writing partner or a cast member in almost every
film Anderson has made since. Anderson was a philosophy major and Wilson was studying English,
and they had common interests. Anderson said to the AMC Blog in 1996 that the two first encountered
each other while "doing a play writing class together: this thing where everybody, about nine of us, sat
around a table and discussed plays. And I always sat in one corner, not really at the table, and Owen
always sat in another corner, not really at the table, and we never spoke the whole semester.

After this class, Anderson recalls running into Wilson, and the two "started talking about writers, but
we also talked about movies right off the bat," he said to Interview Magazine in 2009. "I knew I wanted
to do something with movies. I don't know if he had realized yet that it was an option." The two
eventually became roommates, and worked on a script for a full-length movie they called Bottle
Rocket. Anderson earned his B.A. in philosophy, in 1991.

Conclusion

I believe that most divorces are extremely messy and not very civilized, due to the fact that there
wouldn't be a cause or reason for divorce or break-up if everything was good in the relationship, which
is the reason why Wes Anderson was misbehaving in school, acting out so to speak. I am sure that Wes
Anderson realized that his disruptive behavior was not getting him what he wanted nor what he needed,
so, he found a better way to channel his emotions through the creation of making movies. Wes
Anderson has not only direct his movies when he first embarked on doing so, he also starred in them
along with his two brothers Eric and Mel at a young age. His creativity continued to develop through
his passion for novels, the production of complex plays in high school; then continuing by doing a play
writing class while attending the University of Texas.

Wes Anderson had a talent for directing from an early age to his adulthood. The fact that Wes Anderson
wrote a screenplay with Owen Wilson and has had Owen Wilson recur repeatedly in his films.
Anderson and Wilson were room mates as well, this proves to me that he had a special bond with Owen
Wilson, something that most people look for with others when dealing with an emotional loss, which
was his parents' divorce. He found a new family with his friends: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Bill
Murray, and John Shwartzman, which he has cast throughout his various films. With these good friends
that he would spend time with doing what made him happy, together in a place that he was most
comfortable in, that place was called Films, after all, what better ways are there to capture memories
other than film.

Themes and stories

What from your directors past contributed to their themes?

According to Rachel Redfern from Mic.com, the study found the following:

Like most directors, Wes Anderson, creator of newly released The Grand Budapest Hotel, has a
distinctive style. Just as Michael Bay favors an excessive amount of explosions or Christopher Nolan
enjoys messing with your head, so too does Wes Anderson love quirky comedy, Jason Schwartzman
and vintage, monogrammed luggage.

We don't want to speculate on Anderson's childhood and home life (other people have already given us
the facts on that), but his films consistently center on the importance of and interaction between
families. For example, films like The Darjeeling Limited and The Royal Tenenbaums center on the
connection or attempt to re-connect between siblings. In other movies, most notably Moonrise
Kingdom, mentors becoming surrogate fathers. And, of course, throughout it all, everybody is pretty
confused.

According to Guest Writer on Over thinking It, the study found the following:

His themes are also ones to which most post-Baby Boomers can easily relate. The timing of their
resonance to a given viewers life determines which of his films a person considers the best. Put
another way, your favorite of Andersons movies was love at first sight. You were dealing with
something, you saw his film, and right away it made you feel better. You didnt know that you already
knew what he had to say, but you did, and it only took one viewing of your favorite Anderson movie to
bring that message home.

According to Christopher Boone from No Film School, the study found the following:
Wes Anderson Describes How He Avoids Writing Themes on 'The Treatment'.
Some screenwriting resources stress that a theme must be clearly stated or emphasized in a screenplay,
preferably near the beginning, sometimes even on a specific page. This has never made any sense to
me. While I won't argue that a theme can't or shouldn't be explicitly stated in a screenplay or film, a
good story well told reveals its theme over the course of the entire story arc, in my opinion. In fact,
writer/director Wes Anderson claims he never consciously writes his screenplays around any particular
theme in a recent episode of Elvis Mitchell's 'The Treatment'.
When Mitchell asks Anderson about particular themes illustrated throughout Anderson's films, the
filmmaker eschews the question:

If somebody asks me about the themes of something Im working on, I never have any idea what the
themes are. Somebody tells me the themes later. I sort of try to avoid developing themes. I want to
just keep it a little bit more abstract. But then, what ends up happening is, they say, Well, I see a lot
here that you did before, and its connected to this other movie you did, andthat almost seems like
something I dont quite choose. It chooses me.

