Blog · October 20, 2024 · 10 min read · Michael Rodriguez

Guild Credit Requirements: DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA Rules

Navigating guild credit requirements is one of the most complex aspects of film and television production. Non-compliance can result in grievances, fines, and legal issues. This guide covers the essential credit requirements from the three major guilds as of 2024.

Directors Guild of America (DGA)

Director Credit

The director credit is heavily protected under DGA rules:

Placement

  • Must appear on a single card (not shared)
  • Must be the last card before the first scene of the film
  • With no opening credits, the “Directed by” card usually opens the end titles

Format

  • “Directed by [Name]” is the required format
  • “A Film by” or possessory credits require additional negotiation
  • Font size must be no smaller than the largest individual credit

Timing

  • Must be displayed for a minimum duration
  • For features: at least as long as the longest other individual credit

Unit Production Manager and Assistant Directors

  • 1st AD must receive credit
  • Credit must be in the main credits, not buried in end crawl
  • UPM credit placement varies by agreement type

Television-Specific Rules

  • Episode directors have different requirements than feature directors
  • Multi-camera vs. single-camera formats have distinct rules
  • “Directed by” credit must appear after cold opens

Writers Guild of America (WGA)

Determining Writing Credit

Writing credits are determined through WGA arbitration:

“Written by”

  • Indicates both story and screenplay by the same writer(s)
  • Reserved for single writers or writing teams

“Screenplay by” and “Story by”

  • Used when story and screenplay have different credited writers
  • Story credit acknowledges the original narrative concept

“Screen Story by”

  • Used for stories based on other material
  • Different from “Story by” for original screenplays

Understanding the Ampersand vs. “And”

This distinction matters enormously:

  • & (Ampersand): Indicates a writing team who worked together
  • “and”: Indicates writers who worked separately

Example:

  • “Written by John Smith & Jane Doe” = writing partners
  • “Written by John Smith and Jane Doe” = separate contributions

Source Material Credits

When adapting existing material:

  • “Based on the novel by [Author]”
  • “Based on characters created by [Creator]”
  • Source material credits must be specified contractually

Produced By Credits

WGA has rules about producer credits appearing with writing credits:

  • “Executive Producer” cannot appear on same card as writer credits
  • Separation requirements between producer and writer credits exist

SAG-AFTRA

Cast Credits

SAG-AFTRA negotiates credit requirements for performers:

Main Title Credits

  • Star billing is negotiated individually
  • Placement relative to other stars is contractual
  • “Starring” and “Also Starring” distinctions

End Credits

  • Billing order follows negotiated agreements
  • Day players may be alphabetical or in order of appearance
  • Stunt performers have specific credit requirements

”With” and “And” Billing

Premium billing positions for notable cast:

  • “and [Name] as [Character]”
  • “with [Name]”
  • These are negotiated positions, not standardized

Guest Star Credits (Television)

  • “Guest Starring” appears before regular cast
  • “Special Guest Star” is a premium position
  • Specific size and placement requirements

Stunt Credits

  • Stunt coordinator must be credited
  • Stunt performers credit requirements vary by agreement
  • Separate stunt credit section is common

IATSE and Other Unions

Crew Credits

IATSE doesn’t mandate individual credits like talent guilds, but:

  • Department head credits are standard
  • Union members should be credited appropriately
  • Some contracts specify credit requirements

Music Credits

  • Composers must be credited for original scores
  • Song credits require specific formats
  • Music supervisors and editors have standard credits

Formatting Requirements

Size and Legibility

All guilds have minimum requirements:

  • Credits must be clearly readable
  • Font size relative to other credits is specified
  • Contrast and background requirements

Duration

  • Card credits have minimum display times
  • Crawl speed must allow readability
  • Different rules for theatrical vs. broadcast

Placement

  • “Above the title” and “below the title” are distinct positions
  • Main vs. end credits have different hierarchies
  • Position relative to other credits is often specified

Common Compliance Mistakes

Missing or Misplaced Credits

  • Forgetting to include required credits
  • Placing credits in wrong order
  • Missing “single card” requirements

Formatting Errors

  • Font size too small
  • Credit displayed too briefly
  • Incorrect spelling or format of credit language

Timing Issues

  • Credits appearing at wrong time in film
  • Missing credits in trailers when required
  • Different credit requirements for different formats

How EndCreditsPro Helps

EndCreditsPro doesn’t check your credits against guild agreements. That stays with the contracts and your production attorney. What it does is keep the credits in one place, so those checks are easier to run:

A Starting Order

  • Generate composition builds a first layout from your credits list. On end credits, the director, writer and producer credits each get their own card, first and in that order, following DGA and WGA convention. On main titles, every credit gets its own card, with the director’s last.
  • You then reorder, style and time the cards and the crawl yourself, with a live preview.

Review and Sign-Off

  • Each name is stored once, so a correction made once is correct everywhere it appears.
  • Review requests send a department’s names to someone who knows them, to verify the spelling line by line.
  • The approval workflow sends the credits through the phases you set (producers, legal, the distributor), each approver signing off from a private link. The credits stay locked while it runs.

Documentation

  • Export the credits as TXT or Excel, in on-screen order, for legal review
  • History records who changed what and when, and lets you compare and restore earlier versions

Staying Current

Guild agreements are updated regularly:

  • New contracts typically every 3 years
  • Check guild websites for current minimums
  • Consult with your production attorney for complex situations

Conclusion

Guild compliance isn’t optional—it’s a legal and professional requirement. Understanding these rules protects your production from grievances and ensures proper recognition for all contributors.

Want your credits list, reviews and sign-off in one place? EndCreditsPro is free during the beta, with no credit card required.

Note: This guide provides general information and should not be considered legal advice. Always consult current guild agreements and legal counsel for your specific production.