Hi, I’m Ellie, and today we’re diving into some common misconceptions about well-known film directors. Let’s clear up some of these misunderstandings!
Many people think Tim Burton wrote and directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, but that’s not the case. Although the movie is often associated with him, it was actually written by Carolyn Thompson and directed by Henry Selick. Tim Burton was a producer and played a significant role in developing the story and characters. He was busy working on Batman Returns at the time, so he let his friend Selick direct the film.
There’s a belief that Steven Spielberg directed Poltergeist, but the official director was Tobe Hooper. Spielberg was involved as a writer and producer, and some people on set thought he was directing. However, both Spielberg and Hooper have stated that Hooper was the true director, with Spielberg assisting during the early stages of filming.
Some stories suggest Spielberg got his first Hollywood job by sneaking into Universal Studios. While Spielberg did mention sneaking in during interviews, it was actually his father who helped him get a job there, where he started by answering phones.
Alfred Hitchcock is often seen as an auteur, but he didn’t write many of his films. He worked closely with screenwriters to develop his ideas. Hitchcock claimed to plan scripts in detail with writers, but many writers felt he was more of a supervisor than a co-writer.
There’s a myth that Hitchcock used cold water during the famous shower scene in Psycho to get genuine screams. However, actress Janet Leigh confirmed that the water was warm. Additionally, some believe Saul Bass directed the scene, but that’s not true.
Some conspiracy theories claim Stanley Kubrick was murdered because his film Eyes Wide Shut revealed secrets about a cult. However, those close to Kubrick, including his daughter, have stated that he was happy with the film and was not murdered.
There’s a theory that Kubrick helped fake the Apollo 11 moon landing, but there’s plenty of evidence showing that the moon landing really happened.
It’s often thought that Orson Welles struggled to find work and had to finance his own films. While he did finance some projects, it wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities. After making The Stranger, Welles wanted full control over his films, so he turned down many directing jobs.
In the 1950s, Charlie Chaplin was accused of being a communist, especially after his film The Great Dictator. However, Chaplin consistently denied being a communist, even joking that he was too wealthy to support communism.
There was tension between David O. Russell and George Clooney during the filming of Three Kings, leading to rumors of a feud. However, Clooney has since said that they’ve moved past it and appreciates Russell’s work.
Thanks for exploring these misconceptions with me! If you have any topics you’d like to see in future episodes, feel free to share them in the comments. See you next time!
Choose a famous film director and research their career, focusing on any misconceptions about their work. Create a short presentation to share your findings with the class. Highlight how these misconceptions might have arisen and what the truth is.
Work in groups to create a “Fact vs. Fiction” poster about one of the misconceptions discussed in the article. Use visuals and bullet points to clearly differentiate between the myth and the reality. Present your poster to the class and explain why it’s important to understand the truth.
Watch a film directed by one of the directors mentioned in the article. Write a short essay analyzing how the director’s style is evident in the film, and discuss any misconceptions about their involvement. Consider how their influence shapes the final product.
Imagine a world where one of the misconceptions was true. Write a short story exploring how this alternate reality might have changed the film industry or the director’s career. Share your story with the class and discuss the potential impacts of these changes.
Participate in a class debate on the topic: “Directors are the most important contributors to a film’s success.” Use examples from the article and your own research to support your arguments. Consider the roles of writers, producers, and other crew members in your discussion.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Ellie, and this is Mental Floss video. Today, I’m going to talk about some misconceptions about film directors.
**Misconception number one:** Tim Burton wrote and directed *The Nightmare Before Christmas*. This is a common misunderstanding, especially since it was promoted as Tim Burton’s *Nightmare Before Christmas*. However, it was actually written by Carolyn Thompson and directed by Henry Selick. Tim Burton was a producer and was heavily involved in the film’s creation, coming up with the story and designing many of the characters. He then went on to make *Batman Returns*, allowing his friend Selick to take the lead on *Nightmare Before Christmas*.
