Updated 9-October-2025
The cast of any title listed on IMDb can range from 1 person to well over 100 actors/actresses. Therefore, it needs its very own guide. Please refer to our Cast guide more information to help you contribute cast credits.
Self credits now have their own section in the contribution form. For more information, please refer to the Self section in our Cast guide.
A title's production is made up of many different departments. These departments sometimes list hundreds of individuals who worked on the title, all performing various roles.
Example: Superman II (1980) features two director credits, one with the attribute indicating Richard Donner was uncredited but had directed about 20% of the movie's footage.
There are some features unique to the writers list.
Attributes
In addition to those attributes common to all lists (see the separate guide), there are several that are specific to the writers list, used to make the specific contribution clearer. The IMDb policy is to list the attribute exactly as it appears on screen.
If you need to combine two attributes, multiple attributes can be selected from the "Set attributes ..." list: e.g. "(story) (as John Doe)".
Different jobs should be submitted as different credits, i.e. (story) and (screenplay) should be two separate submissions, even if they are displayed on the title together.
Song and lyric credits belong in the music department, or if identified/identifiable by song title, in the Soundtracks section instead.
Staff writers, story editors, story coordinators, story supervisors, story consultants, and dramaturge/dramaturg also belong in the writers section.
English credits should be submitted as credited. For example, "developed for American television by" is now a valid job. We will accept corrections for credits submitted under the old guidelines to reflect the actual on-screen credits.
Script doctors and script consultants belong in the Script & Continuity section.
We will not longer be accepting any uncredited “characters created by” credits on any title adapted from an existing source. The complexities and ambiguities in the creative process across writers involved in the genesis and the specific version of a character that appears in any adaptation means that it is not feasible to accurately represent their individual input. Please note that this guideline does not impact credited “characters created by” credits, we will continue to list any “characters created by” credits that are credited on-screen.
Given the complexities of the creative process for children’s books and comic books, in certain cases, where appropriate, we will allow the illustrator/artist to be created as a writer credit if they are given equal billing in the on-screen credits alongside the traditional writer. Please note that editorial discretion may be shown on a case-by-case basis.
In cases where court-proven plagiarism occurs we will accept an (uncredited) writer credit referencing the original writers on the later title. Please note evidence will be required and should be provided with the submission.
Sequence numbers ("Order")
Unlike cast order numbers which only consist of a single value indicating the position in the credits, writing credits are a bit more complex. They have very specific ordering rules reflecting collaborations and level of contribution.
In order to accurately reflect these rules, we connect a three part sequence number to each writing credit.
Please leave this section blank if you do not know the correct values. In particular, do not make up numbers to tweak the order as you see fit. We recommend not to use order numbers at all unless you are confident in how the ordering works.
We try to reflect the actual on-screen credits as close as possible. Please do not modify writer orders unless they do not reflect the actual on-screen credits. Until on-screen credits are available can be confirmed, you may use the writer order of a title's poster if one exists. Otherwise, please do not make any assumptions about writer orders.
Uncredited writers must not have sequence numbers.
Here's how it works:
The on-screen credits for Down Periscope (1996) read:
This would be entered as:Screenplay by Hugh Wilson and Andrew Kurtzman & Eliot Wald Story by Hugh Wilson
| Name | Attribute | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson, Hugh (I) | (screenplay by) | 1,1,1 |
| Kurtzman, Andrew | (screenplay by) | 1,2,1 |
| Wald, Eliot | (screenplay by) | 1,2,2 |
| Wilson, Hugh (I) | (story by) | 2,1,1 |
The actual order in which you submit credits does not matter, only the numbers you use (we have arranged the examples above in order for clarity).
If names have no punctuation between them, assume they are joined by "&" (i.e. increment the third value). In other words: unless specifically separated on-screen by the word "and", do not use the rewrite group (i.e. leave second value as "1").
Identical attributes usually belong in the same credit group (first value). Increment the first value whenever the on-screen attribute changes.
Writer credits can be spread across the whole credit sections with many other roles listed in between. It is common just to have the main writers in the opening credits and other writers in the end credits. Be aware that roles like "story editor" and "staff writer" also belong in the writers section and need to get an order number whereas staff like "script consultants" belong in the additional crew with no sequence number.
When a credit group changes (first value is incremented), the values for rewrite group (second value) and order (third value) are reset to 1. When a rewrite group changes (second value), the order (third value) is reset to 1. Here is an example of valid sequence numbers for a specific title: "1,1,1", "2,1,1", "2,1,2", "2,1,3", "2,2,1", "3,1,1" and here is an example of invalid numbers for a specific title: "1,1,1", "2,2,2", "3,3,3".
