Who Gets the Credit?

I just read this wonderful discussion by Cole Abaius and Landon Palmer, bloggers from film blog Film School Rejects. It concerns the idea of "authorship" when it comes to cinema. Who really deserves the credit for a film? Why does the director, and not the writer, get all of the accolades? This interested me because this is exactly why I decided to create this blog. I've always wanted the people behind the scenes to get their dues. 

Anyway, Cole and Landon go on to question whether "Auteur Theory" has created this mess for writers not getting the praise. I'm not entirely sure the blame should rest on auteur theory, except to say that maybe the theory should be expanded- perhaps to "Auteurs Theory" or maybe "Collaborator Theory". I say that because I think directors have a tendency to work with the same people- people they can trust, people whose work they know well. And that's fine. But that tendency creates patterns within the final product of the film. For example, we all know a Tim Burton film when we see one. But what's a Tim Burton film without a Danny Elfman score, eh? Or Quentin Tarantino? For all his glorious visuals, will his future films fail to retain their magic now that the late Sally Menke won't be in post cutting them up? 

But, perhaps I'm just reinforcing Cole and Landon's point with my suggestions. After all, they acknowledge that it's far easier for directors, cinematographers and editors to get the recognition they deserve. Cinema is a visual medium, and it makes sense that those in charge of the visuals would get nods. Writing is another issue all together. It's just a piece of the puzzle, or to borrow from Cole, "[An] ingredient in the recipe..."

And yet, it's an important ingredient. Look out people; I'm about to torture a metaphor. It's the flour of this "recipe" Cole mentions. It's a basic ingredient. And yet it can be used to make any things: Cakes, pastries, brownies, cinnamon rolls. Hell, you need it to make a decent roux for cheese sauce. You may use varying amounts of the flour, but in the end you still need it to make these delicious things. And without it, your baked goods will not be eaten. Okay, enough torture. What I'm saying is, while writing may not be the main draw when it comes to films, you can bet someone's going to complain about the writing if it's not up to par.

So screenwriters deserve more attention. Maybe critics should make more of a point to give a shout out to the writers, or cite more examples of their work when they are mentioned. It's conceivable that people will ten become more familiar these writers, which will get them more recognition.

If that doesn't work, well that's what the Writer's Guild Awards are for.