ENGL 817AL - Field Notes: What is an "Author" in Film?

I'm ramping up on research for my final paper in this class, and if you don't know me by now, you gotta know that I am finding a way to bring film into it if I can.

Coles Notes: I'm tracing the visualization of digital space through early science fiction films that pre-date the release of Neuromancer in 1984 and how they might have influenced the description of digital space in the novel, and then following that with how the novel has influenced science fiction films since then in further visualizations of digital space. Think Tron through to The Matrix and beyond.

But that is not what this post is focused on—as the title suggests. Our most recent class seminars and discussion were around the idea of 'What is an author?'. There were musing on tracing the rise of the 'author' in history and publishing as well has defining what an author is. And, since I am focusing on film in my final paper, I asked myself: "What or who is the author when it comes to film?"

I doubt I will be able to answer this question myself, and I am sure others would have a very adamant claim to who they would think is the 'author' of a film, but having studied film and film adaptations of books for the last five or so more years, even I do not have a definitive place of assignment for 'author' of a film. There are too many moving parts, people, and contributions to have a sole author, I think.

Claims could be made that it is the script writer who is the author. But then what if the script is adapted from a book or play or other source? Then is it not author that is original author?

What about the actors that bring the characters to like on screen? Are they not a type of author bringing a level of authorship to the depiction of that character?

What about the director? Is it not them who guides the story much like an author does?
What about the cinematographer? Is it not them who is bring the visuals of the story to life, like an author does with elaborate description in a novel?

Am I just grasping at straws here?

But, again, I have to think about all the moving parts that make a film function. And, because The Oscars was on recently, there isn't just ONE category for the awards which would celebrate the 'author' of the film and be done. There are multiple categories for all of the different contributing pieces to a film. 

So, in fact, am I not right, that there isn't really only just one 'author' of a film?