Film is so much less personal than books. More and more we are surrounded by creations of collaborative arts - the music industry (where the singer is often not the songwriter, where any number of people may work on a recording or a live performance); television, films, comics, magazines.... I think there is more and more scope for 'art by collaboration' as the products of these industries get better and better.
In my opinion, it works best as art when the collaboration (in whatever medium) is spearheaded by a strong creative mind. Joss Whedon with "Buffy" and "Firefly". Russell T. Davies with "Queer as Fold" and "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood". Ron Moore with "Battlestar Galactica". Warren Ellis or Neil Gaiman or Jeph Loeb on any of the comics they work on. You can tell the difference between a work done by a sharp talent and work done by committee.
So Ridley Scott and Kingdom of Heaven is a case in point, where the creative power that should have pulled it together and made it shine, failed to do so. (Ditto Oliver Stone with Alexander, though for different reasons.)
It doesn't need to be the director or producer or writer who provides the spark of brilliance that raises a work above itself. Look at Pirates of the Caribbean - it was Johnny Depp's vision, wisely backed by Jerry Bruckheimer, that raised the movie from the level of a mediocre Disney adventure to something remarkable.
Yes: and I think the fact that collaborative art can be so successful is partly because it is not merely "autobiographical". It's a coming-together of lots of people's visions. There may be one voice that comes out of it the strongest, but s/he still needs the other people's input.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-12-14 10:53 am (UTC)In my opinion, it works best as art when the collaboration (in whatever medium) is spearheaded by a strong creative mind. Joss Whedon with "Buffy" and "Firefly". Russell T. Davies with "Queer as Fold" and "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood". Ron Moore with "Battlestar Galactica". Warren Ellis or Neil Gaiman or Jeph Loeb on any of the comics they work on. You can tell the difference between a work done by a sharp talent and work done by committee.
So Ridley Scott and Kingdom of Heaven is a case in point, where the creative power that should have pulled it together and made it shine, failed to do so. (Ditto Oliver Stone with Alexander, though for different reasons.)
It doesn't need to be the director or producer or writer who provides the spark of brilliance that raises a work above itself. Look at Pirates of the Caribbean - it was Johnny Depp's vision, wisely backed by Jerry Bruckheimer, that raised the movie from the level of a mediocre Disney adventure to something remarkable.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-14 11:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-14 11:20 am (UTC)No?
Huh.