Putting Student Collaboration before Authorship

Abstract

In our culture there is a romantic perception that commercial and experimental films ‘authored’ by one writer/director are artistically superior to those made by collaboration. Many film courses encourage this perception by promoting the model of ‘the total filmmaker’ or ‘student auteur’ in their teaching programmes. This article explores issues of a collaborative student film-making as a means of achieving a richer and more appropriate educational practice and as a realistic preparation for a career in the media.