WGA-locked credits
The WGA furnishes credits directly to IMDb for the projects for which they control credits. We do not accept uncredited writers for these projects; this is partly because duplicating or second-guessing the WGA's credits determination process would be impractical, and partly because the WGA does not permit writers to claim credits other than those determined by the WGA. For additional details, see this page.
This department records all forms of producer credits: producer, executive producer, line producer, etc.
Therefore, you must specify which specific task the person is credited with.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field. Commissioning editors and series editors are producing roles and should be submitted here.
While we do not accept attributes indicating an individual holds guild membership with the PGA (see here for our policy) we do allow the use of the Producers Mark "(p.g.a.)", provided the mark is credited on-screen. Note that the Producers Mark is a certification mark awarded by the PGA only for certain producers receiving the "produced by" credit in motion pictures as a means of recognition of the hard work of the producer. The Producers Mark can be applied to a credit by selecting the "p.g.a." attribute from the "Set attributes ..." list. Please see the Oppenheimer (2023): Emma Thomas - producer (produced by) (p.g.a.)
A note on "presented by": For films produced under the studio system, such credits often indicated the head of the studio and nothing more. They might, in some cases, be somewhat analogous to a modern Executive Producer credit, but should not be translated into such; they should be added to the Additional Crew section as "presenter".
A note on "uncredited": For films that credit producers on the screen, we will not accept uncredited producers. Exceptions are made for older titles that do not necessarily list all producers in the credits.
If the name appears in the on-screen credits under a Company sub-heading then they should be listed with their credited job title and the company name in the Role field separated via a ":" (e.g. executive producer: Example Company).
This section is reserved for the composer of the main background score, not for the composers of songs used in the soundtrack nor pieces of music featured as part of the score; those should be sent to the Soundtrack section.
Typically, most movies and TV shows will have one eligible composer for this section. As for modern titles, this is normally the person credited in any of the following ways in the opening title sequence:
Other music-related credits, like sole orchestrator or conductor, belong to the Music Department section, as do credits for unnamed incidental music or unidentified musical cues which cannot be submitted to the Soundtracks section.
Only the composer of the original version of a title should be credited. If a film is re-scored for a particular version or edit (e.g. a director's cut, a version released only in some territories, or a TV edit), the new composer can be mentioned in other places such as:
This list is only for cinematographer/director of photography credits.
All other camera department credits, including camera operator and second or other unit d.p., go to the Camera & Electrical department.
If the on-screen role title was "director of photography", you can enter select that in the "Set attributes ..." field. E.g. Sinners (2025).
The Editors section is for the main picture editor(sr(s) only. Typically only one person holds this role, but there are exceptions. For example, The Fugitive (1993).
Other editing roles (such as additional editors, assistant editors, on-line editors or supervising editors) should be submitted to the Editorial Department section.
The Animation Department list includes most non-effects animation tasks. Thus, animators, storyboard artists, character/prop designers, track readers, background artists, ink/painters, modelers, riggers, etc. In general, most of the jobs on an animated film not covered in another department would go here.
E.g. Coco (2017)
This list is used only for art directors; related jobs should go either to specific lists where they exist (production designer, set decorator) or to the Art department.
In particular, assistant art directors, second unit and location art directors (e.g. art director: New York, art directors: second unit, key art director or assistant art director) should go to the Art department. However supervising art directors now belong in this department. E.g. Challengers (2024)
The Art department section includes those roles that generally fall under the art and prop departments on set but do not have their own categories, so art directors, set decorators, and production designers are not included here because they have their own departments.
However, all assistant and second unit or location work for those departments is included in the Art department (e.g. assistant art director, set decorator: New York, and production designer: second unit). E.g. Barbie (2023).
However supervising art directors now belong in the Art Directors department.
Those art department jobs that fall under the Special or Visual Effects departments (e.g. model makers) are included in those departments, not this one.
The Art department includes props, set design, set construction and set dressing, painters, greens, props, set design, set construction and set dressing, but not costume functions such as tailoring, etc. - these belong in the Costume and Wardrobe department (e.g. Phantom Thread (2017)). Similarly, makeup (including prosthetics), though it is part of the overall design, has its own department (e.g. The Substance (2024)).
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
Assistant director is generally a multiple credit for modern films, although on older films, it is typical to find only a single, undifferentiated credit for assistant director.
Please be aware that it is currently our policy to place credits for direction on secondary units in the Assistant Director department; this includes assistant directors on those units.
Supervising directors should be submitted to the Directors department.
