The collaborative system is particularly evident in episodic television. A given series typically has many different directors, and often has different writers (not all of whom are given a credit). The series creator may establish an outline for the run of the show, and the actors themselves create a sense of continuity.

Still I think there are some film directors who impose a continuity of theme or attitude in spite of influence from the studio, cast, and crew--like Douglas Sirk or Nicholas Ray, who more often than not undermined what they were given to work with.