Warner Bros. Discovery is taking steps to address the backlash it received over the “creator” credits section on its newly relaunched Max streaming platform. Last month, the company faced criticism for not properly acknowledging the talent behind films and TV shows. According to Deadline, the entertainment giant has started revising the credit sections across its various platforms, which currently lump together writers, directors, producers, and more as nondescript “creators.”
“This is a credits violation for starters,” said Meredith Stiehm, president of Writers Guild of America West. “But worse, it is disrespectful and insulting to the artists that make the films and TV shows that make their corporation billions.”
The updated credit sections will now include familiar categories that allow each title’s creators to be properly credited for their work. Some of these categories can already be seen in the updated credits for the show Succession. The sections will include Created By, Director(s), Writers, Producers, Developed By, and Based on Source Material where applicable. The rollout of these changes is expected to be completed within two weeks.
After issuing an apology in May, Warner Bros. Discovery warned that fixing the credits across its platform would take some time as the data needed to be transferred, checked, and finalized. The company claimed that a “technical oversight” during the transition from HBO Max to the new Max streaming platform was to blame for the issue.
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The timing of this situation has sparked further controversy for Warner Bros. Discovery. Strikes and union activity by groups like the Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, and Directors Guild have been taking place in recent weeks as professionals within the industry fight for fair compensation, proper credit, and protection against being replaced by AI. The snub by Warner Bros. Discovery has not been well-received by these groups.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s unilateral move, without notice or consultation, to collapse directors, writers, producers, and others into a generic category of ‘creators’ in their new Max rollout while we are in negotiations with them is a grave insult to our members and our union,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter in response to the new Max credits. “This devaluation of the individual contributions of artists is a disturbing trend, and the DGA will not stand for it.”
The controversy surrounding the creator credits highlights the ongoing struggle within the entertainment industry for proper recognition and compensation. As professionals continue to fight for their rights, it is crucial that companies like Warner Bros. Discovery take steps to address these concerns and ensure that artists are given the credit they deserve.
In full disclosure, it is important to note that The Verge’s editorial staff is also unionized with the Writers Guild of America, East. The issue of proper credits and fair treatment is a significant one for industry professionals, and there is a need for continued dialogue and action to address these concerns. Only by recognizing the invaluable contributions of artists can we create an industry that is truly fair and supportive for all.
