We all know the legends, but what about those who are just another name in the opening credits? Everyone is familiar with Hitchcock, Kubrick, Spielberg, Scorsese, Tarantino, Kurosawa, Coppola, et al. - directors so-often name-dropped in conversations, books and online that singing their praises is almost a cliché. Just try to find a single Greatest (insert topic here) Of All Time list without seeing their names popping up over and over. But not every great film was made by a great director, nor has every equally-talented director been behind the camera of an acknowledged classic. Sometimes the stars align and a hired gun is fortunate enough to briefly be part of movie history and allowed to shine (Hollywoods equivalent of a One Hit Wonder). Other times a director has proven to be a reliable talent time and time again, responsible for numerous solid films, but remains fairly anonymous because he or she doesnt demonstrate a particularly identifiable style which critics and cinephiles embrace. Then there are some who put their own indelible stamp on a film thats unappreciated by critics and movie snobs, either because he or she chooses to direct concept-driven entertainment for the masses, or said-style offends their sensibilities. This is a list of ten unsung directors, some whose names you may know, most you likely dont. Never mentioned among the greats, all of them have had a mostly-anonymous impact on Hollywood in some way. It would be a shame if we never acknowledged them
D.M. Anderson works and lives in Portland Oregon. He is the author of two young adult novels (Killer Cows & Shaken) and a collection of dark tales (With the Wicked). He has also published several short stories which have appeared (or will appear) in various anthologies and magazines such as 69 Flavors of Paranoia, Night Terrors, Trembles, Encounters, Implosion, Strange Fucking Stories, Perpetual Motion Machine. He documents his adventures in the dark on on his movie site, Free Kittens Movie Guide