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5 Messages

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164 Points

Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 4:30 PM

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Trailer Music

Hi - what is the proper way to add a credit for a composer of the trailer music for a film?  If the credit is added as 'Composer' (either as it's own category or part of the music department), then it ends up being misleading because it looks like it's a credit for the music within the film itself.   If a credit is added as 'Other' with  a sub-specification as Trailer Music Composer, then that credit is often rejected, or if it is approved, often the sub-specification is removed in the imdb listing, and it again ends up looking like the music for the film itself, not the trailer.

Suggestions?  Thank you.

Accepted Solution

145 Messages

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4K Points

3 years ago

Trailer credits in general are not allowed unless they are specifically credited in the film. Here's a paragraph from the IMDb Help Center page on Eligible Credits (https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/filmography-credits/eligible-credits/GFXKZE9VXLB5CR8M#):

“There are certain types of credits that we do not list unless they are specifically credited on-screen: these include work on marketing elements of a title (work on key art, trailers, etc.), or on non-theatrical versions (e.g. DVD authoring, supplemental materials, captioning etc.), or on localized releases (dubbing, dialogue translation/editing on foreign versions etc.). We do not list these credits unless the person has received an on-screen credit for their work in the original version of the title. These details may be added to the Other Works biography section, or, alternatively, IMDbPro members can add these to the additional credits section of the name page. Some common acting categories such as "Special Skills" may fall into the "Trivia" section of a biography.”

5 Messages

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164 Points

@david_glagovsky Thank you so much!  Although disappointing, this is very helpful to have a definitive answer. 

2.5K Messages

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69.2K Points

3 years ago

If the credits like ”trailer music” or ”composer: trailer music” are not included in the actual end credits of the film, I doubt they’re allowed.

And if they are included in the actual credits, they go to the ”Music Department”:

https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/filmography-credits/music-department/G9QPJV4FV85BRM7X?ref_=helpms_helpart_inline# 

(edited)

5 Messages

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164 Points

@eboy Thank you very much for this.   Indeed, when I've seen credits added/accepted, they've gone through the Music Department area.  But the issue is that sometimes they're accepted and sometimes declined, and it seems to be just at random.  There are many successful listings of trailer credits... I'd just like to find out a reliable way to add them, so it's not a random gamble as to whether they're accepted or not.

2.5K Messages

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69.2K Points

3 years ago

Usually the main rule adding credits is: are they included in the actual end credits of the film/episode?

I can’t say too much about trailer related credits, though. IMDb staff should probably give some answers (are ”uncredited” trailer credits accepted, for example, which I doubt myself). Trailers are a unique form of art. Editing, music, graphics, etc. They’re also sometimes shameless promotion, of course.