Credit Cards

You always hear about the elaborate negotiations actors go through for title billing on film credits. (Remember when Bette Midler was top-billed east of the Mississippi in “Outrageous Fortune,” while Shelley Long reigned to the west?) However, studios are normally very reluctant to divulge details of this mysterious process.

Until now. At a screening of “Rocket Gibraltar,” a three-generation family drama upcoming this fall from Columbia Pic, we received a press kit that contained (mistakenly, we presume) a full explanation of each players’ title card. Since this is an ensemble film, the detailed credits offer an especially intriguing glimpse at who negotiated the best billing.

For example: As the star, Burt Lancaster was guaranteed a separate card in the “main title” sequence; “first position” of all cast members; a type size at least as large as anyone other name and, most important, prestigious “above the title” billing.

The film’s eight other major actors were listed alphabetically. Six had negotiated “favored nations” credit clauses, meaning that if one actor were given larger type, all would receive it--each of the six were also assured a “main title” listing. Andrew Powell, who did the score, was guaranteed a “music by” credit at least the same size as the screenwriter. Director of photography Jost Vacano was assured a separate card in the main titles the “same size” as the film’s writer and director.

And director Daniel Petrie? He was not awarded a possessive (“A Daniel Petrie Film”) credit. But he is guaranteed a separate card at least the same size as “any other main title credit” except the principal cast.