What I find particularly refreshing about Anderson's response is his admission that the audience
members tell him what the themes of his movies are, not the other way around. What resonates from a
film for one audience member may not impact the next audience member with the same magnitude,
which in turn means audience members may discover different themes from the same movie (assuming
the movie tells a story rich enough in content and details to provoke an audience to think about it and
discuss it long after the credits have rolled).

Conclusion

Based on the sources that I have read on whether or not Wes Anderson uses themes when he directs his
movies is quite controversial. I had found an article by Anne Brown from quora.com where she has
stated, But themes-there are definitely recurring themes in his work. this was an article titled What
are the common themes of Wes Anderson's movies? According to Mitchell in his interview with Wes
Anderson, he noticed that Anderson was deliberately avoiding the question, about the particular themes
throughout his films. So, who is right when it comes to whether or not Wes Anderson has recurring
themes and do they have anything to do with his real life experiences.

The most normal consensus would be that we are usually creatures of habit, we do what we know and
what we feel comfortable with. I would have to presume that Wes Anderson directs his film in a way
that he is comfortable with and has some type of meaning and relevance for him in his life. There is a
lot of passion when it comes to being creative, you usually release your feelings through your craft,
whether it be painting, drawing, music, dancing, or creating art through films. It is what inspires the
artist, the driving force behind their creations and Wes Anderson honestly reveals that with-in his films.

Visual style

What from your directors past contributed to their styles?

According to Kristen Bateman from Harpers Bazaar, the study found the following:

Throughout his career, director Wes Anderson has become as well known for his cinematic style as he
is for the characters he creates through interesting fashion. Watching a Wes Anderson film is like
stepping into a different worldwith a slightly off-kilter pastel color palette, soundtracks from the
past, and intricate interior details. It's a mix of old school glam and intellect with complex, compelling
dialogues. His aesthetic is so strong that it's become the new norm to hear people dub things from other
mtiers (fashion, home design, art) as "Wes Anderson style.

Right now in particular, the director is having a major cultural moment. When Alessandro Michele
presented his first collection for Gucci in February, it was widely considered to show the influence of
Wes Anderson. This weekend only in New York City, a Wes Anderson pop-up exhibition is set to open.
The exhibition will show fan art from over 60 different artists. Proving that Wes Anderson fans are
seriously devoted, the Facebook event page already boasts 59k people who have RSVPed "yes". Here,
a look at some of the director's best sartorial moments on screen.
According to Justin Ciglio from The Focus Pull, the study found the following:

Wes Anderson is a polarizing figure in contemporary cinema. On one hand, many admire his ability to
wear his influences on his sleeve while maintaining a unique voice and style, however, others claim his
films are overly stylistic and lacking in substance. While Andersons films are undoubtedly stylistic, the
substance is informed and enhanced by his distinct cinematic eye, allowing for his themes to be
explored through a unique perspective: that of a child.

Conclusion
Wes Anderson clearly has his own unique styles, which gives his films more body and texture, than the
more common films developed and shown throughout the mainstream. He is indeed a visionary artist
that transforms his films to a certain level that not every director achieves, at least this is how I perceive
it and believe that he is extremely creative. There are certain individuals, critics and filmmakers who
would disagree with me and other individuals who happen to like his unique style that he displays in
his films. I say this because he has been scrutinized for his for his cinematic stylistic choices and his
lack of substance, nevertheless, not everyone has the same taste when it comes to many things, so why
should films be any different. I believe that Wes Anderson's Abstract way of thinking will continue to
resonate through his films and as for me, I enjoy them very much, for the ones who don't agree, I say to
each his own.

Source and cited works

This page is an acknowledgment to the writers, authors, and contributors for their written works, that I
have mentioned in quotations on various topics. They have made it possible for my research on these
topics due to the articles that have been published, via the internet.
Topic: Director's background
According to Biography, the study found the following:
http://www.biography.com/people/wes-anderson-20617561
Topic: Themes and Stories
According to Rachel Redfern from Mic.com, the study found the following:
http://mic.com/articles/84731/14-whimsical-motifs-that-every-wes-anderson-film-has-incommon#.bV1apCCU2
According to Guest Writer on Overthinking It, the study found the following:
http://www.overthinkingit.com/2012/09/14/wes-anderson-movies/

According to Christopher Boone from No Film School, the study found the following:
http://nofilmschool.com/2012/07/wes-anderson-avoids-writing-themes

Topic: Visual Styles

According to Kristen Bateman from Harpers Bazaar, the study found the following:
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a11740/chicest-wes-anderson-fashion-film-moments/

According to The focus pull, the study found the following:

http://www.thefocuspull.com/features/the-visual-style-wes-anderson/
According to Alexandra Gandra from Taste of Cinema, the study found the following:
http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2014/12-reasons-to-make-you-love-the-films-of-wes-anderson/

