> But then we do say things like "Nolan made the film" even though he didn't hold a camera or build the sets.

I do say that, too. But I'm not in the film industry. My understanding is that those who are, don't use words as crude as "made" to describe a role in the making of a film. I believe they say that he wrote, directed or produced a film.

We are not talking about some other field of expertise here, where we are outsiders – the production of food, the supply of water, or the making of movies – we're talking about our own field of expertise.