[ghaff]

I can see both views. On the one hand, authors aren't always the best judges of their own work and executors can hire someone who may do a good job of polishing. On the other hand, there are unfinished works that are relatively mediocre (True at First Light) or just clearly unfinished (The Last Tycoon).

Of course, a movie studio is almost certain to finish off a movie if a director dies and may remove them for other reasons.

[hosh]

It’s true, a good editor or producer collaborates with the creative to get it across the finish line, flawed as it is.

It works better if there is mutual respect.

My point though is when generalizing and reframing this about the deceased vs living, more often than not, it is no longer about respecting (even respectfully disagreeing) with the creative and more about disrespecting the deceased.

[ghaff]

>It’s true, a good editor or producer collaborates with the creative to get it across the finish line, flawed as it is.

If it's a studio film, they may well fire the director and hire a new one. And, of course, screenwriters are casually script doctored with or without their consent.

[hosh]

Sure, because it is funded by a commercial concern and they are in the business of selling entertainment.

With books, the balance of power isn’t so skewed to the publisher, though I suppose it depends on what it is.

I don’t know what circumstances Tolkien’s unfinished work was released, though it seems like his son toiled away at them for years.

[ghaff]

True, and there's typically far less money (or big expenses) involved with books.

I always assumed Christopher Tolkien had some sort of "do with them what you think best" agreement with his father although I don't actually know. Not that there's anything particularly special in written word beyond Tolkien's originals.

[chasil]

Well, I guess that we all need to stop listening to Schubert's unfinished symphony.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._8_(Schubert)#Earl...