PART THREE: CREDITS HAVE FEELINGS, TOO

When the film is over, the credits roll. Many people see this part of the film as unnecessary, or just music to walk out of the theater to. There are even SOME cheap theaters who think they are so unnecessary that they shut the projector off in the middle of them. Blasphemy!

I challenge you to expand your horizons and, just once, stay and read some of the names that roll by. In one respect, it helps an audience member appreciate the work that went into what they’ve just seen, and to honor the people that took part in it. In another way, it can help you to understand the movie a little more. Many people say to me, “Oh, the credits are just for you film guys. I don’t know what a Best Boy is, and I don’t care.” But don’t cut your movie appreciation so short.

There are so many ways you can learn about the film by watching the credits. See how many stuntmen there were. If there’s only two and it’s an action picture, you might think, “Gee, those two guys pulled off everything.” Look at the locations listed. “Honey, look—they shot this in three different countries, even though it was all supposed to be in one city.” Were there any special makeup or mechanical effects used that you didn’t realize? Was the film based on a book? Did one of the stars help write or produce? Or did they sing their own songs or do their own stunts? There are many new levels of understanding that even the common ticket buyer can glean from this new attention. Try it sometime, and feel a little more in tune with the filmmakers who just entertained you.

I’ll admit I am more of a movie geek than most. But my hope is that audiences achieve a greater appreciation for the medium. Films are more than popcorn flicks—they are a wonderful, powerful and expressive art form. I hope at your next trip to the movies, you’ll hang around for the big words crawling across the screen to complete the experience.

And as far as what a Best Boy is, he is the bestest boy in the whole wide world and that is why he won that prize.