ABSTRACT
Although many feature films and documentaries discussed in this volume celebrate their authors in credits, publicity, and even the critical legacy surrounding them, this does not mean that the concept of authorship takes the same shape, or merits the same accolades, across the complete spectrum of contemporary film and video production. Alternative works such as grassroots community videos offer a distinctive construct of what an author is or, indeed, of how the author and text take shape. Often, these videos espouse an oppositional stance toward the mainstream media that permeates the message of the video. 1 Yet, opposition imbues not only their texts but also the processes of production and reception that create and recreate these texts. Ultimately, as I will argue, such opposition also comments on the nature and implications of mainstream cinematic authorship itself.
