Alan Smithee is a renowned pseudonym utilized for directors whose cinematic vision was compromised, resulting in a film that was heavily reedited against their artistic intentions, drastically altering the original narrative and creative direction.
The Directors Guild of America has historically maintained a strict policy, prohibiting directors from disassociating themselves from their work. The Guild's primary objective has been to establish the director as the primary author of a film, acknowledging both the successes and failures as a testament to their creative input.
However, the Guild does make an exception in cases where a director's work is drastically altered against their wishes, resulting in a film that bears little resemblance to their original vision. In such instances, the director is permitted to appeal to the Guild, seeking to have their name replaced with the pseudonym Alan Smithee.
Notably, if a film is credited to Alan Smithee, it is a clear indication that the director's creative input was compromised, and the final product likely diverges significantly from their original artistic intent.
