A Film By... How does it sit with you?

Zak Forsman said:
also, not to be harsh, but if one hasn't established a loyal fanbase, and the filmmaking looks shoddy, I'd argue it gives the audience the appearance of a poser acting out a fantasy -- working against you. at least, that's the reaction i have to it. So, I suppose you need to earn it. if it's going to be slapped on a trailer or poster, you'd better be rocking it balls out. if you've got the chops to back it up, you're good, right?
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+1

If the creation of a film really starts and ends with your passion and determination than I think its totally warranted to put "a film by" credit. I dont think "a film by" necessarily takes away from all the work collaborators do but rather is just part of the "auteur" theory (where a film reflects a single author) thats so prevalent nowadays. When everyone is trying their best to facilitate a directors vision I think the film credit is not so much an ego statement but ownership of your work and the work you brought together from others.

It seems to me that what separates an amateur from a pro is attitude and that most amateurs would be embarrassed to see their name in A FILM BY (this embarrassment will probably stop zero of them from actually doing it). I think a pro expects to see his name in front of a film because he understands that making movies means you to take credit for what you make, turds an all, and that it's nothing to get emotional over.

I respect what you are doing Zak with putting "a film by SABI" and fostering the collaborative spirit of the picture over the individual, do you feel like you are working outside the auteur concept?
 
I'd be inclined to think that themes, visual motifs and my general point of view will lend themselves to a perceived "signature" unique to films I direct, despite the collaborative nature of how we execute that vision.
 
I do it for two reasons. One, besides the actors, it really is a film by me. Two, I want people to know that I do it all. If there's something they don't like or do like, I get full blame or full credit. I like that accountability.
 
El Director said:
I want people to know that I do it all. If there's something they don't like or do like, I get full blame or full credit. I like that accountability.
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Well, if you're likely to always go that route, then who's to tell you how to set your credits. sounds like your already limiting yourself to self-creating films, which is fine too, i just don't know what your aspirations are as a filmmaker. sofar, i havent had any help with anything i've done, because i've never taken on a scripted project (ThrillFest will be my first)...but the second i start getting actors, audio help and general help, it's no longer a "Chris Light movie"...it'll be more of a "So-and-so Production"...we'll see. or if anything..."directed by Chris Light", preceded by other credits.
 
I've personally outgrown the desire to use the "film by" credit. I used to use it a lot on short films. In fact, credits used to be such a big deal when I was making short films and sketches with friends. A friend and I even had a falling-out for about a year because he thought I was taking too much credit, so maybe that has something to do with it. I used to put my name in the credits a lot, partly to elongate the credit sequences, but also deep down, out of some adolescent desire to show off.

I gradually stopped using the "film by" credit, and other excessive credits in my short films, and in my first feature, I've even come to use pseudonyms for some of the behind the scenes work I do. I think the first two teasers I made for my feature used the film by credit, and even that made me uncomfortable, and in subsequent trailers, and on the poster, I put the more accurate "a film written & directed by" credit, which I think is also kind of interesting stylistically. I don't mind seeing "a Martin Scorsese Picture" or "a Spike Lee Joint", but I suppose that;s because they are who they are.
 
"A Chris Light Slaughtering of a Written Work That was perfectly Fine on it's Own.". it's official.


i'm so conflicted...this thread can go on and on...and may it...
 
"A film by" or in other words the auter theory - the director as author - is IMO one of the worst things to have ever happened in filmmaking.

Until the writer is recognized on an equal level as the director, the majority of movies are going to continue to suck.
 
As marketing it's understandable. Any director who really believes that he or she has actually earned the phrase, though, is experiencing acute craniorectal inversion and had better get to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.

Unless of course that director played literally every position themselves: if they wrote, acted, operated camera, storyboarded, lit, financed, handled transpo and craft service, made the costumes, designed and built the sets, scouted the locations, recorded sound, operated boom, handled the mix, performed all editorial and post work etc etc etc with no assistance from any other person at all then I would certainly agree that 'A Film by' that person would be an accurate and well-earned title.

Otherwise it's disgusting egotism. Or like I said...marketing.

I still like the idea of some day designing a credit roll beginning with A Film by and followed by the names of the whole cast and crew in alphabetical order. I'm sure it's been done.
 
Regarding credits, unless the director has "done something" I see no practical value in doing that. I stopped doing that on any of my shorts, etc. back when I was 20 :) I think it's classier to not do it as well, just a personal opinion :)
 
Zak Forsman said:
...for me, and this is ONLY FOR ME as a writer/director, it wouldn't sit well with me to take sole credit for the entire movie... I'd argue it gives the audience the appearance of a poser acting out a fantasy...
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My feelings as well. I did it on my first few student films and it just seems so egotistical and self-centered now.

dvxhutch said:
"A film by" or in other words the auter theory - the director as author - is IMO one of the worst things to have ever happened in filmmaking... Until the writer is recognized on an equal level as the director, the majority of movies are going to continue to suck.
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+1 Never understood the whole "director" fascination (in the absence of a "writer" fascination), but then I never understood the whole "actor" fascination either. Me, I stick to cinematography, so I'll never get appreciated by the public :cry:

In a perfect world I'd do away with credits altogether. If they liked the film, they'd look us up on IMDB.

But this is not a perfect world.
 
dvxhutch said:
"A film by" or in other words the auter theory - the director as author - is IMO one of the worst things to have ever happened in filmmaking.

Until the writer is recognized on an equal level as the director, the majority of movies are going to continue to suck.
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Agreed 1,000,000,000 %.
 
I'm not a huge fan of it, unless its a special case scenario like Robert Rodriguez doing a lot of the grunt work. Although, even he now uses a lot of support people because he is making bigger films.

But as Zak said, it is a branding thing, so I can understand it from a marketing perspective. Some unknown dude directing The Thing, and it should just be called The Thing. While John Carpenter's The Thing made sense at that time, because he had built up a fan base and brand name for his genre films.

I do think that it depends on the artwork for the marketing campaign though. For example:

Alien-Poster.jpg


That poster wouldn't have looked as nice and starkly minimalist if it had the director's name plastered above the title.

Again, I understand it from a marketing perspective, but I tend to think that the more they scream and shout about who is in the film, as well as who made it, the film looses its power as a mysterious entity, and in turn the audience's curiosity might be diminished. Sort of a "been there, done that" feeling can rear its head when you see certain big name actors are in certain films.

Of course, these days the trailers tell us the whole plot, so maybe I'm just old fashioned when it comes to presentation?
 
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