Stripped Of My Credit

adamr316

adamr316

Well-known member
Hey everybody,

I had a falling out with a group of people I worked on a film with. I was the camera operator/director of photography (for purposes of clarity, I controlled all aspects of the cinematography, like most indies).

Anyway I just saw the final cut of the film on YouTube and they took away my credit! The film does not mention my name ANYWHERE in the entire piece. I am LIVID.

I spent Super Bowl Sunday (I'm a big NFL fan so this means A LOT) shooting this film. The director delayed the shoot for 3 hours and we wrapped (all gear packed away in cars) at about 1am.

What is the legality of this? Can someone revoke your credit on a film? Has this ever happened to YOU?
 
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If you aren't in a union, or you didn't sign a contract which specified your credit, I don't think there's much recourse you can take.
 
I do have a contract that states that I am the director of photography/camera operator. I also have all of the source files/they contain meta data with my Sony EX1's serial # embedded in the files.
 
You read credits?
My mom use to like to see my name in credits but outside of that, it's not something I ever even thought about. Blow it off. Cash the check and move on. If you did it for credit, put it on your IMDB and resume... then blow it off.
 
grinner said:
You read credits?
My mom use to like to see my name in credits but outside of that, it's not something I ever even thought about. Blow it off. Cash the check and move on. If you did it for credit, put it on your IMDB and resume... then blow it off.
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That's apart of the problem. If my name isn't on the actual credits on the video and IMDB or someone questions it then I am SOL.

I've had this same thing happen to a friend of mine and now that I'm in his shoes I am more than a little peeved! I did not ask them to take me off the credits and in fact insisted that they keep my name up there.
 
Have you contacted them since? You said the contract outlines your job; but does it say you get a credit, specifically, or was that just an understanding?

Also, how immature on their side to do that because of a 'falling out'.
 
I have heard stories of people burning bridges for money but never for an ego thing to strip someone of thier credit. Karma is a powerfull thing...

It's really uncool but not the end of the world, I have always asked not to be credited and just found out I was given an associate producer credit on a feature film, it dosen't show on IMBD (thank god) but it's in the credits that roll in the movie, it's not a bad movie it was just picked up for a low seven figures but I specificly stated in writing no credits.
 
adamr316 said:
That's apart of the problem. If my name isn't on the actual credits on the video and IMDB or someone questions it then I am SOL.
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Do you really think a potential employer is gonna watch the movie, much less the credits?
Again, I'd blow it off. You are only SOL if you elect to be.
 
That is unfortunate. I'm really thankful for what I have NOT been credited with, mainly. I was a set dresser on some student film way back in the day, when I was at my first film school in 2001, and then didn't do anything film related until 2007, so it would have looked weird to have that credited on IMDb or something. Plus I'm not a set dresser so why do I want credit as one?! Then some PSA I did with Cybill Shephard, I doubt there is any record of me being involved in that besides the call sheets I have, which is fine if I ever want to prove I have gripped professional work, I guess, even though I had absolutely no clue what I was doing and literally didn't know the difference between a 650 and a 2K light, hehe.
 
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