Some lesser related credits should still be submitted to the Additional Crew department, such as runner, production intern, production assistant, and assistant to director. However, there are some exceptions to this: trainee assistant director credits (e.g., DGA trainee) should be submitted to the Assistant Director department.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
The Camera and Electrical category includes those jobs that generally fall under the camera, electric and grip departments, but do not have their own lists. Thus, Cinematographers are not included here, since they have their own list.
However, modifications of that job title (assistant cinematographer; director of photography: New York; underwater photographer) are included in this list, e.g. The Avengers (2012).
For our purposes, the Camera and Electrical department includes camera functions (assistant camera, clapper/loader, focus puller), electrical/lighting functions (gaffer/chief lighting technician, best boy/assistant chief lighting technician, generator operator, cable puller), and grip functions (key grip, assistant key grip). Camera-related functions performed during principal photography, such as digital imaging technician, video assist and 24-frame playback also fall here, e.g. Dune: Part Two (2024).
A list of the role featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
Casting Directors may be credited as just "casting" or "casting by" in the on-screen credits) e.g. Knives Out (2019); other casting personnel, including Casting Directors of additional units or for specific locations, should be included in the Casting department, e.g. Glass Onion (2022). In other words, someone whose function was "(casting: Toronto)" or "(casting assistant)" should be submitted to the Casting department.
The same is true of casting associates, extras/background casting directors and "original casting" credits.
The attribute "(casting)" or "(casting by)" should be added if this is the way the credit appears on-screen.
For TV series, uncredited work, and alternate names, please see the Attributes guide.
The Casting department includes all casting jobs other than Casting Director. (Please note that Casting Directors may be credited on-screen as just "casting" or "casting by" - these still belong in the Casting Director department). E.g. Knives Out (2019).
This includes location-specific casting (e.g. casting: Canada), extras casting, casting assistants, ADR casting, "original casting" credits etc. For example, Glass Onion (2022).
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
This section is for the primary Costume Designer(s) only. It is typical for only one person to be credited as Costume Designer on a title (with rare exceptions).
Credits for other costume functions should be submitted to the Costume Department, (i.e. assistant costume designers, wardrobe, wardrobe assistants, seamstress, second unit costume designers etc. won't be accepted in this section)
Older films/titles: On older films there may not be a Costume Designer, but instead a credit for gowns or wardrobe, sometimes separately for men and women, e.g. Cleopatra (1963). We consider "gowns" (or "costumes") to be design functions, belonging to this department, while "wardrobe" does not imply design, and is considered "costume department."
Specific examples:
The Costume & Wardrobe department includes all wardobe/costume related roles, such as:
However, please note that this does not include the primary Costume Designer.
Wigs
Wigs are considered part of the Makeup department.
The Editorial Department includes all film/video editing functions other than the main editor. This includes assistant editors, additional editors and editorial consultants or supervisors. E.g. The Brutalist (2024)
This department also includes post-production functions such as negative cutter, color timer, and post-production coordinator in addition to strictly editorial roles.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
The Location Management department includes all location management functions. This includes location scouting, location manager, assistant/associate location manager, location coordinators, etc. For example, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
Production managers have their own department, and should not be included in this one.
Note that some Sound department and Casting department jobs include the word "location" but belong to those departments, not this one. In general, if a job includes the word "sound" or "casting", that takes precedence over "location".
Studio teachers are part of the production office, and should go to the Additional Crew department. For example, Plus One (2019).
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
Note that the Makeup department also includes hair-related jobs (including wigs). Job titles can have modifiers after a colon. For example:
The music department list includes all music jobs not already covered by the composer or soundtrack lists, and should include the following:
If a title is present, the credit should be:
Generally speaking, people listed only in the soundtrack section should not also be included in this department. If they are listed in the main crew section:
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field. Remember job titles reflect the person, not the task, so, for example, "lyricist" rather than "lyrics".
This department is used only for production designers, e.g. Poor Things (2023); related jobs should go either to specific lists where they exist (Art Director and Art department, Set Decorator department).
In particular, assistant production designers, second unit and location production designers (i.e. production designer: London, production designer: second unit or assistant production designer) should go to the Art department.
This department records all production management jobs. That includes all variants of production manager (such as unit production manager and assistant production manager), as well as related jobs like production supervisor, unit manager, executive in charge of production, and production director.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
If the name appears in the on-screen credits under a Company sub-heading then they should be listed with their credited job title and the company name also entered in "Role" field (e.g. production manager: example company).
