A Hollywood screenplay often passes through many writers. The screen credit names only a few. Under the rules of the Writers Guild of America, a screenplay credit “is normally shared by no more than two writers.” On an original screenplay, the first writer receives credit if his or her contribution is more than 33 percent of the final shooting script. A later writer who is not a production executive must contribute 50 percent.
When writers dispute a credit, three Guild members with no interest in the outcome decide. Credit affects a writer’s reputation, pay, residuals and future work.
For The Flintstones (1994), thirty-two writers took part in round-table sessions. The final writing credit named three people.