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Q&A I'm producing a play with a character who the audience isn't supposed to know is alive, can I credit the actor in the program?

Even actors that play dead people in films get credit. A murdered hooker or mugging victim, for example, on a cop show. I am not sure about unnamed extras in a crowd scene, or shopping mall or stre...

posted 5y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-19T22:13:33Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/38923
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:48:28Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/38923
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T09:48:28Z (over 4 years ago)
Even actors that play dead people in films get credit. A murdered hooker or mugging victim, for example, on a cop show. I am not sure about unnamed extras in a crowd scene, or shopping mall or street scene, but since your actor shows in the final scene, if there is an exception for extras, this doesn't apply. The character has name, presumably has lines, this is not an extra.

If a named character appears on stage or camera, dead or not, no matter how small the part, **they get credit.**

You aren't giving anything away, the person could be part of a flashback, a body in a funeral scene, whatever. Give them credit.

EDIT: A way to be open but keep the secret is to refer to the dead character by an affectionate nickname; like Skipper. In fact, make it a nickname they remember the character didn't even like, but they used it to tease her. Then, in the moment before it is revealed Skipper is alive, produce the real name.

> "Sir, there is somebody at the door. She says her name is Skyler, and you know her."
> 
> "Skipper? She's a con, Skipper died when the plane went down. We had a funeral."
> 
> "Yes sir. I shall send her away."
> 
> "Wait. Skyler. I have to see this fraud for myself."

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-09-14T18:41:13Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 8