Film credits

[SteveD]

Why is it that, at the end of a film, there are seemingly hundreds of credits for obscure jobs (gaffer, best boy, foley artist, focus puller, assistant carpenter etc).  Apart from their families, does anyone really want to know about these?

All I want to know is the author, the director, the cast, the music, the locations used and that's about it.

  When you buy a book, you don't get information about the individual people involved in its production: the paper, the ink, the press operator, the binder's second assistant or the name of the office cat's vet.

[vehelpfulguy]

I think it is part of the union rules that everyone involved in the making of the film gets a mention.

But I have to agree it does go over the top, the people who did the catering, or the driver who drove the star to the studio. 

[jno]

it amounts to advertising... anyone could apply for a job by saying 'Well, I was best boy on Titanic'. This way, it's on record, on the film itself, who actually did the job. In the heyday of the film studios (up till the 60s, more or less) it never used to happen because the people in question were studio employees anyway; they just got sent from one job to the next and didn't need to advertise their wares. Now, as basically independent contractors, they do. Even the limo drivers and caterers.

[andy hughes]

There was an argument for cutting the credits on the end of films and Michael Winner spoke up, saying that this is a 'shop window' for film technicians - producers and directors watch films like everyone else, and a particular aspect of the film may appeal, and they may want to get a name to follow up on, so yes, it seems borning to the rest of us, but essential if you work in the industry.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Given the fact it's of no interest to most people, it would surely surfice to have one frame stills, each with a load of people on them, then 'blipvert' it and then stick them in full on the tie-in website. Anyone advertising their credentials has got proof, we don't have to watch it. Voila!

[jno]

Waldo, websites are hackable, whereas the film is both the artefact that's being advertised and the one that's being advertised on. After all, you can always walk out early... used to do that while God Save the Queen was being played (now there's a shock for young AB readers, what do you mean God Save the Queen was played?).

[xHeatherx]

I bet you don't watch them anyway so it doesn't matter whether they're there or not! But to us folk that have had our name in credits then it's an acknowledgement to the work we've done.

[gmaclean]

OK jno, When was The National anthem last played in a British cinema?

 

I remember it well

[joko]

We work hard at our jobs, at all levels, and its only fair that we get a credit for them. As has been said it is evidence for future employers of what you can do and that you are good at it, and can be something of a showreel to any production companies watching.

People would make all kinds of claims about working on films if there wasn't proof.

It takes about a minute for the credits of a film to roll - what else were you going to use that minute for??

If you don't like it don't read it, (they aren't really there for your benefit anyway) but for one minute, its hardly an ordeal.

I made costume armour on Troy and me and the entire company that made them were left off the credits by mistake! Its a good credit for my CV but I have no proof. (obviously if it came to a dispute I could -wageslips, the company would verify etc)

I can't use artwork or pictures because I didn't design them, I just made them. 

And the company's work is attributed to another company who did the soft costumes!

[jno]

couldn't say gmaclean, I lived elsewhere. When was it?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Jno, you're right, a website could be hacked, which is why I said the credits could be included in single frames and 'blipverted' after the cast and major credits - i.e. they're there, and can be found by freeze framing so the proof is incontrovertible, but don't take up any screentime at normal speed.

[jno]

PS joko, one minute??? I sat through the first 2 hours of credits on Wallace & Gromit before deciding that I really must get on with my life. Lovely film, but an awful lot of people to credit.

See what you mean, Waldo, but it would essentially require someone either to get hold of a copy of the film or to wait till the DVD comes out. I presume people need to get their next job lined up quicker than that?

[SteveD]

One aspect of my original question is that you don't get all this information if you buy a book.  Equally, if you buy a car, the documentation that comes with it does not include details of the person who designed the rear shelf or the rubber seals around the windows or the paint colours or the overhead camshaft bearings or the test-track drivers or the name of the guy who delivered the car to the showroom etc, etc, etc.

Surely all these people working on a film have some form of written contract which should be adequate if they are looking for further work.

[jno]

again, car assembly line workers and book printers don't usually need to advertise - they're company employees, so it's just the company that needs to get its name known.

[jennieaspina]

As a caterer on films and are first on set and last to leave ,I think we should be mentioned on the credits ,thanks.

[henrymullen]

Of course everyone should be mentioned. These people work hard, long hours to make a movie.

By the way, everytime I watch a movies on DVD for the first time I DO watch the end titles. It's interesting to know who does what.

And If you don't believe me when I say there are hundreds of people involved, just watch the documentery on the 2nd disc of the new Revenge Of The Sith DVD. It's called In A Minute and is quite mind boggling just how many people are involved.