Adding a New Movie or TV Show
This guide walks you through the process of adding a new movie or TV show to GAWBY, from eligibility guidelines to submitting your contribution for review.
Getting Started
GAWBY is a community-powered entertainment database. By contributing, you help build a comprehensive resource for movie and TV fans worldwide.
To add a new title, you need a free GAWBY account. If you don't have one yet, you can sign up in seconds.
Once signed in, click "Add Movie" from the navigation menu or the footer, or go directly to:
/site/title/add
What Can Be Added
GAWBY accepts the following types of titles:
- Feature Film — A full-length theatrical movie (typically 40+ minutes).
- TV Series — A television series with multiple episodes, including web series.
- TV Movie — A movie produced for television broadcast rather than theatrical release.
- Short Film — A film with a running time short enough to not be considered a feature film (under 40 minutes).
- TV Special — A one-off television program, such as a holiday special or live event.
- Mini-Series — A limited television series with a predetermined number of episodes, telling a complete story.
- Documentary — A non-fiction film or series presenting factual information.
Eligibility & Guidelines
Public Interest
Titles should be of public interest — meaning they have been publicly screened, broadcast, or distributed. Home videos, personal projects not intended for public viewing, or school projects generally do not qualify.
Verification
When possible, include links to official sources that verify the title's existence, such as:
- Official website or social media page
- Film festival listing or screening notice
- News article or press release
- Streaming platform listing
Formatting
- Use proper capitalization (Title Case) — not ALL CAPS or all lowercase.
- Use the official English title as the primary name. Add the original-language title in the "Original Name" field if different.
- Do not include the year in the title name (e.g., use "The Matrix", not "The Matrix (1999)").
Production Status
Titles in various stages of production can be added. Use the Status field to indicate the current state:
- Released — The title has been publicly released.
- Post-Production — Filming is complete, editing and effects are in progress.
- Filming — Currently being filmed.
- Pre-Production — Planning stage, before filming begins.
- In Development — Early stage, may not yet have a confirmed cast or crew.
For titles still in development, leave the year blank if no release date has been announced.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
The submission form is organized into sections. You can fill them in any order using the section dropdown at the top of the form. Here's what each group covers:
![Screenshot of the section dropdown menu at the top of the submission form]()
This is the most important section. It defines the core details of the title.
- Name — The official title name in English.
- Original Name — The title in its original language, if different from the English name.
- Type — Select the type (Feature Film, TV Series, etc.). See "What Can Be Added" above.
- Status — The current production status (Released, Post-Production, etc.).
- Year — The year of premiere or projected release. Leave blank for in-development projects.
- Genres — Select one or more genres that describe the title.
- Synopsis — A detailed description of the plot, including spoilers. This helps users understand what the title is about.
![Screenshot of the Basic Information form showing Name, Type, Status, Year, and Genre fields]()
- Budget — The production budget with currency. Optional but helpful for major productions.
- Release Dates — Add release dates by country. You can add multiple entries for different countries and release types (theatrical, digital, etc.).
- Country of Origin — The country or countries where the title was produced.
![Screenshot of the Release Dates section showing country and date fields]()
- Languages — The languages spoken in the title.
- Color Information — Whether the title is in color, black & white, or a mix.
- Official Sites — Links to the official website of the title.
- Miscellaneous Links — Links to trailers, articles, interviews, or other relevant resources.
This is the largest group of sections, covering everyone involved in the production.
Cast
Add actors and the characters they play. Use the autosuggest field to find existing people in the database. If a person doesn't exist yet, type their full name and they'll be created automatically.
![Screenshot of the Cast section showing the person autosuggest field and character name input]()
Crew Departments
There are 29 crew sections, each representing a department. The most commonly used are:
- Directors
- Writers
- Producers
- Composers
- Cinematographers
- Editors
- Production Designers
- Art Directors
- Costume Designers
- Set Decorators
- Casting Directors
- Production Managers
- Location Managers
- Stunts
- Special Effects
- Visual Effects
- Second Unit Directors / Assistant Directors
- Animation Department
- Art Department
- Casting Department
- Editorial Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Sound Department
- Music Department
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Makeup Department
- Transportation Department
- Other Crew
- Thanks
Some crew sections include Role and Company fields for more specific credits. Use the section dropdown to jump between departments.
