Some filmmakers are clearly more visually oriented than others. Compare Avatar with a movie like Doubt: in some cases, the details of the setting are really unimportant to the quality of the film.
But you could still call them all artists in a way, just as you might call screenwriting an art. It just appeals to intellect and emotions rather than aesthetic preferences.
I'm not tipsy, btw; I was referring to the fact that I chuckled at that story I linked.