The aim of film credits, a mixture of text and images displayed at the beginning or end of a film, is to provide the viewer with information on the production. As they refer to off-screen elements, they are, at least, in principle, outside of the story. However, in many ways they can invite the viewer to step into it. This lecture will focus on an analysis of examples to discuss the diversity of forms of film credits, their multiple functions and their importance to the narrative.
Laurence Moinereau lectures in Film studies at the University of Poitiers and is the author of Le Générique de film – De la lettre à la figure. She currently heads an “Assistant Director” master’s degree programme.