Hello! --- IMDb update receipt #180821-163959-580000
I'm an actor/writer, and I did work on Sharknado 6 as a Stand-In. I also did a stunt with stunt coordinator/my friend Alex, to get eaten in the face by a shark on the beach. :)
I woke up today to see they had credited my ACTING page with a role name that just says "Background" - it looks weird and isn't that against IMDb standards? I was happy to provide atmosphere for them but Background is not a role and it looks strange with real story work.
The submitted receipt listed above is me suggesting they change it to "Guy" because I am so confused by this. I am flattered and I love their crew, but if they want to list my credit it has to be something like "Shark Victim" because I was eaten in the face, or "Guy on Beach" -- really anything that is a legitimate story-related term.
Someone please advise? You can see what they did here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1738243/
Thanks!
George Loomis
I'm an actor/writer, and I did work on Sharknado 6 as a Stand-In. I also did a stunt with stunt coordinator/my friend Alex, to get eaten in the face by a shark on the beach. :)
I woke up today to see they had credited my ACTING page with a role name that just says "Background" - it looks weird and isn't that against IMDb standards? I was happy to provide atmosphere for them but Background is not a role and it looks strange with real story work.
The submitted receipt listed above is me suggesting they change it to "Guy" because I am so confused by this. I am flattered and I love their crew, but if they want to list my credit it has to be something like "Shark Victim" because I was eaten in the face, or "Guy on Beach" -- really anything that is a legitimate story-related term.
Someone please advise? You can see what they did here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1738243/
Thanks!
George Loomis
Posted 2 years ago
ljdoncel, Champion
Hi, George:
I haven't seen The Last Sharknado: It's About Time (2018) yet, but during last July I audited the on-screen credits of the first five films of the franchise. If, as I suspect, this last installment follows the same pattern as the rest, you're probably billed under the caption Background.
I agree that this may look weird, uninformative or misleading, but listing "character names as they appear in on-screen credits" is precisely in accordance with IMDb standards.
Cheers!
I haven't seen The Last Sharknado: It's About Time (2018) yet, but during last July I audited the on-screen credits of the first five films of the franchise. If, as I suspect, this last installment follows the same pattern as the rest, you're probably billed under the caption Background.
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Sharknado (2013):
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Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014):
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Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015):
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Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens (2016):
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Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017):
I agree that this may look weird, uninformative or misleading, but listing "character names as they appear in on-screen credits" is precisely in accordance with IMDb standards.
Cheers!
Adrian, Champion
It inherently doesn’t conform to IMDb standards because it’s not a character name — that’s not IMDb’s fault though! This situation is hilarious
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
Weird acting credits happen. :)
Adrian, Champion
It does conform to IMDb's standards. Per the cast guide:
We will accept "background" or "extra" if that's how the credit appears on screen, but "background", "extra" or "bit-part" will not be accepted as a character name on the title if the role does not receive an on-screen credit.This is the only reason I added it. I'm guessing you can ammend the credit to something like "Background/Man Eaten by Shark". I know credits are supposed to be as shown on screen but sometimes an extra definition isn't harmful.
It would be a hyphen instead of a slash.
Thanks guys!
Nikolay Yeriomin (Mykola Yeromin), Champion
One example is Evil Dead (2013): while all previous installements of the franchise got "fake shemps" listed in the cast section, in this case they were added to miscellaneous crew, as their credits were buried midway through the credits, long after the cast (despite in this case fake shemps actually were bit part actors with rather memorable role). I'm still glad they are listed at all, because I tried to add them for years. In the beginning of this year I took extra mile and also re-checked end credits. It turned out, IMDb listings lacked dozens of names.
George Loomis
Please let me know what you think I should do...I’m pretty sure I can’t leave it in my acting credits just because it looks weird. Personally I think it’s really funny, but I doubt I can keep it.
I love the director of this film and I’m unsure why he does this on all these... Please let me know what you’d advise, and thank you!
ljdoncel, Champion
As Adrian states below,
...it will probably be reverted to Background soon.
(I've numbered the names in a hurry, so if I ever submit the missing credits I'll have to re-check for duplicates).
I agree that (sadly) the aforementioned rule prevents you from giving a more detailed description of your role in the character name field. Adrian's idea (Background/Man Eaten by Shark) is interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it because the slash would imply that you played two different roles. Jeorj's alternative is great (IMO), and I think that could be incorporated into the guides, so here's my humble proposal for consideration by IMDb staff and fellow contributors:
(someone please rephrase it in proper English...
George, in the meantime, I suggest that you add a trivia item in your name page explaining what you did in the film; something like: "In [link=tt8031422] he did a stunt with stunt coordinator [link=nm2317701] to get eaten in the face by a shark on the beach."
Be grateful that Mr. Ferrante takes everybody into consideration (I agree with Nikolay)... You could regret not having been credited in a future...
George Loomis
George Loomis