Jake Nolan
Intro to Film/THEA 1023-015
Topics: what is the auteur theory? What are it's origins? Why was the theory put into practice and by
whom?
Wes Anderson has many trademarks that make him a distinct auteur, for example he ends all of
his movies with a slow-motion shot, with the exception of The Darjeeling Limited. (1) He also likes
to shoot with extremely wide-angle anamorphic lenses that show barrel distortion, which basically is a
technique used in a wide angle shot to inflate the image.(2) He has used Mark Mothersbaugh for all
the score in almost all of his movies expect The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
A score is also sometimes called background score, background music, film music or incidental music
and is original music written specifically to accompany a film. (3) Wes Anderson using these
techniques over and over again really shows that he is the auteur because he shows his visual
representation and style that is consistent.
I dont believe the auteur theory is relevant in this day and age because of how many other
people work the director to make the movie. To call the director the author and single creative voice
wouldnt be quite right. Some of the best directors like Stanley Kubrick often worked with
screenwriters to produce some of the best movies in history. The Shining could be used an example,
while it is definitely a Kubrick film there are other parts of the movie that shine and that comes from
working with other people on the set. Would Dog Day Afternoon be as brilliant without Dede Allen's
editing? Would North By Northwest be as brilliant without Robert Burks's cinematography? While
each director undoubtedly has his or her style when shooting a movie and they always manage to feel
like that directors movie.

They end up representing their vision through the visual aesthetics, their view of the world and
their stylistic tendencies. When the director doesnt come through with his own vision its other parts of
the crew its the cinematography that saves the directors mediocre work. Proving no one person is the
author of a movie. In my mind being the single creative mind directing an entire movie means that you
handle every aspect with full control. That means the editor doesnt get to pick the scene or shot that
would work best or sound design wouldnt be able to include what they think is best for the scene. In
the real world there are people that have those specific jobs that work together to get the job done.
Works Cited
Anderson, Mary. "Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com, 4 Nov. 2008. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.
Smith, Jed. "Barrel Distortion." Glossary: : Digital Photography Review. DP.com, 8 June 2006. Web.
04 Dec. 2015.
Pedigrew, Peter. "What Is the Difference between a Film Score and a Soundtrack?" Quora. Quora, 8
Apr. 2001. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.

Hillary Reilly
Auteur Theory Group Essay
Intro to Film/THEA 1023-015
Fall Semester Mon @ 5:30-9:20pm
I don't know what is in store for the movie business any better than anybody else does, but it does
seem like my kind of movies are a little trickier than it used to be - or maybe a lot trickier. -Wes
Anderson
Tricks of the Trade for Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson has a particular eye on the film industry, hes not someone who stays inside the lines of
the Hollywood film system or takes his job as a creative film director lightly. His film tactics are
known for their distinctive visual and narrative style. Here are some of his most common trademarks
that can be found in most of his films.

On Andersons soundtrack you often see the appearance of The Rolling Stones for his films

Most of his movies are of focus on broken or unorthodox family circles

He likes to make big unique introductions for his large cast of characters

For his white middle and upper class issues he initiates quirky themes

He ends all his movies with a slow motion shot, with an exception for one

Wes Andersons A List

As Wes Anderson cast for his film he already has a handful of characteristics in mind for his leading
roles since he likes to stay around the same themes of his movies.
Anderson does frequently use the same actors in his films; one in particular is Owen Wilson, who
appeared in his first film Bottle Rocket (1996). Owen is not the only frequently cast member, Anderson
also likes to casts Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Andrew Wilson, Bill Murray, Kumar
Pallana, Dipak Pallana, Brian Tenenbaum, Stephen Dignan, Bob Balaban, Tilda Swinton, Edward
Norton, and Anjelica Huston.
These are some qualities of Andersons characters while filming

Usually one of his characters are looking for approval of a parent or parental figure

His characters give a complex and lengthy explanation of humor

He likes characters who are heavy in body language

Anderson also likes to get shots of his characters standing perfectly still and facing towards the camera
with little to no emotion at all.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

As we have known by now Wes Anderson has a particular eye for film, he is particular and sticks to
certain visuals and tactics while directing his films; such as his extensive use of flat space camera
moves, obsessively symmetrical compositions, snap-zooms, slow-motion walking shots, a deliberately
limited color palette, and hand-made art direction often utilizing miniatures.[32] These stylistic choices
give his movies a highly distinctive quality that has provoked much discussion, critical study, super
cuts and mashups, and even parody.
Trending shots for Anderson

Makes obsessive and comedic use of rostrum camera insert shots, foregrounding the minutiae of
books and other documents

-Rostrum Camera Shots (A rostrum camera is a specially designed camera used in television
production and filmmaking to animate a still picture or object. It consists of a moving lower platform
on which the article to be filmed is placed, while the camera is placed above on a column.)

