A closer look
For decades, if a Hollywood director was heavily furious with massive studio interference that completely ruined their creative vision, they successfully petitioned to have their name stripped from the credits. The deeply established Directors Guild rule stated they must use the official industry pseudonym Alan Smithee. The fictional Mr. Smithee officially amassed a massive, heavily terrible filmography until a highly publicized comedy film exposed the joke, forcing the massive union to completely retire the fake name.
