Who the Heck is Alan Smithee — and Why Should You Care?

Have you ever wanted to remove your name from something that turned out badly? Maybe it was a group project, a paper you wrote, or a decision with an undesirable outcome. A little-known pseudonym adopted by the Directors Guild of America has allowed its members to do just that when their films don’t turn out as planned. In this episode, we dive deep into the Alan Smithee moniker, exploring its history and debating its merits. The question at the core of Alan Smithee is ‘should we really disown our mistakes?’ What is your Alan Smithee moment? Text to let us know, so we can give you a shout‑out on the show.For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link below:https://www.cupofteacritiques.com/subscribe ReferencesAmber, Katelyn (Host). (2024 April 28). Directed by Alan Smithee: Death to Smithee (Season 5, Episode 16), [Audio podcast episode]. In The Tinsel Factory: A Film History Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/directed-by-alan-smithee-death-to-smithee/id1518589138?i=1000653803759Dubi, S. (2022 August 22). One of Hollywood’s Most Prolific Directors Doesn’t Actually Exist. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/one-of-hollywoods-most-prolific-directors-doesnt-actually-exist/Siskel and Ebert - An Alan Smithee Film : Burn Hollywood Burn review (1998). (1998 February 28). (Season 12, Episode 26). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzm5svmI0zcWallace, A. (2000 January 15). Name of Director Smithee Isn’t What It Used to Be. The Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-15-ca-54271-story.htmlSend us Fan MailSUBSCRIBEFooterWe hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew!Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupofteacritiques.com.Follow us on Letterboxd at COTCritiques.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at CUPOFTEACRITIQUES.For comments and questions, email us at [email protected].