This department includes all jobs and functions related to the process of translating a script from paper to screen, including:
These jobs include:
The script department only includes production jobs - script related jobs for members of the screenwriting staff (like story editors) still belong to the Writers department.
It also only includes script continuity jobs - visual or sound continuity tasks (e.g. animation or storyboard continuity, ADR continuity, etc.) belong to those respective departments (Animation department, Art department, Sound department etc.)
This list is used only for main unit set decorators; related jobs should go either to specific lists where they exist (Art Director, Production Designer) or to theArt deparment. In particular, buyers, set dressers, assistant set decorators, second unit and location set decorators (i.e. set decorator: Paris, set decorator: second unit and assistant set decorator) should go to the Art department list.
We typically expect to see one or two people per title with this credit.
This category includes all jobs within the Sound department, e.g. Blow Out (1981); except those related to the recording/editing of music (e.g., music editor, music recordist). It also does not include the writing or playing of music, including such jobs as orchestral contractor and arranger; these jobs go to the Music department.
While U.S. union rules place such video-related jobs as video assist and 24-frame playback under the Sound department, our rules do not. These credits should go to the Camera and Electrical department for now.
ADR (voiceover, looping) jobs are divided: Recording jobs go here, performing jobs go into the Additional Crew department. However, all foley-related jobs are in this list.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
Special Effects generally encompasses those effects that are achieved live on set, such as pyrotechnics or forced perspective. It does not include visual effects, which are usually achieved optically or digitally during post-production (including model work).
You must include a job title.
If a company or team worked on a film and received an onscreen credit for its contribution, then an individual who worked as part of that company or team may be listed in IMDb. If their name appears in the on-screen credits they should be listed with their credited job title and the company name if that's also listed (e.g. special effects: SuperGroovy FX Co.). The company name should be entered in the "Role" field as well. If their name is not listed in the credits then they should be listed in the same way but with (uncredited) in the attributes box to indicate that there was no on-screen credit.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
The Stunts department includes stunt performers, stunt coordinators, and related job titles.
Photo doubles and stand-ins do not belong to the Stunts department. They should be submitted as part of the Additional Crew department.
For stunt double work, we only allow credited roles, unless further details of the role are supplied.
Examples:
Please select the "uncredited" attribute for any stunt work that was not credited on screen. Failure to do so may result in the entry being subsequently removed.
When uncredited work is similar to work already credited for the same title, the existing credit covers the work on the movie ae and there is no need to submit the uncredited work. See I worked on a title but did not receive a screen credit. Can it be listed on IMDb? for additional information.
The transportation department includes all transportation-related functions.
This includes drivers, shipping, transportation coordination, travel, parking, picture cars, etc.
A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
This department includes all forms of "thanks" credits - special thanks, acknowledgement, dedications, etc.
This department is for people (both individuals and specific groups); companies and amorphous groups should be listed in the miscellaneous companies list. Anything not fitting into the previous categories (mythical beings, inanimate objects, etc.) should be listed as a crazy credit.
In many animated movies, there is a list in the credits labeled "Production Babies", which are lists of the first names (only) of the babies born to staff while the film was being made. Production Babies should also be added to the crazy credits section.
"In Memorium" tributes (where a still photograph or video clip of the individual in one of their famous roles appears on screen) should be added to the "thanks" section using the appropriate "role". They are not eligible for a cast (archive footage) credit.
A movie connection should be added instead linking to the title from which the footage originates.
The specific form of thanks is treated as an "role" for this purpose. A list of the roles featured in this department can be selected by clicking the drop-down button in the "Role" field.
"Uncredited" thanks credits are no longer accepted, and all existing examples of this type of credit are in the process of being removed.
The Visual Effects department includes all jobs related to visual effects, such as matte painter, compositor, digital effects artists, animators (for live action films), visual effects supervisors, and miniature crew members. It does not include Special Effects, which have their own department.
If a company or team worked on a film and received an onscreen credit for its contribution, then an individual who worked as part of that company or team may be listed in IMDb. If their name appears in the on-screen credits they should be listed with their credited job title and the company name if that's also listed (i.e. matchmover: SuperGroovy FX Co.). If their name is not listed in the credits then they should be listed in the same way but with (uncredited) in the attributes field to indicate that there was no on-screen credit.
You must include a job title.
Animators for animated films, or for animated sequences within live action films, should go to the Animation department instead.
The "additional", "other" or "misc." crew section is for those job titles not already covered by another section. Job titles covered by another department should be entered in that section. Some job titles that may not be obvious:
Companies should not be included in this department; they should go to the miscellaneous company section (or, if appropriate, one of the other company sections: e.g. special effects companies, distributors, production companies).