Drama Directors

Drama Directors

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of film with countless big-grossing, critically acclaimed movies to his name.  Spielberg is mostly known for his work in the sci-fi and drama genres directing the likes of; 'Jurassic Park'-1993, 'E.T.'-1982, 'Schindler's List'-1993 and 'The Colour Purple'-1985.  Spielberg often uses bright torches in dark scenes ('Jurassic Park'-1993,  'E.T'-1982) in order to build tension and suspense for the audience, with the outline of the beam often being made visible through dust, mist or fog diverting the audiences attention. Spielberg can also be seen to regularly use the "dolly zoom", famously seen in jaws, employed to signify an impact moment or realisation and is said to be a huge fan of the "cutting-in-camera" philosophy, often filming his films in chronological order. Spielberg is famously, exceptionally good at coming up with ideas very quickly, in his five time Academy Award winning, film 'Saving Private Ryan'-1998 story-boarding issues meant that the majority of the shots and camera angles were made up on the spot.

David Fincher

David Fincher is a film director who achieved great success with his dramas 'Se7en'-1995, 'Fight Club'-1999 and 'Panic Room'-2002.  Fincher's films often feature low angles, wide shots and low-key lighting with blue or green tinted colour temperature, Fincher also very rarely uses handheld camera shots, with most of his camera compositions being static or highly controlled. Fincher’s films tend to have downbeat endings, often ending in suicide (both attempted and successful) and having the villain either win or not receive proper punishment ('Se7en'-1995, 'Fight Club'-1999, 'Gone Girl'-2014).  His films also tend to focus on characters with poor social skills and few friends, a few examples including; The Narrator from 'Fight Club'-1999, Mark Zuckerburg from 'The Social Network'-2010 and 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'-2011's Lisbeth Salander.  Fincher often presents his characters and their backstories through flashbacks even using single frame inserts in films such as 'Fight Club'-1999, having a single frame flash upon the screen in the middle of the scene.

Andrea Arnold

Andrea Arnold is a British film Director whose childhood, growing up  the eldest of four children in a council house in Dartford, Kent, helped to inform much of her work. Arnold is famous for films like 'Fish Tank'-2009, 'American Honey'-2016 and the short film 'Wasp'-2003, for which she won an Academy Award. Throughout her work Arnold can be seen to take inspiration form her own life, often focusing on female protagonists from impoverished backgrounds and troubled homes. Films like her 2003 'Wasp' can be seen by many to be semi-autobiographical, Arnold was born to a young mother aged just 16 who, for the most part had to bring up her four children alone, similar to her film's protagonist, Zoe. Arnold is known to favour shooting in a 4:3 aspect ratio, similar to that of many compact cameras and traditional film cameras, contrasting the 3:2 aspect ratio which is common in film, this can be seen to add to the rough nature of her films. 

Danny Boyle

Danny Boyle is a British film director best known for his work on films like 'Trainspotting'-1996, '127 Hours'-2010, and the Academy Award winning 'Slumdog Millionaire'-2008.  Boyle is best known for his direction of 'Trainspotting'-1999 a film about the junkies of impoverished Scotland.  Many of the themes of trainspotting are also evident in many of his other films, the idea of relative poverty being echoed in films like 'Slumdog Millionaire'-2008 and the presence of an unsympathetic protagonist Mark Renton being reflected in 'Steve Jobs'-2015's Steve Jobs.  A commonly occurring theme in Boyle's films is the idea opening scene being from the middle of the movie, seen in 'Trainspotting'-1999 and 'Slumdog Millionaire'-2008.  Boyle is also known for his use of intricate, creative flashback sequences, bright, colourful landscapes and effective use of music editing in order to heighten the emotions and experience of his films.