DIRECTORS BEWARE: The reign of the creative producer is back!

*Next Week: The day I punk’d Jerry Lewis in front of 600 people and the MSM, all for my filmmaker client

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What follows below can be considered a “rant” in blogger parlance. I ask for forgiveness in advance.

Times are tough and it’s time to tighten the leash. Some say it’s been a slow decline for American independent film, mounting for decades. I say it’s the directors’ fault. Yep, you heard me.

Surely other factors are involved, but mostly I’d like to lay the largest portion of the blame at the feet of those who normally have them kissed. And here’s why:

Starting sometime after Dubya-Dubya I, the “Director” gained an enormous amount of power, surpassing even that of the producer. Everyone started kissing his/her butt, from the stars to the studios to yes, even the producers. Once that happened, The Fall began.

Now don’t get me wrong. If the director is a Master, then by all means leave him/her alone and let the cinematic miracles happen. But there seems to be only a few masters of cinema in the world at any one time and just maybe every director under the sun shouldn’t be given the kind of autonomy that should be reserved for the Greats only.  (Oh boy, I can hear it now: “Well, someone has to be in charge, and well… he/she’s the director!”  Oi vey…  Puhlease.)

I’ve been on sets where the director was, let’s say, un-masterful…  Yet everyone still treated him/her in a way that let ‘em get away with cinematic murder, with million$ at stake!   How many movies made in the last 25 years could have been great but weren’t because no one was supposed to “get in the way of the director’s vision“?  Even 2 is too many, I say!  Give the money to charity instead.  Or buy real estate.  Or let your Cuncle put that dough in his SEP IRA account.

And so it ’tis, I now proclaim the reincarnation of the Creative Producer. Remember him/her? Probably not. Last seen during the Golden Age, when Sam Goldwyn made the calls on story and casting and David O. Selznick told the director what to do. It was such a simpler time (from what I’ve read.)

On a Goldwyn or Selznick picture, you can bet your prohibition whiskey flask most directors did not get to do a rewrite on the script, have final say on casting or final cut. I’m talkin’ way, way back when a director was a member of the team and not it’s messiah. Directors had to prove themselves to be treated like a genius– then maybe, MAYBE Sam or Selz gave them some leeway.

Instead, for over half a century now the conventional wisdom has been that “film is a director’s medium.“  Well, not in this millennium!  And before things get any worse, I solemnly declare:  “Film is The People’s medium,” ’cause without them, we got nuttin’.

Now, this new/old paradigm shouldn’t be confused with the “decision by committee” programs the studios and all the others in the kitchen cook up. Hardly. What I’m suggesting is that the power structure is brought back to a more harmonious balance.  The guy/gal who developed the property, raised the money and took all the risks in bringing the project to fruition is responsible for seeing it through beyond just hiring a director and relinquishing all the juiciest of production decision-making power.

CW also says if a producer does a good job in development and pre-production, then during the shooting he/she can can just sit back and relax by the monitor in video village.  Sure… Rest on your laurels and let the production manager take over complete control as “the money guy/gal” and give the director carte blanche to do what he/she will with the production. Smart.

How’s that workin’ out for ya?

(And yes, of course, actors, esp. “Stars” can be a pain in the tuckus, too. But at least they’re fun to watch most of the time. They’re also really insecure, therefore much easier to control in that Dale Carnegie way.)

Okay. Ranting’s done. I’m normally not like this. Really, ask anybody. In future posts I promise to go easier on directors, if I can help it.  But for those directors who read this and think to themselves, “Mental note: Don’t work with Keenan,” I’d just like to say:

“(insert name here), baby! You’re a genius! Let’s do lunch– Text meeeee…”

*Next Week: The day I punk’d Jerry Lewis in front of 600 people and the MSM for my filmmaker client