Schreiber theory
Encyclopedia
The Schreiber theory is a writer-centred approach to film criticism
which holds that the principal author of a film is generally the screenwriter
rather than the director
. The term was coined by David Kipen, Director of Literature at the US National Endowment for the Arts
.
has wrongly skewed analysis towards a director-centred view of film. In contrast, Kipen believes that the screenwriter has a greater influence on the quality of a finished work and that knowing who wrote a film is “the surest predictor” of how good it will be:
Kipen acknowledges that his writer-centred approach is not new, and pays tribute to earlier critics of Auteur theory such as Pauline Kael
and Richard Corliss
. He believes that the Auteurist approach remains dominant, however, and that films have suffered as a result of the screenwriter's role being undervalued. Kipen refers to his book as a “manifesto
” and in an interview with the magazine SF360
stated that he wished to use Schreiber theory as “a lever to change the way people think about screenwriting, and movies in general.”
, Diane Garrett said Kipen shows a degree of disingenuousness when he states that Schreiberism is “an attempt to rescue reviewing and scholarship from those who would have us forget just how collaborative filmmaking truly is.” She said:
In an interview with Kipen, film writer Michael Fox said Schreiberism seemed less an attempt to discredit Auteur theory outright than a ploy to “simply shift the auteur appellation from directors to screenwriters.”
Kipen’s reply was that there was an element of “parody” in his writer-centred theory, in that he hoped to “overcorrect” the director-centred model in such a way that “the final average of the two is a more realistic representation”.
Film criticism
Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films, individually and collectively. In general, this can be divided into journalistic criticism that appears regularly in newspapers, and other popular, mass-media outlets and academic criticism by film scholars that is informed by film theory and...
which holds that the principal author of a film is generally the screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
rather than the director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. The term was coined by David Kipen, Director of Literature at the US National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
.
Outline
In his 2006 book “The Schreiber Theory: A Radical Rewrite of American Film History”, David Kipen argues that the influential 1950s-era Auteur theoryAuteur theory
In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur"...
has wrongly skewed analysis towards a director-centred view of film. In contrast, Kipen believes that the screenwriter has a greater influence on the quality of a finished work and that knowing who wrote a film is “the surest predictor” of how good it will be:
“A filmgoer seeking out pictures written by, say, Eric RothEric RothEric Roth is an American screenwriter. He won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Forrest Gump . He also co-wrote the screenplay for Michael Mann's The Insider , the Steven Spielberg film Munich , and David Fincher's film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , all of which were nominated for...
or Charlie KaufmanCharlie KaufmanCharles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. His film work includes Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York...
won’t always see a masterpiece, but he’ll see fewer clunkers than he would following even a brilliant director like John BoormanJohn BoormanJohn Boorman is a British filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama.-Early life:Boorman was born in Shepperton, Surrey,...
, or an intelligent actor like Jeff GoldblumJeff GoldblumJeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and he has appeared in major box-office successes including The Fly, Jurassic Park and its sequel Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Independence Day...
. It’s all a matter of betting on the fastest horse, instead of the most highly touted or the prettiest.”
Kipen acknowledges that his writer-centred approach is not new, and pays tribute to earlier critics of Auteur theory such as Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael
Pauline Kael was an American film critic who wrote for The New Yorker magazine from 1968 to 1991. Earlier in her career, her work appeared in City Lights, McCall's and The New Republic....
and Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
Richard Nelson Corliss is a writer for Time magazine who focuses on movies, with the occasional article on music or sports. Corliss is the former editor-in-chief of Film Comment...
. He believes that the Auteurist approach remains dominant, however, and that films have suffered as a result of the screenwriter's role being undervalued. Kipen refers to his book as a “manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
” and in an interview with the magazine SF360
San Francisco Film Society
is a nonprofit arts organization located in San Francisco, California that presents and exhibits year-round film programming and events in addition to the annual San Francisco International Film Festival....
stated that he wished to use Schreiber theory as “a lever to change the way people think about screenwriting, and movies in general.”
Origin of term
In seeking a name for his theory, Kipen chose the Yiddish word for writer – schreiber – in honour of the many early American screenwriters who had Yiddish as their mother tongue.Criticism
Writing in VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, Diane Garrett said Kipen shows a degree of disingenuousness when he states that Schreiberism is “an attempt to rescue reviewing and scholarship from those who would have us forget just how collaborative filmmaking truly is.” She said:
“If that’s really the goal, why spend 150 pages arguing for the supremacy of the writer? Instead say what you really mean: Don't forget the writer, please.”
In an interview with Kipen, film writer Michael Fox said Schreiberism seemed less an attempt to discredit Auteur theory outright than a ploy to “simply shift the auteur appellation from directors to screenwriters.”
Kipen’s reply was that there was an element of “parody” in his writer-centred theory, in that he hoped to “overcorrect” the director-centred model in such a way that “the final average of the two is a more realistic representation”.