Art and Teamwork: Collaboration vs. Auterism
Posted on December 16, 2008
There are two pillar ideas that permeate this industry. The first claims that this is the most collaborative art, science, and industry mankind undertakes. The second is the celebration of the auteur. These seem somewhat mutually exclusive.
Collaboration vs. auteur-ism (yes it’s similar to autism, they both are characterized by parallel symptoms: they live isolated and can’t relate to anyone.) If you consider yourself an auteur, a renegade cavalier, you will quickly find yourself in predictable circumstances. If you have enough money and time, you can overcome your own hubris with sheer brute force of will (and pay others enough to put up with you.) But most filmmakers with this perspective will find ever increasing isolation and rejection. Therefore you must learn to efficiently work and communicate with others. Otherwise, all your movie making will have to be done by yourself.
Valuing the intrinsic perspectives and opinions of your peers will benefit your efforts. How? It’s simple:
Remember: the dp, gaffer, ac, even the grips all have more production experience than you. you can exploit their experience. They’ve seen it all before. That’s why they’re with you: so you can profit from their hard won knowledge. Listen to them.
Or, you can disregard them. You can abuse, reject, insult, berate, and cheat your crew, your co-workers. Next, you will find yourself in the same position I have seen so many director in. If you make a big enough ass of yourself, they will eventually give you exactly what you’re asking for: plenty of rope to hang yourself.
These aren’t fast food workers. They’re not slack-jawed, pimply-faced teenagers flipping burgers. These are highly trained, thoroughly educated, world traveled professionals. These are master craftsmen, artisans. Disrespect them at your own peril.
Your crew will quietly abandon you. If you ignore their suggestions enough, they will stop contributing. They will now do exactly what you tell them to do. They will stop giving you what you need, and give you all of what you think you want.
But, it gets even worse. They will not only let you swing, but will watch you go down in flames. They can do this to you because they enjoy a unique perspective, an opportunity that you can’t see. This is what you crew can do to you: every team member, from both cast and crew, everyone from every level (even on down to a lowly PA or groundskeeper or security guard) will at least one one occasion throughout production, hold the fate of your film in their hands.
That’s right.
They will observe a moment where a problem with an obvious solution appears. More than likely, they will be the sole observer of this growing problem. Furthermore, they will be the only one in the position to sound the alert. Finally, they will be in the best position to provide the antidote. All they have to do is exert a quantum of effort. Lift just one finger. They will then make an ethical decision based upon their perception of you: go out of their way just one degree to save you, or watch you burn.
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