In "Platinum Blonde" Jo Swerling is credited (see below). In the rules for crediting the crew, Adaptation by does not appear. How should it be credited then?

Taken from upc=043396037595

The consensus has been a moving target for a long time now.  Some time ago, I argued for adaptation to be included in the roles expansion in the rules committee.  Personally, I think it's an important part of the writing process, when it occurs.  That never happened, however we were given the option of custom roles.  Since then, about half the folks say OMB, the other half say custom.  I've been tracking it custom myself.

More importantly, the reason this subject is coming up is because the profile in question currently credits Jo Swerling with a screenwriter credit.  A change has been submitted that, among other things, removes Jo Swerling from the credits entirely.  I'm the one who submitted that change, and I can only say that given the narrow interpretation that tends to be reflected on these boards, it's hard to see how Adaptation By can be stretched to Based On, which I've been lectured is the litmus test for OMB.

My opinion has changed since this first came up...mostly due to James' post about WGA credit rules.  As it stands now, I agree with scotthm and don't believe the rules allow for this credit to be included.

I track them locally under custom.

Adaptation is definitely not an OMB credit.  The adapter did not create the original work.  They are adapting someone else's original work.  I've submitted removals of these credits when listed under OMB and never had it declined.

I would like to see it added as an option under the writing credits however.  But until then, best kept local.

Thank you all for your answers.

I understand that most of you do not include any credit for Adaptation by when submitting to the Invelos database, because there is at present no correct slot of in the writers section of the crew credits.

I am ill at ease with not giving credit where it is due. The movie content should not be altered to accomodate the database, anymore than you break a present to make it fit its box.

Quoting Wigram:

Quote:
The movie content should not be altered to accomodate the database, anymore than you break a present to make it fit its box.

I fully understand (and agree with) your point of view. Unfortunately, rules are not made to enter correct data, and we prefer, for the online database, mispelled names and overviews not matching with the movie's story. Rules are just made to be followed the more stupidly as possible, even if the result defies common sense.

Quoting mdnitoil:

Quote:
We don't include associate producer (which in the golden age films actually had some meaning).

I include them... but as they aren't contributable anyway it's irrelevent

I always include every producers in my profile as it's easy to know who they are and I like to see the progression in their career (in the custom role of course). In fact I use a lot of custom role in the designated area (producer, writer, art,...), I just don't use the other crew jobs area. I know myself well enough to know that if I start that I will list every crew members and create a profile will take 3 hours or more