IMDB Won't Update Credit

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I'm working at a literary agency and wanting to change the credit of one of our clients from Story Editor to Executive Story Editor as per his contract.

IMDB keeps rejecting the change.

How can I show IMDB the proof that this is the correct credit for his work so that his credit can be updated accordingly?

Thanks
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Glenn

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Posted 6 years ago

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6 years ago
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Emperor, Champion

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The best proof is a screenshot of their name on the credits.
6 years ago
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Glenn

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To whom do I send the screenshot to?

If we don't have the episodes rather the contracts is there a way to send that? Or a picture of that?

Thanks
6 years ago
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Emperor, Champion

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You can add the screenshots here, along with the reference number for the submission.
6 years ago
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Glenn

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Unfortunately we don't have the episodes on hand.

Is it possible to send a screenshot of the contracts?
6 years ago
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Glenn

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Or other method?
6 years ago
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bluesmanSF, Champion

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you can try. what matters most is what is on screen. how did the credit appear on screen?
6 years ago
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Emperor, Champion

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Is it possible to send a screenshot of the contracts?

If there are privacy issues you can use this form:

http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/data_verification

However, as bmSF has said, the key evidence is how it appeared on the credits - there's many a slip betwixt cup and lip, so a contract isn't the same as the credits. So you can give it a shot with the contracts, but there are no guarantees. I'd really recommend trying to track down the credits - if it is released, then you could contact the production company (even if it isn't released they might have finalised the credits) or ask on the title's message board as someone there might be able to help.
6 years ago
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Glenn

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We can contact the production company. What document would you suggest we ask from them? There are 23 episodes that need his credit changed from Story Editor to Executive Story Editor and screencapping seems tedious.

Thoughts?
6 years ago
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bluesmanSF, Champion

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3.  Any document naming the title
2.  Any document specifying it's to be in the on screen credits the way you're submitting

and the number one and best bet
1.  On screen credits

Use what you have and if it's still stuck, work on getting the other, better proof.
6 years ago
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Emperor, Champion

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Yep this ^^^

I suspect if you are looking to change existing credits from Story Editor to Executive Story Editor then only one screenshot of his credit would be required, as it'd demonstrate there is a problem with the credits that need correcting. Especially, if you've done the changes all in one submission from their name page.
6 years ago
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Glenn

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Hi again,

We were able to make the changes for our client's credit but IMDB has since reversed them. We were able to obtain a document from the director of legal affairs over at the production company that explains the situation.

Can you let me know how I can go about giving this document to IMDB so the changes can be made?

Thanks
2014-01-06T16:32:36+00:00
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LuvsToResearch, Champion

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You can scan the document and provide it on a free photo sharing site giving the URL to IMDb via the link provided by Emperor above.  However, since IMDb relies on the "on-screen credits" to validate its information, if the on-screen credits do not specifically state Executive Story Editor, it is likely that the information will not be changed.  You should provide the information to IMDb as described and see what happens.
2014-01-07T21:29:09+00:00
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Glenn

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Thanks,

I have made the credit change as well as scanned the document as proof in the link Emperor sent above.

How long does the process usually take and to whom can I follow up with if nothing has happened?

Best.
6 years ago
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Giancarlo Cairella, Official Rep

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Glenn:

You didn't mention which person/credit you are trying to correct, but your description and the fact that the credit was changed and then reverted back to what it was before the change strongly suggests that what we list now is how the credit appeared on-screen in the actual show, which means that our listing is correct as is. Supplying a contract or other document is not likely to have any effect in this case, because our listings are supposed to match on-screen credits.

IMDb credits are based on and try to accurately represent credits as they appeared on screen. If someone received a credit as Story Editor in the actual on-screen titles of a show, then that's how the credit will appear in their IMDb filmography, regardless of any other documentation or contractual stipulation. If the person performed a different role or job than what's listed on-screen, then the additional job can be added as an 'uncredited' entry (provided it can be verified). 

If our listing is indeed incorrect (i.e. we are listing the credit as "Story Editor" but the actual on-screen credit in the main or end titles of the show appears as "Executive Story Editor") then our editors will be happy to make the correction if they can verify that this is indeed how the person was billed on-screen. Which is why we need to insist on proof of screen credit (i.e. a screen grab of the entry from the actual credits). 


6 years ago
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Glenn

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Hi Giancarlo,

In the link Emperor sent me I outlined everything (name, credit, etc.) as well as included an official document from the production company outlining the error made on their behalf. I'm guessing that's working it's way through the IMDB machine as we speak.

Essentially we want to change all of Cole Bastedo's credits on the show "The Next Step" to be changed from Story Editor to Executive Story Editor. The production company had, in grave error, written his credit as Story Editor on the titles instead of Executive Story Editor. They have acknowledged this error in the form I submitted to IMDB (I have attached it here for your convenience as well). Now, since the show is in international distribution, it is too expensive for them to recall and reedit the titles.

I can provide contracts, legal documents, contact numbers for those in the legal affairs department to help speed up this process and ensure Cole is given the credit he deserves.

Please let me know if you are able to help.



6 years ago
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DavidAH_Ca, Champion

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If he was credited as Story Editor in the original release of the film, that is how the credit must be listed on IMDb.  Even if the production company did recall all the prints and changed the credit, it would still need to be listed as Story Editor, as it is the credit roll in the original release that controls what is listed in IMDb.

I don't believe you can even add an (uncredited) listing for Executive Story Editor, as it is too close the the on-screen item.

It might be possible to add a Goof to the title page and/or a Trivia item to has Name page, but I am hot sure about this, so it may be best to wait for Staff to chime in.


6 years ago
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Glenn

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Hello,

I was hoping someone from IMDB could help explain the on-screen credit policy.

I have provided legal documentation, contracts, letters from the production company explaining the special case involving Cole Bastedo and his credit, yet no change has been made. The response I keep getting is that it has to be what appears on the screen. Could someone help elaborate on this policy and why IMDB does not account for human error?

Thanks
2014-02-07T23:11:38+00:00
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DavidAH_Ca, Champion

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The policy is simple: "IMDb credits reflect what is shown on screen in the original release."

There are even cases where two actors have had the Character names switched on screen (i.e the actor playing Bob was credited as Jim and the one playing Jim credited as Bob) and even in this case the credits were listed as shown on screen. in this case they 'accounted for human error' by adding a Goof item explaining the error.

If a person is totally omitted from the on-screen credit roll, IMDb will allow an (uncredited) item to be listed, but IMDb's raison d'etre is not to document the work people did, but rather to record credits.

2014-02-10T14:56:07+00:00
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Glenn

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Hypothetically speaking, and I'll use an extreme example, if "James Cameron" were to be accidentally credited as "James Camron" on screen for the next Avatar movie you wouldn't be able to change that?
2014-02-11T08:44:08+00:00
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Owen Rees

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See Christopher Walken's credit on Annie Hall - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075686/ - where he was credited as Christopher Wlaken in the titles as originally released.
2014-02-12T22:46:40+00:00
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Glenn

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Thanks Owen,

How does this work for crew? If someone was accidentally credited as "Story Editor" when it should have read "Executive Story Editor." What can be done?
2014-02-13T04:20:27+00:00
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bluesmanSF, Champion

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IMDb documents what's in the on screen credits.  So, if it says, "Joe Smith...Story Editor" that is what IMDb documents. Nothing can/should be done, as far as IMDb is concerned.
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