Where Credit Is Due
I've just been watching one in the series of Wainwright's Walks on television - Julia Bradbury climbing Helvellyn in the rain and mist. I must say the views looked fantastic - - at least the ones taken from a helicopter, on a day when it wasn't raining or misty, were. Poor Julia could only see about ten feet in front of her.
I nearly started to climb Helvellyn once, led by someone from Stephen's work who had organised a weekend trip to it. His method of leading the group - which consisted of a strange assorted bunch of people of all ages and levels of fitness - was to shout "Come on, everyone!" and set off at top speed.
Now I know that Helvellyn is a difficult walk, particularly going the way that he was going, via Striding Edge - - rocky walk with a huge drop at either side - - and I thought actually, no way am I doing this walk - or any walk - led by him.
So I turned back, and had a pleasant afternoon wandering around next to the glorious Ullswater.
Pretty soon just about everyone else turned back, too, having been unable to keep up with the so-called leader.
But, d'you know what, this wasn't what this post was going to be about.
Just before the programme started, we saw the last few moments of a 1981 adaptation of John Wyndham's famous novel The Day of the Triffids. I remember seeing it at the time and really enjoyed it.
Watching the ending again, it was great to be able to look at the credits and go "I think that was John Duttine - - yes, it was - - and oh, look, Gary Olsen - - wow, 1981, was it that long ago?"
That kind of thing.
And we can never do that now, can we? Because the credits whizz past faster than Apollo 11 went to the Moon, don't they? And much of the time they're squished into half the screen. And you get an announcer talking over them about something completely different.
It annoys me for two reasons - firstly, because I work with actors and really I think the least that they should get is their names in the credits, so that they can become better known. And secondly, because I really want to know, a lot of the time, who was in it and who wrote it and who directed it. Speeding through the credits like that does the audience a real disservice and is a definite change for the worse over the past few years.
I nearly started to climb Helvellyn once, led by someone from Stephen's work who had organised a weekend trip to it. His method of leading the group - which consisted of a strange assorted bunch of people of all ages and levels of fitness - was to shout "Come on, everyone!" and set off at top speed.
Now I know that Helvellyn is a difficult walk, particularly going the way that he was going, via Striding Edge - - rocky walk with a huge drop at either side - - and I thought actually, no way am I doing this walk - or any walk - led by him.
So I turned back, and had a pleasant afternoon wandering around next to the glorious Ullswater.
Pretty soon just about everyone else turned back, too, having been unable to keep up with the so-called leader.
But, d'you know what, this wasn't what this post was going to be about.
Just before the programme started, we saw the last few moments of a 1981 adaptation of John Wyndham's famous novel The Day of the Triffids. I remember seeing it at the time and really enjoyed it.
Watching the ending again, it was great to be able to look at the credits and go "I think that was John Duttine - - yes, it was - - and oh, look, Gary Olsen - - wow, 1981, was it that long ago?"
That kind of thing.
And we can never do that now, can we? Because the credits whizz past faster than Apollo 11 went to the Moon, don't they? And much of the time they're squished into half the screen. And you get an announcer talking over them about something completely different.
It annoys me for two reasons - firstly, because I work with actors and really I think the least that they should get is their names in the credits, so that they can become better known. And secondly, because I really want to know, a lot of the time, who was in it and who wrote it and who directed it. Speeding through the credits like that does the audience a real disservice and is a definite change for the worse over the past few years.
posted by Daphne at 8:24 pm
4 Comments:
I agree, Daphne. Often I notice an actor that I am impressed with during the programme but can never find out who he/she is because I can't read the credits.
You and Sheridan are alike. He will put the credits in slow-motion so he can wring out every last detail and woe betide anyone who records something but presses stop before the credits are up (as I have done on prior occasions!)
We have been watching the Wainwright walk series
and think they are all beyond us LOL
But we go to the Lake district most years and love it there.
You are so right about the tv credits. And you can never see which year things are made which is important when watching imported US programmes on Ch 5 as they are usually 2/3 old when we get them. THe fact that announcer talk over problems no detracts from the emotional side of watching a programme too. Ther eyou are just watching a character killed off or some other cliff hanger and some twit is telling you tomorrow you can watch who wants to be a millionaire grrrrr
When we go to the cimema John makes me sit through tal the credits. he says its important everyone that has worked on a film is acknowledge.
We are always last to leave LOL
I completely agree, Daphne. Fast-rolling, unreadable credits at the end of a televised film is (are?) a pet peeve of mine. It seems so disrespectful to everyone who had a part in the making of the film.
Maybe showing the credits is a legal requirement that the TV powers-that-be follow in name only so there will be more time for their precious commercials.
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