Lecture - Film - Hitchcock.

Hitchcock was one of the first truly great film makers and because of such was thought of by many as an 'Auteur'. Auteur was french for author and came from Cahiers du Cinema, a journal. It celebrates the director as an artist in his own right.

Auteurs

1. like artists.
2. original work.
3. creative control.
4. technical competence.
5. distinguishable personality.

Hitchcock had a long career starting at the beginning of the film industry. He was innovative and named a master of suspense making his work very influential. He was also technical, even inventing certain camera techniques such as the 'dolly zoom'. Hitchcock played with expressionist lighting, subjective camera and montage/cutting to create tension. 

He started in the 1920's by drawing set designs giving him an artistic mind. From there he gained an apprenticeship at 'Gainsbrough' film studios. 

In 1927 he made his first film, 'The Lodger'. This is where he first pioneered the dolly zoom or more affectionately referred to by others as the 'Hitchcock' zoom. 

He was well known for certain characteristics in his films. 

1. expressionism.
2. form evokes emotion.
3. cameo appearance.
4. narrative often visual over dialogue.
5. obsessive use of blondes.
6. uses the same actresses. 

Suspense is generated when the audience is anticipating an event, not when it's actually happening. He also was involved with 'voyeurism' and interior meaning. 

In 1938 he left Gainsbrough and heading for the states. 

Psycho (Final Scene)

There are also critiques of the auteur.

1. made by 'elites'.
2. it disguises the work of others (cinematographer, art director, screen writer, editor, sound tech).
3. it offers a universal view of quality.
4. capitalist device selling a film by the director.