kari_hakkinen's profile

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Thursday, June 24th, 2021 9:40 AM

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The difference between narration and narrator

John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (1988)

IMDb has Merrill Shindler credited as part of the cast: Additional Narrator

In fact closing credits reads: Conceptual Synopsis and Additional Narration: Merrill Shindler

In my opinion there is a difference between narration and narrator. Narration is something that is written by someone and narrator is the one who reads aloud that text.

I'm now updating the cast and wondering what to do with Merrill Shindler's participation in the making of this documentary. Should he be moved for example to Script and Continuity Department?

Employee

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4 years ago

Hi kari_hakkinen -

 

In general, we treat narration/narrator credits the same on the site as voice commentary on a title; these credits are categorized on the site under Cast.

 

Can you confirm if Mr. Shindler voiced narration on the film?  As the credit is split into "Conceptual Synopsis and Additional Narration", this may warrant two separate credit listings, one under Cast for the narration and and one under for "conceptual synopsis" under the Writers section.

 

However, if Mr.Shindler did not voice the narration, but rather wrote the narration, then the credit would best be suited under the Writer section.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

67 Messages

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2K Points

4 years ago

As I wrote he is credited in closing credits Conceptual Synopsis and Additional Narration: Merrill Shindler.

But IMDb credits him cast member, ie. narrator.

I don't recall any other narrator than Robert Mitchum.

Employee

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17.6K Messages

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4 years ago

Hi kari_hakkinen -

If the Cast credit is incorrect, please request the removal of the credit through our online Update form (make sure to include a detailed explanation for the request, as you have done so in this thread).  You can then submit the credit under the proper "Writer" section, where it should be listed.

Let us know if you have any trouble submitting the updates!

67 Messages

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4 years ago

Done. Thanks.

The basic problem is misleading sloppy use of words. You can never be sure what narration by means. Is it written by or spoken by someone?

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@kari_hakkinen

It is literally spoken. There is nothing in the definition of narration (which is the act of narrating) that would lend any belief that it is a writing credit. 

Champion

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3K Messages

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4 years ago

I believe your definitions are off. For credits there really is no difference between narration and narrator. Narration is not "something that is written by someone". Narration is defined as "the act or process of narrating a story". A narrator is one who narrates. There is nothing in "narration" which is an act that would lend one to believe it is a writing credit.

67 Messages

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2K Points

3 years ago

I've always thought that:

narrating - Verb
narrator - Noun
narration - Object