Film/show credits "compressed" on TV. Your thoughts...

[rijir]

As some of you may have caught on the new Star Wars DVD documentary, one of the motion picture guilds was upset with Lucas about the movie credits not showing until the end of the film. When it came to Empire they were quite upset. I personally don't see it as that big of a deal in the beginning. But I do believe credit should be given. At least at the end.

My question is: What do all of you feel about every television station compressing movie and TV show credits to the side of the screen so that they may promo other shows. They are allways completely unreadable and almost always so sped up you wouldn't have a chance to read any of them. I personally think that is so disrespectfull to the people who work on these films/shows. And why hasn't that guild have an issue with just about every television station out there? Or maybe they do and we haven't heard about it.

I'm not saying I am dying to read all of the credits of most TV shows or films. But there have been times where I wanted to check the credits because, for example, an actor looked familiar and I wanted to see who it was.

What are your thoughts??

Deep hatred.

That is all.

[ekent]

This is an unfortunate bi-product of the "MTV/NOW!" generation. Each credit should appear no less than 4 seconds on screen. However, I do strongly disagree that the credits should appear at both the end and beginning of the movie. What is the point of forcing the audience to look at it twice. If we want to see who created the film, we know where to find it. Forcing film makers to put the credits at the beginning of the film compomises the artist's integrity.

[dwatts]

Well, I'd offer this view: If you want most people to read them, they need to be at the beginning. As for TV credits - it's TV, and as poop as that sounds, it's how I feel. If the creators don't care about commercial breaks and OAR, I don't see how they can have a legitimate complaint about the credits.

It's gotten much worse in recent years. The credits are sometimes compressed to 1/5th of the screen nowadays, and I suspect the Sci-Fi Channel's way of doing things is even worse than that. Not to mention FOX's gigantic obnoxicons and now animated pop-up promos that take up 1/3 of the bottom of your screen and even feature sound! A gaggle of Bridezillas running away, totally distracting you from the show you're watching? Hank Hill, or was it Homer Simpson, mowing his lawn across your screen? Nothing is sacred. Dear god, it has to stop somewhere! Soon we'll all be watching shows in the middle 1/3 of the screen, as things go flashing by on top and on the bottom, in case we miss some important new reality show that's going to air next week, perhaps something like When My Big Fat Obnoxicon Attacks. When the emergency weather report happens, we'll be completely screwed, as that will take up 1/2 of the 1/3 that's been designated viewing area by the station. It'll be like watching a TV at the end of a really long hallway, but with blaring, fast-talking advertisements and distracting bleeps and bloops every now and then.

Music during end credits? It doesn't exist anymore, or it might as well not exist, anyway. I had no idea Star Trek Voyager, Enterprise or even Futurama had an ending theme, until I saw them unedited. I didn't know whether I should be happy or pissed or maybe a bit of both when I heard notes of a song I'd never heard before when they first aired.

[Paff]

Well, I haven't seen the Star Wars documentary mentioned in the original post, but it's now commonplace for there to be no credits at the beginning of a film, only at the end. That's a different matter than that "compressing" we're talking about.

With the compressing, it's a damned if you do/damned if you don't thing. If they don't do it, they'll have to cut the content of the program or movie to make room for more commercials. Since so few people sit through credits (including even some of the "film students" on this board), it was an obvious choice.

It does suck when there's a "stinger" or voice-over that gets eliminated due to the promos the networks run. The Simpsons has done this for years, and it's a shame when a gag gets eliminated. Some great examples: The football episode, where Homer cuts most of the crew listed in the credits. The vegetarian episode, with the lentil soup recipe backwards masked in "Maybe I'm Amazed". The designer dog episode, where Chief Wiggum and Lou rock out to Bob Marley's "Jammin".

You're lucky if you hear those bits anymore.

If I had to choose between the two, credits compression and pop-up ads, I'd choose the credits, obviously, although in cases such as The Simpsons, where the joke extends to the credits, it really does suck, as mentioned above. I just wish the credits could be at least halfway visible still. I do believe Sci-Fi is the worst about this. I couldn't even read their credits on my 27" TV, and that's pretty bad.

I tend to want to stick around for the entire credits because usually, there is at least one piece of music I'm curious about, and that's always shown near the end.

[baggio]

it's extremely aggrevating

[BloodMan]

I really hate that too. Especially if there was a kickin song in the film and you want to know what it is, you are all set to jot it down, then bam! credits squeezed to the side so small you can't read shit. Pisses me off.

[Criswell]

I think Hollwood has itself to blame for this.

Credits were initially only to tell you who was in the film, who financed the film and who called the major shots..............NOT..........who bought the fucking donuts and replaced the lightbulbs.

It's become cheap job advertising and unless there is a producer with ABSOLUTELY no contacts to find out who the 2nd Ass. Director was and needs to see it on screen, they are pointless.

Keep it down to the basics. Hell even things like the F/X (model makers) etc......real fans will find out through magazines, forums, conventions etc.

Keep the Music though.

BTW.............what the fuck is "Best Boy"????????

[Katatonia]

I hate 'em too. Sometimes they roll them down so damn fast that you can't even read a cast/crew member whom you're patiently waiting to looking for.

Originally Posted by Criswell

BTW.............what the fuck is "Best Boy"????????

I could be wrong but isn't that Shoe's favorite fuck?

I hate this. And I also hate how they do it with TV shows now... especially reruns where they don't keep the original end credits.

To be honest I guess I've gotten use to it as it doesn't really bother me much.

[bigdaddyhorse]

I notice it, but it doesn't bug me that much, except the aforementioned Simpsons credits where jokes are still going. If it hasn't happened already, soon TV shows will be advertised on dvd as "uncut" just cuz they have the credit roll even if nothing else has changed (I know syndacation trims all kinds of shit as well in most cases, I'm guessing for newer shit that won't even make syndication).