Closing credits
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Closing credits, aka end credits or end titles, are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television show, or video game. While opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to or at the very end of a work. A full set of credits can include not only the cast and crew, but also production sponsors, distribution companies, works of music licensed or written for the work, various legal disclaimers, such as copyright, and more.[citation needed]
Appearance
Typically, the closing credits appear in white lettering on a solid black background, often with a musical background. Credits are either a series of static frames, or a single list that scrolls from the bottom of the screen to the top. Occasionally closing credits will divert from this standard form to scroll in another direction, include illustrations, extra scenes, bloopers, joke credits and post-credits scenes.[citation needed]
History
The use of closing credits in film to list complete production crew and the cast was not firmly established in American film until the late 1960s and early 1970s. Films generally had opening credits only, which consisted of just major cast and crew, although sometimes the names of the cast and the characters they played would be shown at the end. Two of the first major films to contain extensive closing credits – but almost no opening credits – were the blockbusters Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and West Side Story (1961). West Side Story showed only the title at the beginning of the film, and Around the World in 80 Days had no opening credits at all.[citation needed]
See also
- Acknowledgment – Expression of gratitude for assistance in creating a work
- All persons fictitious disclaimer – Statement that the persons portrayed in a work of media are not based on real people
- Billing – Performing arts term
- Character generator – Device for adding text and graphics to a video stream
- Credit – Expression of gratitude for assistance in creating a work
- Digital on-screen graphic – Watermark-like TV station logo
- Lower third – Graphic overlay in lower area of TV screen
- Opening credits – Display of names
- Post-credits scene – Short sequence that appears after all or part of the final credits
- Title sequence – Introductory sequence in films and television
- WGA screenwriting credit system – Credit system for motion pictures and TV programs in the US