**Misconception number two:** Steven Spielberg directed *Poltergeist*. While Tobe Hooper was technically the director, Spielberg received writing and producing credits. An LA Times writer visited the set and noted that it seemed like Spielberg was directing, not Hooper. Some actors from the film have made similar claims. Hooper later explained that during the early weeks of filming, he was shooting different scenes while Spielberg helped with some shots. Both Spielberg and Hooper have claimed that Hooper was the true director.
**Misconception number three:** Spielberg got his first job in Hollywood by just showing up at Universal Studios. Spielberg himself mentioned in interviews that he would sneak into Universal Studios, but many people who remember his early days explain that his father helped him get a job there, where he started by answering phones.
**Misconception number four:** Alfred Hitchcock wrote many of his films. While Hitchcock is often called an auteur, he actually relied on screenwriters to help develop his ideas. Hitchcock once claimed that he and the writer would plan the entire script in detail, but many of his writers would likely disagree, noting that he was more of a supervisor.
**Misconception number five:** Hitchcock had the crew use cold water during the shower scene in *Psycho*. There’s a myth that he insisted on cold water for more genuine screams, but Janet Leigh herself debunked this, stating that it was always warm water. Additionally, some believe that one of Hitchcock’s collaborators, Saul Bass, directed the scene, which is also not true.
**Misconception number six:** Stanley Kubrick was murdered. Some conspiracy theorists claim he was killed because *Eyes Wide Shut* exposed secrets of a cult. However, many close to Kubrick, including his daughter, assert that he was satisfied with the film’s final cut and that he was not murdered.
**Misconception number seven:** Kubrick faked the moon landing. There’s a theory that he helped the U.S. government fake the Apollo 11 moon landing, but there is substantial evidence proving that the moon landing actually occurred.
**Misconception number eight:** Orson Welles had trouble finding work and had to finance his own movies. While Welles did finance some projects, it was not due to a lack of work. After making *The Stranger*, he wanted to have complete control over his films, leading him to turn down many directing jobs.
**Misconception number nine:** Charlie Chaplin was a communist. Chaplin was accused of being a communist in the 1950s, especially after making *The Great Dictator*, a satire about Hitler. However, Chaplin repeatedly stated that he was not a communist, even joking that he was too wealthy to want that.
**Misconception number ten:** David O. Russell and George Clooney have a feud. While there was tension between them during the filming of *Three Kings*, Clooney has since said that they have moved past it and appreciates the work Russell continues to do.
Thank you for watching misconceptions on Mental Floss video! If you have a topic for an upcoming misconceptions episode that you would like to see, leave it in the comments, and I’ll see you next week.
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This version maintains the original content while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Directors – Individuals responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a film or play, guiding the actors and crew to bring the script to life. – The directors worked tirelessly to ensure that every scene in the play was executed perfectly.
Film – A motion picture or movie, often created for entertainment, education, or artistic expression. – The film captivated the audience with its stunning visuals and compelling storyline.
Writing – The process of creating scripts or screenplays for movies, plays, or television shows. – Her writing for the new movie was praised for its witty dialogue and engaging plot.
Movies – Films or motion pictures that are produced for entertainment or artistic purposes. – We spent the weekend watching classic movies from the golden age of cinema.
Hollywood – A district in Los Angeles known as the center of the American film industry, often associated with glamorous movie stars and big-budget productions. – Many aspiring actors dream of making it big in Hollywood.
Characters – The people, animals, or beings portrayed in a film, play, or story, each with distinct traits and roles. – The characters in the play were so well-developed that the audience felt a deep connection to them.
Stories – Narratives or accounts of events, real or fictional, that are told through films, plays, or other media. – The stories told in the film were both heartwarming and thought-provoking.
Scenes – Parts of a film or play where the action takes place in a single location or moment in time. – The director decided to reshoot several scenes to capture the perfect lighting.
Myths – Traditional stories, often involving supernatural beings or events, that are used to explain natural or social phenomena. – The film cleverly incorporated ancient myths into its modern storyline.
Opportunities – Chances or prospects for advancement or success, especially in the performing arts or film industry. – The young actor was grateful for the opportunities to audition for major film roles.