- Production Companies — The studios or companies that produced the title.
- Distributors — Companies responsible for distribution, with country and year information.
- Sales Representatives / ISA — International sales agents.
- Special Effects Companies — Companies providing special effects services.
- Other Companies — Any other companies involved (catering, post-production facilities, etc.).
Use the autosuggest to find existing companies. Type a new name to create one.
These sections cover additional details that enrich the title's page:
Content
- Certificate (Ratings) — Content ratings by country (e.g., PG-13, R, 12A).
- Running Times — Duration in minutes, optionally per country (for different cuts).
- Filming Locations — Where the title was filmed.
- Alternate Titles — Other names the title is known by in different countries.
- Taglines — Promotional taglines or slogans.
- Plot Outlines — A brief plot description without spoilers.
- Plot Summary — A longer, detailed plot description (may include spoilers).
Connections & Extras
- Movie Connections — Links to related titles (sequel, remake, spin-off, etc.).
- Trivia — Interesting facts and behind-the-scenes details.
- Quotes — Memorable dialogue from the title.
- Alternate Versions — Differences between various releases or cuts.
- Crazy Credits — Unusual or humorous credits.
- Goofs — Errors and continuity mistakes spotted in the title.
- Soundtracks — Music featured in the title.
Media
- Images, Posters, Trailers, Videos, Sound Clips — Link to media URLs for the title.
Technical Specifications
- Sound Mix, Aspect Ratio, Film Length
- Film Negative Format, Printed Film Format
- Cinematographic Process, Camera, Laboratory
Other
- Keywords — Words or phrases that describe notable concepts, themes, or objects in the title. Helps with search and discovery.
- Production Dates — Start and end dates of the overall production.
- Filming Dates — Start and end dates of the filming period.
Minimum Recommended Information
While you can submit with as little as a title name, providing more information increases the chances of approval and helps users find the title.
| Level |
Fields |
| Required |
Title Name, Type |
| Recommended |
Year, at least one Genre, Synopsis, Country of Origin, Director or Writer |
| Helpful |
Cast, Production Company, Language, Release Date, Official Site link |
Navigating the Form
- Section Dropdown — Use the dropdown at the top of the form to jump directly to any section. You don't have to fill them in order.
- Previous / Next — Use the navigation buttons to move between sections sequentially.
- Save for Later — Your progress is saved each time you navigate to a new section. You can also click "Save for later" to save and return to the form later.
- Confirmation Page — When you're ready, click "Submit" to go to the confirmation page. This shows a summary of all sections and how many items you've entered in each. You can click any section to go back and edit it.
![Screenshot of the confirmation page showing a summary table of all sections with item counts]()
After Submission
Once you click "Submit for Review" on the confirmation page, your submission enters the review queue.
Review Process
A GAWBY editor will review your submission for accuracy and completeness. This process typically takes a few days, depending on the volume of submissions.
Submission Status
You can track the status of your submissions at My Submissions. Each submission shows one of these statuses:
- Not Yet Submitted — You've started filling out the form but haven't submitted yet.
- Submitted — Your submission is in the review queue.
- Rejected — The submission was not approved. Check the feedback for details.
- Published — Your contribution is live on GAWBY!
![Screenshot of the My Submissions page showing submissions with different status badges]()
Tips for Good Submissions
- Be accurate — Double-check names, dates, and credits against official sources.
- Use proper formatting — Title Case for names. No ALL CAPS. No trailing spaces.
- Include official links — Adding an official website or verified source helps speed up the review.
- Write original content — Plot outlines and summaries must be your own words, not copied from other sites.
- Add the original title — For non-English titles, always include the original name in addition to the English title.
- Be thorough — The more sections you fill in, the more useful the title page becomes for other users.
