I’ve been away… but I’m back now. I was made an offer I really couldn’t refuse… not in a mafia kind of way, well, a little bit in a mafia kind of way.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about film credits. It used to be the case that when the film was over the screen would turn to black and tiny white text, moving far faster than you could possibly read, would scroll up the screen letting you know just how many people had been involved in the filming process.

Casting, gaffers, editing…

Everyone used to stand up and make their way outside as soon as they started… but that doesn’t happen any more. 

I don’t think Pixar started it, but they certainly use the technique – adding a little Easter egg at the end of the credits in order to make the audience sit there whilst the names scroll on. Sometimes it will be a little animation, maybe some out-takes, or even animated out-takes.

Loads of other films do it too, but now it has become a problem – it’s a bit like Pavlov’s dog… now when the credits roll I expect something. I’m not the only one. The last time I visited the cinema the whole audience patiently sat waiting for something that never came. The film was good, but everyone left with a sense of disappointment.

So, I’ve been thinking… most people get annoyed at the trailers and such at the start of a film. How about we change convention and start putting them at the end? It kills two cinema-visiting birds with one stone… No hold up at the beginning and something for those who wait, patiently, for the credits to finish.