IMDB / Photo Credit: Seed & Spark
WHAT DOES AN INTERNET MOVIE
DATABASE CREDIT MEAN? (In the Entertainment industry.)
Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductions.com/
https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com
or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.
What does an IMDB / Internet Movie Database credit
mean?
IMDB lists the credits for television shows and films
produced in the U.S. and internationally. IMDB lists everyone credited on a
production. This includes the talent, directors, editors, and camera operators,
set designers, make-up artists, production assistants and anyone else listed in
a film’s credits. IMDB excludes credits for commercial advertising and
non-professional work such as student and amateur films and home videos.
IMDb Credit Eligibility FAQ
I worked on a film/episode/etc. Can I be listed in
the database?
If you worked on a film, video, TV show, episode, or
game that is already listed in the database and you received on-screen credit,
you should be eligible to be listed on IMDb. If we list the title but your name
or credit does not yet appear on its IMDb page, you are welcome to submit it
for inclusion.
What do you mean by "eligible"?
As stated above, the first and most important thing
is to have received a credit on the title. There are a few additional
requirements -- we normally only list people who were credited in the original
version of a title. For films, this means we'll only list people credited in
the initial original theatrical release; for TV titles, it means people
credited when the show first aired.
In other words, we will not list individuals who
worked and/or are only credited in the home video version, in the DVD deleted
scenes, or in any other subsequent version. Also, we do not list credits for
foreign language versions of a film (dubbing, dialogue editing, translations
etc.), with the exception of the US dub of non-English animation.
I have worked on a film/show/episode that you do not
list. What now?
We can only add credits to titles that are already in
the database. If the title is not yet listed, you are welcome to submit it as a
new entry and our editors, upon verification of its eligibility, will add it to
the database. You can (and should) submit your credit on the show at the same
time. A separate FAQ page for new title submissions can be found here.
My credit should be there -- why doesn't it show?
The vast majority of credits are submitted by users
and/or people connected with the production of a title. If your credit is not
there, it probably just means nobody submitted it yet. You are more than
welcome to submit it yourself. You do not have to wait for the producers or the
director of the film to send it: just find the title in the database, click on
the Edit page button at the bottom of that page and follow the on-screen
instructions.
My credit used to be listed but now it's gone! Why?
When a title is announced or in production and is
added to the database, our editors will normally start accepting credits for
it. These credits, as per the disclaimer on the page, are always subject to
change and can be removed at any time. When the title is actually released (or
about to be released) and credits are finalized by the production, our editors
routinely compare our listing with the actual on-screen credits and delete any
entries that cannot be verified or do not match. If you used to be listed on a
title and your credit has disappeared, it means our editors could not verify
its accuracy during one of these routine checks.
But I was in the title! Put it back!
If you think your credit was removed by mistake, you
are welcome to resubmit it. However, please note that our editors may not
accept it unless it can be verified.
I can prove that I worked on the title. Why won't you
list my credit?
We try to list everyone who was credited on each
title. "Credited" means that your name appears in the title's opening
or end titles and therefore you received on-screen billing. If your name does
not appear in the credits, please see our uncredited appearance guidelines.
If you were not credited you can submit your entry
and add (uncredited) in the Attributes field. Please be aware, however, that
acceptance of these submission is entirely at our editors' discretion.
My contract says that I'm entitled to a screen
credit. Isn't that enough?
Our experience is that sometimes people do not
receive on-screen billing, even when a credit is contractually mandated. This
could be due to accidental omissions or subsequent contractual changes --
regardless of the reason and of any contractual stipulations, we aim to list
credits as they appear on-screen.
I worked on a title and I was credited! How do I
prove that to you?
First, you should resubmit the update via the site.
You can go back to your original update in your update history and edit it and
re-send it. You should double check that the entry does fulfill our eligibility
requirements and provide additional information for our editors. You can do so
via the IMDb Get Satisfaction User Community Platform.
When you click on the Edit page button at the bottom
of the page for the person or film you are trying to update, scroll down to the
bottom of the submission form and check the "Miscellaneous Comment"
or "Miscellaneous Correction" options. Then, on the next page, select
the appropriate option from the drop-down menu (e.g., if you are adding a
comment for an acting credit, select "Actor" or "Actress";
if you are adding a comment regarding a screenwriting credit, select
"Writer", etc.) and type your comment in the text field. Everything
you enter here will be sent directly to the staff in charge of that section of
data on the site (and will not show up on the site -- this is for internal
communication only). If you want to provide additional information to help us
accept your submission, this is the way to do it.
How can I provide proof that my submission is valid?
Please keep in mind that we require verification of
on-screen billing. In other words, we do not just want verification that you
were involved in the making of a film -- we want evidence that your name
appears in the main or end titles. Cast/crew call sheets, contracts, payment
receipts, etc. are not evidence of on-screen billing. If you are able to prove
that the credit does appear on screen (e.g., by providing a screener copy or a
screen grab of the credits or similar materials), please contact us and we'll
give you further instructions.
I don't want to be bothered with this. I assure you
that the data is correct and I demand that you take my word and accept it.
