February 7, 2005
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The Invisible Technician 
As a director you'll have to chose if you want to show your technique like Brian DePalma, 
or keep it invisible.
Joseph Steffano 
("Psycho" screenplay) said, "I hate it when I can see the director directing on the screen. Hitchcock had technique, but it always fit the story. So you didn't see him directing."
Getting back to Hawks, the opening of "Rio Bravo" (almost wordless) shows his invisible technique. You are too into the story to notice the low angle we view of John Wayne 
from Dean Martin's point of view. 
In the story, the drunk (Martin) must raise himself up to the level of Wayne.
Click this link and see all the shots, and how they progress, telling the story without dialogue. There is point of view 
, punctuation on the gunshot, 
and atmosphere. 
(Notice the bull horns next to Wayne.) All which are invisible, keeping the audience into the story.
(like all movies) should be watched with no commercial breaks. So get it on DVD and notice how the characters, story, and camera all combine in one effort to show that no human is worthless, the self-reliance of Wayne (even though he is flawed. He needs help,but doesn't want it, and is inept with women.) And how the other characters 
come up to his level.
Which type of director will you be? Invisible or visible? Both have merit depending on the story and scene. However, the 
"Look Ma, I'm directing." style should be avoided if you want to keep the audience involved in the story.
and produced (some say directed) 
. A must read for "The Thing" fans.
Comments (4)
Wow, I had never realized that there was a difference. What a great piece of information! I am all about stealth... being a pirate and all. So I will shoot for invisible!
Sail on... sail on!!!!
Dear Paul,
For some reason I pasted the comment for this entry on the entry before last. I must be tired, having received little sleep last night. So don't be stymied. I posted twice there and the second comment is for this entry. I wrote it completely, without using notepad, as I usually do, and then clicked a link in the body of the entry, losing my complete thesis (er, I mean, comment). Then I wrote it again, and posted it in the wrong place. Oh well. So you can read my comment to this entry on your entry for Jan. 25th.
Man, I am tired.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philospher, fool
I vote for invisible directing. *adds "Rio Bravo" to blockbuster rental queue* I like to have to search for craft, perhaps on a 2nd or 3rd viewing, rather than having a signature shot or style pull me out of the action. Great post.
Impressive post. Nice to find something of substance done briefly and with visual aids! I agree that directing should be effective without calling attention to itself. Melodrama is my pet peeve. Unfold the drama naturally and let us feel it. Tell a good story well, and our emotions will hook into it--but focus on hooking our emotions (and forget to tell the story), and I want to run out of the theater.
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