How To Do 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 for all the key roles on your film.  In general, credit for the key heads of department will go to one person only.  For short films, there should be only be one producer and one director. Usually (but not always) 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, VFX Supervisor, Animation Director (or Head of Animation), CG Supervisor.  

Key Roles on a Short Film

Don't forget to credit the Writer

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
• Animation Supervisor/Lead Animator

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. 

Film-Making Resources at Animation Apprentice
For more information on the making of animated films, read the blog posts below:

Development & Pre-Production

• How to Make an Animated Film
• Key Creative Roles on an animated film - Who Does What?
• Why Animators Need to Storyboard
• Why Animators Have too Many Cuts
• Audio first, then Animation
• How to Direct Voice Actors

Production

• Why Animators Need to Check Their Hookups
• Why Animators Should test Their Rigs in Close-Up
• Why Animators Should Avoid a Flat Horizon
• Camera always Follows, Never Leads
• Avoid jump cuts
• The 180 degree Rule - Don't "Cross The Line"
• Avoiding "Motion Sickness Camera"
• Don't "Break the 4th Wall"
• Understanding the "Magic Circle" - And How to Stay Inside It
• Why Animation Editors Need "Handles"

Post-Production

• Free music from Moby Gratis
• Why Animators Need Sound Design
• How to use Audio files in Maya

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.