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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1  Previous   Next
How to credit cast in documentaries?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCubbyUps
Registered: March 14, 2007
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I was just wondering how we credit cast for documentaries.

Let's say that I was doing the cast for a WWII documentary. There is no cast credited at all in either the beginning or end credits. But I see famous military people such as Hitler, F.D.R., and Patton.

The footage could be from newsreels or similar material. They are not interviewed. Sometimes they speak and sometimes it's just footage of them.

Who would be credited and does it matter in which year the documentary was made?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTelecine
Regd: January 22, 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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As far as I am aware we don't credit archive footage in films so by extension that would cover documentaries also. I would have thought that you would credit the narrator and crew only.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
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The only credits I've ever seen for documentaries list interviewees who appear in the film. I agree with Telecine that I wouldn't list anyone appearing in archive footage either.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantRifter
Reg. Jan 27, 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting CubbyUps:
Quote:
I was just wondering how we credit cast for documentaries.

Let's say that I was doing the cast for a WWII documentary. There is no cast credited at all in either the beginning or end credits. But I see famous military people such as Hitler, F.D.R., and Patton.

The footage could be from newsreels or similar material. They are not interviewed. Sometimes they speak and sometimes it's just footage of them.

Who would be credited and does it matter in which year the documentary was made?


We don't do credits for archive footage.  You can credit an announcer, and they usually list a producer and director who can be credited, and there may be other crew members that fit our parameters.  Year of production is usually listed as the copyright notice on documentaries.
John

"Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice!" Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964
Make America Great Again!
 Last edited: by Rifter
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSrehtims
Registered: March 13, 2007
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I use the following:
Narrators and people who are interviewed or a make appearances specifically for the documentary.
We don't need stinkin' IMDB's errors, we make our own.
Ineptocracy, You got to love it.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorBerak
Bibamus morieundum est!
Registered: May 10, 2007
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If they're not specifically mentioned in the credits - leave them out....
Berak

It's better to burn out than to fade away!
True love conquers all!
 Last edited: by Berak
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
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Just narrators and interviewees makes sense to me, too. There are however profiles in the Invelos database that list just about anyone... Perhaps it's time for a clean-up!

And yes, I think the production year does matter. It will help putting things into perspective to know in which year a documentary was produced, given what was known at the time about the topic of the film.
 Last edited: by dee1959jay
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCorne
Registered: Nov. 1, 2000
Registered: April 5, 2007
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I'm adding the profile for the documentary White Diamond (2007). I stumbled upon a problem.
During the documentary when a interviewee makes his/her first appearance s/he gets a credit marker with his/her role (well kinda, the documentary is about Kylie Minogue and when Dannii Minogue appears she is credited as 'Sister', or when a member of her world tour appears s/he is credited as Production manager or as dancer etc.). The End credits also credit most interviewees with their job descriptions (role). Should I add the credited documentary 'cast' with or without their roles (their job descriptions)?
Cor
 Last edited: by Corne
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
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I'd say with their roles, because that's how they are credited in the film itself. From the Contribution Rules:
"For any film with standard credits, take the actor information from the end credits only, with names and roles listed exactly as they are in the credits and in exactly the same order credited."

If it's possible to follow the rules as they are, just do so!
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCorne
Registered: Nov. 1, 2000
Registered: April 5, 2007
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Okay thanks for your fast reply!
I agree. I will take the cast as credited in the end credits.
Thanks again!
Cor
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnolesrule
Registered: 09/21/2000
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I would not include subtitles as roles in cast credits for a documentary, because the only roles tend to be Narrator and Interviewee. Or perhaps using "himself" or "herself". The subtitles that appear below their names are not roles.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting nolesrule:
Quote:
I would not include subtitles as roles in cast credits for a documentary, because the only roles tend to be Narrator and Interviewee. Or perhaps using "himself" or "herself". The subtitles that appear below their names are not roles.


except you missed where it was said that is how they are listed in the end credits as well. So in this case at least you would use them... exactly as the end credits as per the rules.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCorne
Registered: Nov. 1, 2000
Registered: April 5, 2007
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
Quoting nolesrule:
Quote:
I would not include subtitles as roles in cast credits for a documentary, because the only roles tend to be Narrator and Interviewee. Or perhaps using "himself" or "herself". The subtitles that appear below their names are not roles.


except you missed where it was said that is how they are listed in the end credits as well. So in this case at least you would use them... exactly as the end credits as per the rules.


Indeed, most of the interviewees are listed in the end credits the same way as in the subtitles at their first appearance in the documentary (I used the phrase 'credit marker' instead of 'subtitle' in my previous post). Only a few persons are in the end credits listed without role. For those persons I won't use the subtitle credits, but the end credits instead.
Cor
 Last edited: by Corne
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnolesrule
Registered: 09/21/2000
Registered: March 15, 2007
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Yeah, I guess I either misread it or misunderstood it. It's 14 hours later so I can't remember which.
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