After directing three immensely successful computer-animated films, John Lasseter has become something hitherto unheard of in the animation field: a superstar director. However, on MONSTERS, INC., and several of Pixar's upcoming films, Lasseter will step back to take on the role of executive producer, a nebulous title which is probably somewhat misleading. Creative consultant might be a more appropriate designation. "Executive producer is really a catch-all title," admitted Lasseter. "It can have a number of different meanings in Hollywood, and in my case, I really don't know. From a corporate standpoint, I oversee absolutely everything creative that goes on at Pixar, and on MONSTERS, INC., I was involved in all aspects of the film, including the casting, being in story sessions, and bouncing ideas around. I've been there from the very beginning. But at Pixar, we work as a collective group. Pete Docter is the director, and I'm the executive vice-president of creative, so as with all the creative things being done at Pixar, I oversee and help on them. But it's not a place where one person makes a movie, but where a group of people make a movie."
To that end, Lasseter notes that the typical 'a film by' opening credit would be an absurdity for an animated film. "That's why you won't see it at Pixar. It's a 'Pixar Animation Studios Film,' and that's right up there in front. Generally, we all build on each other's ideas, so in the end it's something no single person could have thought of, and we wouldn't have gotten the same results without there being that group input. I tend to get an awful lot of credit for the things that go on here, because I'm the creative guy in charge, but I don't do everything. During the production process, everyone gets to put their own creative ability into the task at hand, and there's virtually no politics going on. In the end, what's nice about it is we all have ownership in the movie. I've always believed that the feeling and atmosphere at a studio come from the top, so I try to be honest, funny, crazy, and just have fun with what we do. I realize I'm an example for everybody here, and it kind of permeates the place."
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