Filmmakers’ theory: an approach to the study of cinema (deadline: December 15, 2019)

The Filmmakers’ theory is an area of work in the field of film studies. Based on assumptions made by Jacques Aumont, in his book The Filmmakers’ Theories, the research field we propose aims to focus the investigation on cinema around the written, spoken or filmed manifestations, among other possibilities, but always of the filmmakers themselves. Essentially, it is intended that the production of knowledge about cinema has as its main point of support direct sources, that is, from the filmmakers themselves. Similarly, the Filmmakers’ Theory presents itself as an alternative to the more classic methods of film analysis, especially those anchored in concepts from different disciplinary areas, and promotes a closer discursive renewal of the poetics of artistic creation. As an approach, the Filmmakers’ Theory seeks to understand the cinematic phenomenon through direct dialogue between the academic and the filmmaker. He is understood here in a broad sense, encompassing all the figures that participate in the filmic creative process, such as the screenwriter, editor, sound or image director and not just the director.

The Filmmakers’ Theory configures both a methodological framework and an approach to film works and filmic labour. This field, which is still in a process of reflection and consolidation, has been discussed and put into practice in the AIM – Moving Image Researchers Association eponymous Working Group, as well as in the eponymous Thematic Seminar of SOCINE – Brazilian Society of Cinema and Audiovisual Studies. Even though they already produced outputs such as oral communications and texts collected in the three volumes edited by Manuela Penafria, Eduardo Tulio Baggio, André Rui Graça and Denize Correa Araujo (http://labcom-ifp.ubi.pt/tcineastas/), the issue of the Filmmakers’ Theory remains a methodological field of open architecture whose path unfolds while walking.

At this moment, according to a consolidation purpose, we are essentially looking for (but not only) proposals that can be anchored in the path already taken. This means that we understand this thematic dossier as a working tool for the problematization of the Filmmakers’ Theory approach in its scope, extent and weaknesses, or in its operationalization in practice-based context about one or more filmmakers, preferably from the Portuguese and/or Brazilian cinema. In its problematization we seek the possibility of making a “state of the art” about the contributions already made in this field, the contributions and effective benefits for the film studies. In its operationalization, we seek studies that begin with the discussion of a methodology that can be replicated. And that the conclusions can advance the production of knowledge about cinema.

 

Here are some suggestions for work (however the dossier’s scope is not limited to these suggestions):

- Explain and reflect on the methodology(ies) of the Filmmakers’ Theory approach

- Problematize notions of “filmmaker”, “theory”, “filmic sources” and “non-filmic sources” (such as scripts, planning, storyboard, drawings…)

- Problematize the approximation and/or distance between oral history, author theory and the Filmmakers’ Theory approach

- Operationalize the Filmmakers’ Theory approach, also highlighting the methodology used and the contribution to the theory of cinema. Examples: 1) case studies and problematization of the creative process; 2) an original theoretical formulation on the figure of the spectator whose main source of information and inspiration is the thoughts and poetics of filmmakers; 3) discussion of filmography (completed and unfinished films) by relevant filmmakers, preferably Portuguese or Brazilian ones.

 

This Thematic Dossier is coordinated by Eduardo Tulio Baggio, Manuela Penafria and André Rui Graça.

Eduardo Tulio Baggio holds a doctorate from PUC-SP (Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo) with the thesis: Da teoria à experiência de realização do documentário fílmico [From theory to the experience of directing the filmic documentary]. He teaches in the Masters in Cinema and Video Arts and he is a Bachelor in Cinema and Audiovisual, both from the State University of Paraná (Unespar). He is a member of the following research groups: Cinema: Criação e Reflexão [Cinema: Creation and Reflection] (Unespar/CNPq) and Kinedária: arte, poética, cinema, vídeo [Kinedária: art, poetics, cinema, vídeo] (Unespar / CNPq). He was a coordinating member of the AIM Filmmakers’ Theory Working Group and he is a coordinating member of the SOCINE Filmmakers’ Theory Thematic Seminar. He is also a filmmaker with an emphasis on documentaryism.

Manuela Penafria holds a PhD from UBI (University of Beira Interior), being the book O paradigma do documentário – António Campos, cineasta [The Documentary Paradigm – António Campos, filmmaker] (2009) the result from part of her PhD thesis. She teaches in the Degree and Master in Cinema at UBI. She is a member of the editorial board of Portuguese and Brazilian journals, as well as a member of the scientific committee of various national and international events. She is a coordinating member of the AIM “Filmmakers’ Theory” Working Group, co-editor of DOC Online Journal and researcher at Labcom – Comunication and Arts.

André Rui Graça holds a doctorate from University College London, with a thesis on the Portuguese film trade. He holds a degree in Artistic Studies from the University of Coimbra and a Master of Arts in Film Studies from University College London. He was a PhD fellow at the Foundation for Science and Technology. He is currently a project consultant in the business sector and an integrated researcher at the Centre of 20th Century Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Coimbra. He is a coordinating member of the AIM “Filmmakers’ Theory” Working Group.

 

The deadline for submitting articles is December 15, 2019.

All articles received will be subject to a blind peer selection and review process.

Before submitting your full article, please read the Section Policies, the Instructions for Authors and the Peer Review Policy.

To submit a proposal, please click here.