Mavericks: Interviews with the World's Iconoclast Filmmakers

The auteur theory was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s by Andrew Sarris, but it had a negative effect on the dominance of the white heterosexual male point of view and excluded marginalized aspiring filmmakers. Mavericks: Interviews with the World's Iconoclast Filmmakers amplifies the voices of a diverse group of groundbreaking filmmakers whose work is marked by their unique artistic points of view and social and political consciousness. The collection includes interviews with female directors, male filmmakers, and an ambitious discussion of the filmmaker's whole career.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 23 January 2024
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

The auteur theory, which holds that a director's personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so significant that they are regarded as the key artist in its creation, gained widespread popularity in America through the efforts of film critic Andrew Sarris. During the New Hollywood Era of the 1960s and 1970s, as weakening studio control granted directors greater artistic freedom, the theory gained traction, embraced by both the media and directors themselves, and became a significant factor in the filmmaking process. However, with its almost universal acceptance, the auteur theory also had a negative effect. It undeniably played a role in establishing and romanticizing the dominance of the white heterosexual male point of view while ignoring the contributions of screenwriters and cinematographers, and, worse, excluding marginalized aspiring filmmakers from the industry.

To amplify the voices of a diverse group of groundbreaking filmmakers whose identities, perspectives, and works deviate from traditional Hollywood standards, Mavericks: Interviews with the World's Iconoclast Filmmakers is a captivating collection of interviews. Author Gerald Peary, with his extensive experience as a film studies professor, film critic, arts journalist, and director of documentaries, has compiled a compelling compilation of interviews with idiosyncratic directors. These directors, representing various backgrounds, including Black, queer, female, and non-Western filmmakers, are distinguished by their unique artistic viewpoints and shaped by their social and political consciousness.

The collection spans from the 1970s to the early 2000s, encompassing Peary's conversations with over twenty film pioneers. Prior to Kathryn Bigelow's historic win as the first woman to receive an Oscar for best director in 2010, Peary had the opportunity to interview several trailblazing directors, including cutti.

Mavericks: Interviews with the World's Iconoclast Filmmakers serves as a testament to the power of cinema to challenge societal norms, question established narratives, and showcase the diverse talents and perspectives of filmmakers worldwide. Through these insightful conversations, Peary provides a valuable insight into the creative process, the challenges faced by filmmakers, and the impact their work has on audiences and the industry.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813197944