From an essay titled, Picture Partners, written by John Huston and published in the December 1941 edition of American Cinematographer…
His observations stem from his experience making the classic film The Maltese Falcon alongside legendary cinematographer Arthur Edeson, ASC.
Would that everyone in the industry thought like this!
“I’m still pretty young and new at the business of directing pictures, but I can’t conceive of any director who really has the interest of his production at heart ever getting so big and experienced that he could ignore the suggestions that come so naturally from his partner at the camera.
And the man at the camera can be just that – a partner to the director: really a co-director taking full responsibility for the visual side of the production, leaving the director free to concentrate on the actors and their work. That title, “Director of Photography” is a lot more than a mere phrase! It’s a very specific definition of the invaluable service the cinematographer can offer to a production – if we’ll let him.”
From John’s lips to God’s ears!
Words of wisdom! Must send this to the up-and-coming directors who think they do this all on their own.