Based on my last 3 posts I have updated my original post. I'm sure some will diasgree with some of these points, but it's not a problem for me to edit the post again at a later stage if there are good suggestions.

This is another area that I have little trouble with myself. The Best answer is to Open the Writing Credits and list it as you see it. No definitions, Writer's guild no nothing, we are going to wind with mass confusion because we are going to have at least a couple of possibilities that will have two separate definitoions which will cause confusion and ping-ponging. If anything is to be done simply Open the credits and list what you see.

Skip

change your keyboardlayout and enter what you see on screen:  

like this:
???????

Quote:
4. Story

The term "story" means all writing covered by the provisions of the Minimum Basic Agreement representing a contribution "distinct from screenplay and consisting of basic narrative, idea, theme or outline indicating character development and action."

It is appropriate to award a "Story by" credit when: 1) the story was written under employment under Guild jurisdiction; 2) the story was purchased by a signatory company from a professional writer, as defined in the Minimum Basic Agreement; or 3) when the screenplay is based upon a sequel story written under the Guild's jurisdiction. If the story is based upon source material of a story nature, see "screen story" below.

Exactly my point in the other thread. Anything under WGA jurisdiction is written specifically for use in film. Perhaps as a pitch, spec story, treatment or detailed outline in order to eventually make a film. While not a screenplay, it is specifically written to be used on screen.

Not that there aren't already enough red herrings to go around this topic, I thought I'd add a couple more.

How do we deal with different conjunctions used when combining co-writers?  I understand "and" and "&" mean different types of co-writing.  One is used when two people write a story/script together -- and the other is used when a different writer is called upon to re-write the original material.  So if the credits read Screenplay by A and B & C, the first two worked together, but the third person (C) modified the work of the first two (A and B).  Given the existing writer credits, I'd say A, B, and C are all screenwriters.  But how would the "more detailed" plans affect this?

Quoting kdh1949:

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Unless I'm mistaken, I believe Skip has long argued for open credits for ALL crew.

Quite possibly, but that's not what he asked for here. That I could actually consider...

Quoting Behemot:

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I think the Writing field needs to be updated, as the current available options are too limited and way too open for interpretation.

True, there are different interpretations on a few issues, AFAIK, for instance what do you enter when a TV show is "Created by"? and what do you enter  when it's an "Original Screenplay". But those issues might be settled with a statement by Ken, perhaps.
That said, I would like more options, so that "DVDP credits" are more like screen credits  (yet not Open Credits, that would bring other problems)  

Quote:
*Original material by:              Based on novel/book/play/film/poem/idea/short story/previous screenplay by

[...]
*Story by                            Story by

I would split the existing "OMB" into two different credits: "Based on" and "Story by".

Quote:
*Created by                        Created by
*Dialogue by                      Dialogue by

I would like those. 

Quoting Behemot:

Quote:
I think the Writing field needs to be updated, as the current available options are too limited and way too open for interpretation. The Writing credits are, IMO, relatively important credits, and it would be nice to have some more options. My suggestions are as follows:

ROLE                                    CREDITED AS
*Original characters by:        Based on characters by; original characters by
*Original material by:            Based on novel/book/play/film/poem/idea/short story/previous screenplay by
*Screenwriter                      Screenwriter; screenplay by; teleplay by; written for the screen by
*Writer                            Writer; written by; original screenplay by; by ("by" only eligible when no other writing credit exists)
*Story by                            Story by
*Adaptation                        Adaptation by; adapted by; screen story by
*Created by                        Created by
*Dialogue by                      Dialogue by

I think this should pretty much cover it, and it would remove all room for interpretation. I think more available options for Writing credits is a better idea than trying to squeeze all the different credits into the 4 existing options.

I would add musical to OMB above, but otherwise this is a great list. Thanks.

Quoting skipnet50:

Quote:
I have said NUMEROUS times as ususal, that open credits bring their own shar of issues. However, they would be prefereable to further defining existing definitons, ESPECIALLY if we try to come up with TWO or more definitions for the same role. We could if Ken chooses, apply a hybrid system for those areas, such as writing which are problematic, in other words Open credits for writing, we obviously aren't having any serious issues in Production,  Director, Photography, Editing or or Art. Even Sound seems tyo have finally settled down. But Writing remains a problem and the BEST answer remains Open credits, either complete or some form of hybrid.

Skip

I would like to see open credits even if they weren't contributable, eg. we could contribute certain standard credits but not our local customized credits.

As for serious issues, it depends on how one qualifies serious. With production, we have TV series producers who get bumped up to co-executive producer on later seasons. When that happens, we can no longer record their involvement in DVDP. I think that happened to Kiefer Sutherland on 24, but I could be wrong. It's also happened to some of the regular producers on Woody Allens' films, for example. As his financing changed, his regular producers got bumped into categories that we don't record. It makes it look in DVDP like they're no longer involved.

With Photography, we don't have "photographed by", which would be handy to have. With editing and art direction, there are supervisors that pop up from time to time. It would be nice to distinguish them from the non-supervisors. We also can't record the set decorators. They share the Academy Award for art direction with the art director, but we can't record that.

Otherwise, I agree that the writing credits present the most problems and that open credits would be great. If we could just customize our local db, I would be happy. (Costume Designer!  )