10 Things Filmmakers Need To Stop Doing Immediately

An actual beginning credit sequence, separate from where the story and dialogue is happening, is perfectly acceptable. Bond films are most famous for this, while some films go the animated route like Catch Me If You Can.

Others cleverly lead into the story like the tour through Edward Norton’s brain before pulling out to see the gun in his mouth in Fight Club; and most stuff Saul Bass produced is great. Even white writing on black card scored by jazz is totally fine, Woody.

But once the story is progressing and actors are walking and talking all over the place, having the real names of the actors and the other filmmakers plastered over the footage in an uninventive way breaks the fourth wall somewhat and, if nothing else, looks a bit messy. Sometimes the fourth wall being broken in this way is worth it - a good example is the way in which the credits appear in Funny Games, filling the screen, all big and red and intrusive – but this is rare.

Basically filmmakers: consult this writer before finalising the film edit and he will give you the yay or nay. Cheers.