Likes to shoot with extremely wide-angle anamorphic lenses that exhibit considerable barrel
distortion

Features, many precisely centered, straight-on shots

Frequently uses a take/double take technique where he will show a character/action, quickly pan
to another character/action, then pan back, usually with handheld camera

Music makes a film

Anderson frequently uses pop music from the 1960s and 70s on the soundtracks of his films, and one
band or musician tends to dominate each soundtrack.
Just about the entire score of all of his movies, with the exception of The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), were composed by Mark Mothersbaugh.

Work Pages Cited

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Anderson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostrum_camera

Adi Ekmescic
Intro to Film/THEA 1023-015
Topics: What makes your Auteur's work distinct and relevant? Is the Auteur Theory relevant today?
A Journey Through the Creative Creation of Wes Anderson filmmaking
French filmmaking in the 1940s was going through a tough time, with the start of World War II the
film industry was used as a tool for war efforts and creative film fled France. With the war starting to
come to a close in 1944, the French film industry fell into an even bigger hole with strict rations on
film and other needed supplies. With the French film industry in a depression, a popular critic at the
time, Alexandre Astruc, wrote an essay in 1948 called Birth of a New Avant-Garde which would
bring a new style to filmmaking. In Birth of a New Avant-Garde Astruc, calls for a new wave of film;
the camera-stylo which translates to camera pen is the idea that the director uses the camera as the
writer uses his pen. The director can create a new message away from just taking the story someone has
already wrote, this would be the new wave in film. This essay would be a precursor for the auteur
theory, which would come to life in 1950s when French film was coming back to life in full force.

In 1954 Francois Truffaut published a famous essay to the French journal Cahiers du Cinema the
essay was called Une Certaine Tendance du Cinema Francais the essay discussed many French film
makers such as Abel Gance, Mac Ophuls, Jacques Tati, and many more describing them as auteur
directors. In this essay Truffaut coined the term auteur: the director that was truly the author of his
filmic product. Truffaut explains how these directors put a personal effect on their work to make their
own creations. Truffauts essay would go on to become a landmark essay in film making history
coining the term auteur in film.

Works Cited
Astruc, Alexandre. "THE BIRTH OF A NEW AVANT-GARDE: LA CAMERA-STYLO." La Camera
Stylo. L'cran Francais, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2015.
Pickering, Sarah. "Auteur." The Chicago School of Media Therory. N.p., Winter 2010. Web. 1 Dec.
2015.
Travers, James. "History of French Cinema." Films De France. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

Andrew Gittins
Intro to Film/THEA 1023-015
Topic: How does your Auteur view society? What cultural elements do they often address in their
films?
Wes Anderson can be considered to be quirky and a bit eccentric. This and his view on society
is reflected in his movies. One of the main themes in his movies is a father figure and a male character
seeking the approval of a parent figure. This is evident in Rushmore with Max Fischer and the school's
headmaster, Dr. Guggenheim, in Royal Tenenbaums with Royal Tenenbaum and his children, The Life
Aquatic with Steve Zissou and his lost son Ned, and also in The Grand Budapest Hotel with Gustave
and his lobby boy Zero.
In response to this theme Wes Anderson said this I finally realized it's just the opposite of what
I really grew up with, and for me there's something exotic about itI'm drawn to those father-figure
characters that are larger-than-life people, and I've sought out mentors who are like that, so I relate to
them. But they're not my father."
His films often represent a fairy tale or an escape from real life. The main character often goes
on a self discovery journey like the voyage to find the Jaguar Shark in The Life Aquatic or Zeros
travels with Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Another theme raised in his movies is whether or not its a blessing or a curse to be an
exceptional or eccentric individual in a society that doesnt know how to treat someone who is. An
example of this is Royal Tenenbaums family, Max in rushmore, and also M. Gustave in the grand
budapest hotel. All of these individuals struggle to fit in with those around them.

Wes Anderson is one of the most unique filmmakers and auteurs that of today. He is widely
known for his distinctive directing and storytelling style. He uses a recurring cast, symmetry in his
camera shots, and his eye for detail to create his own stories. He uses to his unique creativity to truly
use his camera as his pen.

Works Cited:
http://www.biography.com/people/wes-anderson-20617561#-career-breakthroughs
http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/10643/
Wes Anderson: Why his movies matter Written by Mark Browning