Dutch credits, and credits in general

Daniel van Eijmeren dve at kabelfoon.nl
Wed Jun 23 18:45:33 CEST 2004


KAI SAARTO to PASCAL OOST, 15-06-2004:

>> Crediting his work could be one (cheap) way to help a artist feel
>> appreciated.

> Not to mention the fact that comics that show the names of the 
> authors tend to sell more.

Where did you get that fact from? As far as I know, it's the name Disney 
that often sells the most. (Or McDonalds, Rolls Royce, etc.)

> Several publishers make a LOT of money just by reprinting old stories 
> by famous artists. Its the name that sells (and not just Walt´s).

At least in The Netherlands, there's little interest in that (IMO). Only 
the quality of the stories is important, and the names of the featured 
Disney characters.

As far as I know, there have only been two Dutch instances where I've 
witnessed people talking about Barks and other Disney artists. That was 
in a comic book shop and at a comic book convention.

I don't think that sales will positively change in The Netherlands by just 
adding credits to the Dutch weekly. At least, I fail to see the connection.

SONIA DYER to me, 16-06-2004:

>> Only few people care for credits when consuming products of big
>> companies. Have many people do carefully read the credits after 
>> a movie is over? How many people do carefully read the detailed 
>> credits of a software programme? Only freaks do.

> Well thank you for calling me a freak.

You're welcome! :-)

> I tend to look at products as creations of talented individuals, 
> not as creations of faceless corporations.

That's a different matter. If I would only want to know about The Beatles
as a group, not caring for the names of the individual members John, Paul, 
George, Pete, and Stuart, doesn't mean that I look at them as a faceless 
corporation.

> When I see the name of one or more of the creators of something 
> I enjoyed, I am pleased, and look for more of their work.  With 
> respect to movies, several recent ones have actually even made an 
> effort to make the closing credits fun to look at (Shrek 2, Harry 
> Potter 3).

So, apparently, producers and publishers have to make an *effort* to 
make the closing credits fun to look at, because otherwise they would be 
*boring*. But still, fun or no fun needed, do they really *read* the 
credits? Or are they mostly just anxious to enjoy the *bonus* material 
shown during/after the credits?

>> How many people have read Barks's non-Disney stories? 
>> Have many people have really cared to even look for them?

> Like a number of people on this list, I have books full of Barks' 
> earlier work because this is someone whose work I enjoy, Disney or 
> not, and because it gives me greater insight into their creative
> development as an artist.

It's the same for me. I love Barks' non-Disney work!

> If people don't commonly read them, perhaps it's because they're 
> not mass marketed.  I doubt the average comics reader even knows 
> there are Barks non-Disney stories, and therefore they don't look 
> for them.

Then people should write and promote books about - for example - Barks, 
with indexes and guides included. The more the better!

But at least in the USA and in The Netherlands, those books only sell in 
relatively small quantities. So, apparently, there the names of people 
behind big corporations are only of real interest to a relatively small 
quantity of die-hard fans, crying in the desert. (Fans like me!)

--- Daniël




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