How To Get Screen Credits Right

Screen Credits are important to get right. Leave people out, spell their names wrong – there are all kinds of ways to annoy your fellow film-makers.

Most important of all – be sure to credit all the key roles on your film. In general, credit for the key heads of department will go to one person only. There should be only be one director, and usually (but not always) one producer and one writer.

If you need to credit someone else, give them a title such Associate Producer or Assistant Director. Extra writers can be credited under “Additional Story”.

Make sure you credit (at least) the following roles; Director, Producer, Writer, Editor, Art Director, Head of Layout (Cinematography), VFX Supervisor, Animation Director (or Head of Animation), CG Supervisor.

Key Roles on a Short Film

All the key roles on a movie need screen credit. These include:

Director
Writer (don’t forget this one!)
Producer
Art Director
VFX Supervisor/CG Supervisor
Editor
Director of Photography (or Head of Layout)
Leading actors – don’t forget them!
Composer

VFX Film Titles

On a VFX Short you will also need:

2D VFX Compositing Supervisor
3D VFX Supervisor

Animated Film

On an animated film you will also need

Animation Supervisor/Lead Animator

Music

Don’t forget to credit your music composer.

Full Names Please

Standard industry convention is to credit the artists’ full names, not just first names or initials.

Thanks and Special Thanks

Thanks and Special Thanks are a free way to earn goodwill. Thank everyone, thank often, widely and generously. It costs you nothing – and people appreciate it. Read more about Thanks and Special thanks here.

Thanking Our Industry Partners

At Escape Studios, “thanks” and “special thanks” should go to our industry partners who have given up their time (usually unpaid) to help us get our student films finished to industry standards.

Please thank the industry folks who gave up their time to offer professional feedback.

Teamwork at Escape Studios