CMI Film Credits Guidelines

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR CREDITS • You can decide whether you want to have opening credits in the film. If you decide to have opening credits, you must follow all the guidelines for “opening credits.” • A well thought out credit sequence (e.g. “Se7en” or “Catch Me If You Can”) can add to the story and the production value of your overall film. The opening and ending credits are still a part of your film so it should be appropriate to the tone, mood, visual style of your film. • Things to AVOID: o Long Credit Sequences: Remember to keep your end credit sequences short and to the point. You do not need a 3-minute credit sequence for an 8-minute film, but you also want to give enough time for the audience to read the names. ▪ Use an 7-9 second scrolling speed as a guide for your end credit scrolling speed. That means it would take 7-9 seconds for a person’s name to scroll from bottom to top. o Productions Companies Other than CMI: Do not list any other production companies in the credit sequences. o Credits with Conflicting Tone: For example, if your film is somber and dramatic, it would not fit the film to put bloopers and funny outtakes in your closing credits. o Avoid using the title “A Film By…”: These projects are a collaboration between many individuals, so the “Film By” credit does not apply.

GUIDE FOR OPENING CREDITS

• The order of credits is determined by guild rules (SAG, DGA, WGA and other unions), we have adapted these rules to fit CMI productions. • Single Title cards (Directed by, Produced by, etc.) should be on screen for around 3-4 seconds. • Opening credits usually follow an order of “importance to the film.” First is usually the motion picture company (Creative Media Institute), then we see the Title of the film followed by the cast. From there we work in reverse order of the ATL crew, working from important to most important to the film; ending with the director. o Single Title Cards

A Creative Media Institute for Film and Digital Arts Production

TITLE OF FILM

Lead Cast (Single Title Card for each Cast Member) Sound Designer Editor Production Designer Director of Photography Producer Writer Director

If a person served in two above the line roles, pair it with the more prestigious one so you would place "Written and Directed by" or "Produced and Directed by" or "Edited and Directed by" where the Director's CMI Film Credits Guidelines credit goes. If the DP was also the Editor, use "Editor and Director of Photography..." in the position where the DP credit goes. et cetera.

GUIDE FOR CLOSING CREDITS

• There are no guild regulations for closing credits but there are general conventions to follow. Again, for short films and small crews, there is no need for a long credit sequence. o If you do not have opening credits, then you will need to credit the ATL and Lead Cast at the beginning of your closing credits. ▪ Director, Writer and Producer credits first, then go the opposite way of the opening credit order

(List only those that apply to your film) Director Writer Producer Lead Cast (Single Title Card for each Lead Cast Member) Director of Photography Production Designer Editor Sound Designer Composer

***If you credited the above in the opening credits, closing credits begin here *** (List only those that apply to your film)

Unit Production Manager 1st Assistant Director 2nd Assistant Director

Full Cast / Character List

Camera Operator 1st Assistant Camera 2nd Assistant Camera Key Grip Best Boy Grip Gaffer Best Boy Electric

Script Supervisor Assistant Editor Colorist

Art Director Make-Up

Production Sound Mixer Boom Operator

CMI Film Credits Guidelines

Production Assistants

Song Credits

SPECIAL THANKS

TITLE OF THE FILM

(Logos from Sponsors)

Characters and incidents portrayed and the names herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any person is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

© CURRENT YEAR Creative Media Institute for Film and Digital Arts. All Rights Reserved.

***Insert CMI Logo at End***