Standard Order of Titles and Credits at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Open DV Discussion
For topics which don't fit into any of the other categories.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 13th, 2003, 06:33 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC, NY
Posts: 111
Standard Order of Titles and Credits

Dear forum,
I am working on the titles and credits for my short film with a graphic designer, and I was wondering if anyone knows of a website or book where I can learn about the standard order of titles and credits.

I have been watching films to see the order, but sometimes the order seems a little arbitrary.

Thanks!
__________________
Thomas
Thomas Berg Petersen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 14th, 2003, 12:24 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 574
Hard and fast rule.

If you are crediting at the bigining of a movie, the last credit before the actual picture begins, belongs to the Director of the picture.

Conversely, if you are crediting at the end of a movie, the first title to roll is normaly the Director of the picture.

Most pictures are credited begining with the most important person first and working their way down the pecking order when titling at the end, and again, the process is reversed when titling at the begining.

Some DPs, Producers, etc. have clauses in their contracts specifiying where and when their title is diplayed. This also applied to posters, credits on the VHS, DVD cases, TV ads, etc.

RB
__________________
"The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra.
www.rbravo.com
Rick Bravo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 14th, 2003, 12:43 AM   #3
Retired DV Info Net Almunus
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,943
For what it's worth, here is the order of end credits we use on the Lady X Films episodes.

Directed by

Produced by

Executive Producers

Written by

Camera

Edited by

Cast

Music

Opening Title Design

Special Thanks To

Copyright
__________________
Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission.

Hey, you don't have enough stuff!
Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really!

See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com
Ken Tanaka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 14th, 2003, 02:01 PM   #4
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,933
In Hollywood films, title cards and end credits are determined by contractual negotiation in which the cast and crew members' bargaining element is something magical called "clout."

Which is how we get mutant variations on credits such as "with" and "and... as." It's also why sometimes a director's, or an actor's, name comes above a title. (One particularly controversial credit is the "A film by" credit. Use at the risk of alienating your collaborators.)

So credit particulars are determined in advance by agents and lawyers and sometimes panels of guild arbitrators, leaving no room for creative license on the part of editors. For your purposes, you might just want to study the credits of several major films and try to pick out patterns.

Poster credits are usually identical to opening title credits, with major cast members listed in descending order followed by major crew members listed in ascending order.
__________________
All the best,
Robert K S

Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors
Robert Knecht Schmidt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 23rd, 2005, 02:23 PM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: London
Posts: 189
If one person has written, produced, directed, edited and camera operated - what would be a good credit system to use for this person? Is one all encompassing "A film by..." good or not, is it a bit vague, should it be broken down into a couple of separate credits...? Any opinions?
Justin Morgan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 2nd, 2010, 11:35 AM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Selby UK
Posts: 274
Hi Justin

I'm not sure, but if you're entering your film in competions and stuff it might look a bit too much like a low grade film if the same name comes up over and over again in the credits. I'm just finishing off a film and although I had multiple roles I've limited my credits to just director and editor. I was producer as well but I've just written "A _________ Production" in the credits (insert film company title in the gap). I also had a hand in writing the script but just left my name off that script credit.

Stuart
__________________
Stuart Graham
www.magentapictures.com
Stuart Graham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 2nd, 2010, 09:47 PM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Morgan View Post
If one person has written, produced, directed, edited and camera operated - what would be a good credit system to use for this person? Is one all encompassing "A film by..." good or not, is it a bit vague, should it be broken down into a couple of separate credits...? Any opinions?
I've been asking myself the same thing for a while now. In such a scenario would it be appropriate to just list all of that in one place with the person's name instead of scattering them all out.

For example:
Directed by _______
Produced by _______
Camera ______
Would become:
Directed, produced and shot by ________
__________________
Canon XH-A1, Sony Vegas Pro 8.0c, ProAm 12' Jib, Matthews M25 tripod, Rode NTG-1
http://ozvideoproductions.webs.com
David Seguin is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:20 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network