Film credits generator
Fill in roles and names, reorder rows, pick the label language and preview the end crawl. Export plain text and CSV for your title designer.
One name per line. A label containing {names} is rendered on one line (e.g. “a film by {names}”). Empty label = free text line.
End crawl preview
Opening title cards
14 cards, in order of appearance.
Estimated crawl length
≈ 64 text lines. Rough estimate: (lines × line height + 1080 px) ÷ (speed × fps). A whole number of pixels per frame helps avoid judder.
Mentions to check
The presets reflect common practice, not a rule. Order, placement and size of credits are often set by contracts (cast, writers, director, co-producers, financiers): when in doubt, the contract prevails and your legal counsel decides.
French films
- Visa d'exploitation: a film released in French cinemas needs an exhibition visa (visa d'exploitation); its number is commonly shown at the end of the credits. Check expectations with your distributor.
- CNC, regions, SOFICAs, broadcasters: funding agreements usually specify the wording (“avec la participation de…”, “avec le soutien de…”), the logo and its placement. Copy the exact wording from each agreement.
- Music: for each existing track, the sync licence (publisher) and master licence (record label) usually define the credit: title, writers, performer, “avec l'aimable autorisation de” (courtesy of).
- False friend: in France, “producteur exécutif” often means the company or person carrying out the production (close to a line producer), whereas a US “executive producer” is mostly a financing or oversight credit.
- Copyright: “© [year] [production company] – Tous droits réservés” is the usual line.
US / international films
- On productions under guild agreements (DGA, WGA, SAG-AFTRA), director, writer and performer credits follow those agreements. Under WGA rules, for example, “&” joins a writing team while “and” separates writers who worked independently.
- MPA rating: rated films commonly show the rating block and certificate number in the end credits.
- Copyright notice, fictitious-characters disclaimer and anti-piracy warning are common practice; E&O insurers often ask for the disclaimer.
- Logos (sound formats, unions, software): only as allowed by the relevant licences or agreements. The “No animals were harmed” credit is reserved for productions monitored and certified by American Humane.
- Legibility: keep text inside title-safe and avoid very thin strokes that flicker when crawling.
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About this tool
The film credits generator helps you draft the opening titles and the end crawl of a film. It starts from two presets: a US / international convention, where the opening cards run in ascending order of importance from the distributor and production company to the director, and a French convention, with a short opening and the main credits as cards at the start of the end credits, followed by the cast list, the crew by department, music, thanks, financial partners and legal lines. Every row is editable: rename a role, type one name per line, move rows up or down, delete them or add roles and section headings. Role labels switch between English and French, and a label containing {names} is rendered on a single line, as in “a film by {names}”. The preview shows the opening cards and a scrollable or animated end crawl, and a helper estimates the crawl length from line height, speed and frame rate. Export the result as plain text or CSV for the title designer. A checklist recalls common mentions to verify, such as the visa number, funders' wording and music licences, phrased as common practice: contracts and guild agreements always prevail.
How to use it
- Pick the ordering convention (French or US / international) and load the preset.
- Choose the language of the role labels and fill in the names, one per line.
- Reorder, rename, delete or add rows and section headings in the opening and end credits tabs.
- Check the opening cards and play the end crawl preview; adjust line height, speed and frame rate to estimate its length.
- Copy the text or download the .txt and .csv files, then check every mention against your contracts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the usual order of opening credits on an American film?
A common order is: distributor presents, production company, possessory credit (“a film by”), main cast, title, then casting, music, costume design, editor, production design, director of photography, executive producers, producers, writers and, last, the director. On union productions the guild agreements and individual contracts govern placement, so treat this as a starting point.
Is the visa number mandatory in French credits?
Films released in French cinemas must obtain a visa d'exploitation, and its number is commonly displayed at the end of the credits. The tool lists it as common practice; confirm the exact requirements with your distributor or legal counsel.
How should music be credited?
Each existing track is usually credited with its title, writers, performer and the rights holders, using wording such as “courtesy of” or « avec l'aimable autorisation de ». The exact credit is normally specified in the sync licence from the publisher and the master licence from the record label.
Does “producteur exécutif” mean executive producer?
Not exactly. In France the producteur exécutif is often the company or person carrying out the production, closer to a line producer or service producer, whereas a US executive producer is mostly a financing or oversight credit. Choose the label that matches the actual role.
How long should an end crawl last?
It depends on the number of lines, the type size and the crawl speed. The estimator divides the total height (lines × line height plus one screen) by the speed in pixels per frame times the frame rate. Using a whole number of pixels per frame helps avoid judder.