HBO Max and the Credits Section: Why Do Writers & Directors Shouldn’t Be Paired? A Comment on Mark Levinson

The credits section that acknowledged the contributions of writers and directors was lost when the new streaming service Max was glitchy.

Stiehm said that the idea that writers are unimportant and should be paid less than their employers’ profits echoes the message that they heard in their negotiations with the AMPTP. The strike was brought about because of this tone-deaf disregard for writers.

“We agree that the talent behind the content on Max deserve their work to be properly recognized,” a Max spokesman said in a statement. “We will correct the credits, which were altered due to an oversight in the technical transition from HBO Max to Max and we apologize for this mistake.”

It’s quite possible that during all of the work it took to remake HBO Max and lop off the most recognizable part of its brand name, someone’s finger somehow slipped, let’s say, leading to data from the old platform not being moved over correctly.

The change drew ire from TV and film union leaders during an already tense time for the industry. Directors are in the middle of contract talks while writers are on strike.