A new survey ranking the film industry's most bankable directors shows that the top three helmers, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and George Lucas, in that order, have retained their slots since 1998, when the last Director Power poll was taken.
Rounding out the study's Maximum Director Power survey (expanded from five to seven slots since 1998's poll) are Ron Howard at No. 4, Tim Burton at No. 5, Martin Scorsese at No. 6, and John Woo at No. 7.
Sad but true, It's still pretty much a white man's game in Hollywood: Actress-director Jodie Foster ranked as the top female finisher, while Spike Lee won the title of top black director. Both scored 20 to 30 points below the average of the top seven titans, a sign that times are slow to change.
The Hollywood Reporter conducted the confidential survey by sending ballots to a cross section of 80 mainstream and indie studio execs, producers, buyers, and others involved in the film-purchasing process. The ballot included more than 800 directorial teams to choose from. Respondents were asked to rank the directors in order of bankability.
Spielberg was the only director to score a perfect 100 (0 being the least bankable, 100 being the maximum moneymaking potential). – Albawaba.com.
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