The auteur theory of production frames film history as a series of biographies of directors. Auteur Theory assumes that the director is the single author responsible for any multimedia work. The director imprints her personality on her films by repeatedly making similar thematic and stylistic choices. In rare cases, critics who subscribe to auteur theory have argued that an actor or screenwriter with a strong personality may also serve as an auteur. Examples of this phenomenon include the filmographies of comedic actor Jerry Lewis and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.
Production theory grew out of the application of economic theory to media studies. It sees media production as a collision of people with various power roles and differing levels of influence over each other.
Critics of auteur theory may claim that no single person can claim authorship over a collaborative work, and that the theory takes too narrow a view by ignoring the logistical and financial factors affecting production. Critics of production theory consider it too political and point out that it tends to ignore the potentially powerful influence of individual creativity.