Alan Smithee is an enigmatic pseudonym frequently used by film directors when they wish to disassociate themselves from a movie due to creative differences or dissatisfaction.
In the world of Hollywood, the name Alan Smithee carries a unique significance. This pseudonym, used by directors to disassociate themselves from unsuccessful projects, has been a part of the film industry's history for over five decades.
The first film credited to Alan Smithee was "Death of a Gunfighter" in 1969. This was the beginning of a period where approximately 40 film, TV, and music video credits were given to the pseudonym. During this time, "Alan Smithee" became synonymous with "box office disaster."
The pseudonym used by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) since 2000 when a dissatisfied director wants to disown a film is "Alan Smithee." Once a Smithee credit was given, the director was forbidden to speak publicly about the circumstances. This rule was in place until the DGA officially discontinued the use of the Smithee name in 2000.
The last film to bear the Alan Smithee credit was "Supernova," credited to "Thomas Lee" in 2000. However, the pseudonym lived on in the public's imagination, with articles discussing its origins and the films associated with it.
One such article, titled "The Many Faces of Alan Smithee," was published in Entertainment Weekly in 1991. Another, titled "Who is Allen Smithee?", appeared in Mental Floss in 2011. In 2007, The Guardian published two articles, "Is Harry Kirkpatrick the new Alan Smithee?" and "Alec Baldwin: Please Don't Go See My New Movie," which discussed the post-Smithee era and the use of pseudonyms in the film industry.
The name Alan Smithee was created by the DGA as a pseudonym for directors who didn't want credit for a film where their creative vision had been quashed. This requirement was still in place when Roger Ebert wrote a review titled "An Alan Smithee Film Burn Hollywood Burn" in 1998.
The post-Smithee era saw the use of pseudonyms like "Harry Kirkpatrick," as seen in the film "Shortcut to Happiness" in 2007. This film, credited to "Harry Kirkpatrick" after Alec Baldwin's request, is an example of a film where the director chose to disassociate themselves from the final product.
Brian Prendreigh wrote an article titled "Director's Final Cut" for The Guardian in 2000, discussing the use of pseudonyms in the film industry and the reasons behind them. This article provided insight into the complex relationships between directors, producers, and the films they create.
In conclusion, the pseudonym Alan Smithee has played a significant role in the film industry, serving as a symbol of directors' dissatisfaction with their work. Despite the DGA's decision to discontinue the use of the pseudonym, its legacy continues to be discussed in various articles and studies on the film industry.
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