Screenwriting : Screenplay Credits by Matthew J. Kaplan

That's a really good question. I know when I go through my own material for a punch-up round, and finally crack an elusive line with a zinger, I get this euphoric feeling "I just improved my script by $1000!". That being said, I think if you pay the writer while in development to ghost write or script doctor your material, you won't need to give them credit. However, if payment is deferred until production it would be gentlemanly to list that writer under your name as a separate line item in the "written by" credit. That's just my opinion though -- others might disagree...

Well yes and no. It depends on the share I think. As I understand with writers rooms - and they can be very small - you have a head writer and contributors. The head writer always get's the credits. The rest... well that depends on the producers I think. I usually get story credits.

To the best of my knowledge, I have never heard of anyone getting credit for punching up someone's script, just payment. Patton Oswalt is a good example of this.

I think you would give the person credit in the thank-you section. You should check out how the Writers Guild of America (WGA) breaks down the credits--that break-down is the industry standard and quite specific.

No and a screenwriter is not the one who give credits to people.

If there is a WGA dispute about credit, the arbitration committee values scenes than dialogue.

There is written by "writer A & B'; and there is written by "writer A and B"

I agree but I don't think that would include someone just punching up a screenplay.

In his commentary for Pride & Prejudice, Joe Wright (the director) talked about Emma Thompson writing two scenes. She was uncredited and unpaid, but she did receive a "Special Thanks to" credit at the end of the film .

I've spent many a long day & night in the Writer's Room as a dialog coach and punching up a lot of dialog on shows I know you've all seen - I never got no stinkin' credit (but I did get paid).

Matthew, This is certainly an open-ended question and there really isn't one answer. But, the READER'S DIGEST answer is that if you hire someone - pay them a fair wage - and draw up a Deal Memo, detailing this is strictly just a punch-up for the script for hire, they are usually okay, NOT taking credit. As a writer-director and a producer, I have done many punch-ups, polishes and even straight rewrites where I wasn't credited. We discussed it before-hand and if they agreed to a fair price, I was okay with it. But, each writer is different and this is why you want to draw up a contract and be on the same page with someone doing work on your script. You agree to terms up-front, rather than, as Dan MaxXx pointed out someone disputing the credit with the WGA. BUT, again, MOST WRITERS will not do this if they agree to something else up-front. Just be straight and find a writer you trust to do it for you, while you pay them a fair wage that they agree to. GOD BLESS and STAY FRESH! ;)

Thank you for all your comments - plenty to chew on here!

What's good, Matthew! No credits or serious talks over a few jokes. Here's what worked for me: post three pages or a sequence that you want punched up, add the link to a post - If you think you're funny give it a look. I'll do it just for G.P. I would include a one page, genre, time period, logline and synopsis. Hope this helps

Doug, that is what my coach said too. But for me a tough cookie to chew on because I work for credits and money.