During the past few months I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the

number and variety of screen credits that appear at the beginning and, at seemingly
interminable length, at the end of a film.

Often the jobs described sound exotic or strange, and frequently downright
peculiar. What, for instance, is “a gaffer”? Who or what is “best boy”? What does he
do? How does he justify his description? Who is he better than? I can see that there
would be no credit for “worst boy”, but you must admit that it’s a bit puzzling.

And why is it that some films, good films too, can have less than two dozen
technical credits (Driver with twenty-three is good example) while other films can
have over eighty?

The Greek Tycoon (AA Plaza, Piccadilly Circus) has eighty-three technical
credits ranging from Producer to the enigmatic title “Controller”. That doesn’t mean
that only eighty-three people were involved either, that’s just categories. The Greek
Tycoon is credited with two producers, two co-producers, three executive producers,
an associate producer (notable perhaps because he’s one of the few people who can be
persuaded to associate with producers) and a production consultant. There are, in
addition, credits for four production Managers and one Production Associate. Hardly
surprisingly, under the heading “Producers’ Secretaries” are six names. If there are
fourteen people concerned in producing one film, clearly they are going to generate a
lot of paperwork, particularly if they’re not speaking to each other.

The Greek Tycoon also excels in its music credits. They include Executive in
charge of Music: David Platz. Very good too. David Platz is an experienced and
successful man in the world of music and a very good choice. Then there’s “Music
composed and orchestrated by” Stanley Myers-another top notch name. Then there’s
the “Main Title Theme” by John Kongos, arranged and conducted by Ron Frangipane,
and the credit “Music Supervised and conducted by” Harry Rabinowitz, yet another
excellent musician and among the top ten MD’s in the world. But then there’s a song,
funny Kind Of Love Affairs, sung by the delectable Madeline Bell, words and music
by Mike Moran, arranged and conducted by Mike Moran. There’s more. “Taverna
music arranged by George Theodosiadis.” The music is Michael Clifford.

So, with music as with production, there’s plenty of help around. Eight people,
excluding the singer, have a hand or hands in the film’s music, including, if my
arithmetic is Kosher, three conductors. Now the ramifications of the music business
have long since left me totally baffled, but that does seem rather a lot of musicians to
be involved in a film that has almost no visual music content with the exception of
one scene in a taverna. Oh, and I forgot there’s another credit which reads “Music
Recording co-ordinated by Allen Steckler”. I wouldn’t have liked his job. All those
composers to placate and having to work out who was conducting what, seeing to it
that Frangipane wasn’t incommoded, if that’s the word, when Rabinowitz had the
baton, and making sure that Myers and Kongos, not to mention Moran and
Theodosiadis, weren’t getting involved in demarcation disputes.

Making films like The Greek Tycoon is tough, and if you don’t believe me ask
the unit publicist, or if he’s on the other line the assistant unit publicist, or if she’s out
the assistant to the assistant unit publicist; all three are credited, as are the Location
Production Runner”. “Here’s your cheese and taramasalata on rye”, The Producers’
Driver (“You can’t all ride in the front”), and (and I bet he had a busy time) the
Production Physician, Dr. A. Chutorian.

To be fair to all concerned, the film was made partly in Greece, partly in the
USA and partly in Britain, and that probably explains why so many people filled so
many seemingly identical roles. But to me sitting in the stalls watching the parade of
names go by (and subsequently checking the handout) there did seem a hell of a lot of
chiefs for so few Indians. The film? What was the film like? Oh, that stank.

Questions on the passage

Q1) Which of the following statements give an accurate summary of the passage?

1 There isn’t much music in the film The Greek Tycoon.

2 The list of screen credits is extremely long and boring.
3 Because the film was made in different locations, a lot of people were involved in
the production.
4 There are a surprising number of people involved in making films, and a good
example of this is The Greek Tycoon.
5 According to the critic, The Greek Tycoon isn’t worth seeing because there are so
many people involved in the production.

Q2) Give the topic sentence for paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Q3) Mention at least three supporting ideas in paragraph 3 and 4.

Q4) What do the words in italics refer to?

1 ‘… but you must admit that it’s a bit puzzling.’ (lines 13-14)
2 ‘Driver with twenty-three is a good example…. (lines 17-19)
3 ‘Tha t doesn’t mean that only eighty-three …’ (lines 23-25)
4 ‘...all three are credited …’ (lines 88-89)
5 ‘...that probably explains …’ (lines 97-98)
6 ‘Oh, that stank!’ (line 104)

Q5) Answer the following in a word or phrase:

1 ‘… while other films can have over eighty?’ Eighty what? (lines 18-19)
2 ‘There’s more.’ What’s more? (line 59)

Q6) Give at least three example of enumeration by the author.

Q7) What is the function of cohesive markers (in italics) in the following sentences?
You can link it to the statements/ ideas occurring before and after to explain.

1 ‘Often the jobs described sound exotic or strange, and frequently downright
peculiar.’ (lines 7-8)
2 There are, in addition, credits for four Production managers and one Production
Associate. (line 32-34)
3 ‘… yet another excellent musician and among the top ten MD’s in the world.
(lines 53-54)
4 ‘...if you don’t believe me ask the unit publicist, or if he’s on the other line the
assistant unit publicist…’ (lines 86-87)

Q8) Which of the following words can be used for the passage: a description, a
narration, a summary, an argument. Give reasons to substantiate your answer.

Q9) State whether the following is a fact or opinion:

1 Often the jobs described sound exotic or strange, and frequently downright
peculiar.
2 The Greek Tycoon (AA Plaza, Picadilly Circus) has eighty-three technical credits
ranging from Producer to the enigmatic title “Controller.”
3 I wouldn’t have liked his job.
4 They include Executive in charge of Music: David Platz.
5 What was the film like? Oh that stank.

Q10) Why does the author say that making films like the Greek Tycoon is tough?
Here, is a recipe for sherry trifle. But the instructions are not in the right order. Can
you reorder them?

Serves 8 Time taken: 45 minutes

Chill for several hours

Ingredients:

6 trifle sponge cakes 10g ratafias

raspberry jam 1½dl sweet sherry

For the custard:

6 egg yolks
50g castor sugar a few drops of vanilla essence
3½ tsp flour toasted flaked with jam
½l cream

a. Draw off the heat, and the vanilla essence and allow to cool for a few moments.
b. Split the sponge cakes and spread with jam.
c. Separate the egg yolks into a basin. Add the sugar and cornflour. Mix the ingredients.
d. Pour over the soaked sponge cakes and leave until cold.
e. Cut in pieces and place them in a large dish. Add the ratafias and Pour over the sherry.
f. Heat the cream in the saucepan until very hot, then draw off the heat and gradually stir
into the egg mixture. Mix well and put the custard into the saucepan. Put over low
heat and stir until it thickens. Do not let it boil.
g. Set aside for 30 minutes while preparing the custard