Sorry, nothing personal -- but if our staff has not
allowed your submission the first time around, it means that they will need
verification before they can accept it. Also please remember that all
submissions are subject to our editorial approval -- while we do our best to be
as comprehensive and exhaustive as possible, we reserve the right to reject or
withdraw information at any time at our sole discretion.
I deserved an on-screen credit, but I was left out by
mistake. You should list me anyway, since I worked on/appeared in it.
We list credits as they appear on screen, regardless
of what job was performed, so as to not involve IMDb in disputes over who
deserved credits. If you did not receive an on-screen credit, you may be
eligible for an (uncredited) credit (subject to editorial approval). See our
uncredited guidelines for more details.
If my credit is not eligible, then why do you list
these other guys who performed the same job as I did and were not credited
either?
It is entirely possible that their credits are
ineligible too and that they should not be listed. If you notice inaccurate
entries, please submit a correction/deletion (and provide an appropriate
explanation in the required comment field) and our editors will rectify the
inaccuracy.
How to add yourself to IMDb
Have you worked on a movie? How about a TV or web
series? If so, you’re probably eligible for an IMDb page. Follow these steps to
add yourself...
Make sure you aren't already listed. We have many
millions of credits in the database, so unless you've just started your career
or worked only on a very recent film, it's likely that one of your credits is
already listed (maybe under a different spelling of your name). All pages on
IMDb feature a search box at the top of the page. Just enter your name and
click ‘Go’.
Make sure we list the movie/show you worked on: All
pages on IMDb feature a search box at the top of the page. Just enter the title
of the movie/show and click ‘Go’. If we don’t list it yet, you can add it
through our New Title Submission Form, then add yourself to it once it’s on
IMDb.
Once the title is on IMDb, go to the page, scroll
down to the bottom and click ‘Edit Page’.
Find the department you worked in under the heading
‘Cast and Crew’. Select the appropriate action (No change, Correct/Delete, or
Add n credits) from the drop-down menu next to that department, then scroll to
the bottom of the page and click ‘Continue’.
You will be presented with a form, which may include
some of the following boxes:
Name
Enter your first and second name in that order (eg.
Cruise, Tom)
If you were a member of the cast, you will need to
select whether you’re an actor or actress from the buttons just underneath.
Hit return or click ‘Check these updates’. You may be
presented with a list of people with the same name. Check none of these are
you, even if you’ve already done your own search.
If you’re absolutely sure you’re not listed yet,
select either ‘This is a different person not currently listed - create …’ or
‘I am not sure - submit it as ... and let IMDb staff decide.’
Character (cast only) If you were a member of the
cast (not the crew), you will need to enter a character name. In most cases, we
want the character name exactly as it appeared on the screen in the credits.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, so please see our guide for more info.
Occupation (crew only) If you were a member of the
crew (not the cast), you will need to enter what your specific occupation was
with regard to this production. The most common occupations within this
department will be listed in the drop-down menu. If your occupation isn’t in
the menu then select ‘Other’ and enter it yourself in the box underneath. If
you’re entering the occupation yourself, then it’s especially important that
you read our guide.
Attribute (if applicable). Most filmography additions
will have a box marked ‘attribute’. This box is used to provide additional
details about the credit. For example (this is the most common usage) if you
worked on a film but your name did not appear in the on-screen credits, you
need to put (uncredited) in the attribute box. The attribute box is not the
place to include extra information like the name of the film's director, or the
fact that the TV movie for which you're adding the credit was a pilot, or
anything else. If in doubt, leave this box blank. See here for more
information.
Order (if applicable). This is the order in which
your name appeared on the screen in the credits, relevant to the other credited
people. This is not the order you want this credit to be on your filmography.
If you weren’t listed in the on-screen credits then don’t enter an order
number, just make sure you’ve put (uncredited) in the attribute box. See here
for more information.
When you've entered all the information, go to the
bottom of the page and click on the ‘Check these updates’ button to proceed to
the next step.
If you’ve entered everything correctly, your data
will be ready to submit and you’ll see the ‘Submit these updates’ button at the
bottom of the page. Otherwise, errors will be highlighted and the form will ask
you to correct them before letting you proceed. If you need to correct
anything, just follow the on-screen instructions and correct your submission or
supply the missing data and click on ‘Re-check these updates’ to try again.
To display a detailed list of the changes you're
about to send, click ‘Click to see full summary’.
To complete your update, click ‘Submit these updates’
and your changes will be sent to the IMDb Data Editors for checking. You will
also receive an email confirmation of your submission.
Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks,
Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New
York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide
Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia,
Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample
Resume, How Stuff Works, Studio Binder, Career Trend, Producer's Code of
Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety,
Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite,
Realty 101, Careers Hub, Screen Play Scripts, Elements of Cinema, Script
Doctor, ASCAP, Film Independent, Any Possibility, CTLsites, NYFA, Future Learn,
VOM Productions, Mad Studios, DP School, DGA, IATSE, ASC, MPAA, HFPA, MPSE,
CDG, AFI, Posting Bros,
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" AND BRUCE BISBEY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE,
MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THIS
INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR
TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION. YOUR USE OF THIS INFORMATION IS AT YOUR OWN
RISK. YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK OF LOSS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF
THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED UPON A STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, RELATING TO THE USE OF
THIS INFORMATION.
IMDB / Photo Credit: Seed & Spark
