UCLA Film and Television Archive Cataloging Procedure Manual

RELATOR TERMS FOR ARCHIVAL MOVING IMAGE CATALOGING

A list of terms relating name headings to moving image works being cataloged was created by a group of film and television cataloging experts meeting as the Ad-Hoc Technical Committee of the National Center for Film and Video Preservation at the American Film Institute. The list is designed for use in standard bibliographic records for archival moving image materials that are created according to AACR2, the interpretive manual, Archival Moving Image Materials: a Cataloging Manual, and the MARC Visual Materials Format. The terms will appear in MARC records following personal names (field 700) in subfield "e."

The list includes broad terms which, for the most part, designate "function" rather than "agent" for the person carrying out a function. The choice of categories for these broad terms of function is based upon the hierarchical structure found in the Glossary of Filmographic Terms compiled by the Federation internationale des archives du film (FIAF) (Brussels: FIAF, 1985). The Ad-Hoc Technical Committee of the National Center for Film and Video Preservation chose this approach in order to create a short, practical list that could collect the numerous, non-standard credit terms (often found on moving image works) into useful categories for the creation of indexes. The few terms included in the list that are suggestive of an agent performing a function, rather than the function itself, refer to on-camera functions and are, like the function terms, broad in nature.

In employing these terms for use with added entries, archival catalogers need not fear the loss of specific information found on the item or in appropriate secondary reference sources. Specific terms can and should be recorded in the statement of responsibility and in the note area (MARC fields 245, 508, and 511) for each bibliographic record. Archives may include as many names--together with transcribed credits--as they wish in the note area. (Added entries are not required for each name included in notes.) Archives not wishing to use subfield "e" do not need to apply these standard terms.

	Credits: John Doe, director, scenarist; Amy Smith,
	assistant director; Bill Brown, producer, author;
	Jill Johnson, associate producer, casting director.
	
	Added entries:
		1.  Doe, John, direction.
		2.  Doe, John, writing.
		3.  Smith, Amy, direction.
		4.  Brown, William B., production.
		5.  Brown, William B., writing.
		6.  Johnson, Jill, production.
		

Follow 6.1.1.1, Format of relator terms in formatting relator terms.

Note that, since subfield "e" is not repeatable, names with differing functions must appear more than once. [This is no longer true.]Note also that broad function terms, used in this way, eliminate some duplication, and help clarify, for example, that Jill Johnson is not actually the producer (more specific meaning), but performs production functions.

The list of relator terms will be maintained and updated by the Technical Governance Committee of the National Center for Film and Video Preservation for its National Database/Network of Archival Moving Images. Suggestions for additions and/or changes to the list should be directed to:

For guidance in choosing appropriate terms, refer to the explanatory notes in the list and to the FIAF glossary, which provides specific help with foreign language credits, specifically Spanish, German, French, and Russian.

RELATOR TERM LIST

Anchor

Use for the newscaster who is in overall control of the presentation of a news or current affairs program. See also "Reporter."

Animation

Use for person(s) responsible for the arts, techniques, and processes involved in photographically or electronically giving apparent movement to inanimate objects or drawings, often by means of photographing the objects or drawings one frame at a time, each time so slightly different that, when projected in sequence, they appear to move. Use this term for directors and producers of animation.

Camera

Use for person(s) involved with the technical aspects of lighting and photographing either staged scenes and/or actual events. Use for person(s) responsible for, or involved in, the choice of angles and setups of the camera, the mood of the lighting, the placement and adjustment of light sources, the choice of lenses, and any further technical processing of the film or tape material up to the completion of the work.

Cast

Use for actors portraying characters as required by a script. Use for groups of people, such as The Kingston Trio, when they act as scripted characters other than themselves. Do not use for animals, such as Lassie."

Choreography

Use for those involved with the planning, staging, and rehearsing of solo and/or ensemble dances and dance routines which contain music or song.

Direction

Use for person(s) having overall responsibility for interpreting meaning and expression during the production of a moving image material work. Use this term also for any person who helps the director realize the intentions of the script and producer. The extent of the director's involvement may depend upon the individual, the production company, the type of presentation, i.e., feature film, TV series, documentary, etc., or the practices within the country concerned. For directors of animation, use "Animation."

Editing

Use for person(s) responsible, following the script and in creative cooperation with the director, for selecting, arranging, and assembling the scenes and/or footage into a coherent whole to achieve the desired effect. Also may control the synchronization of picture and sound and may supervise further technical processes.

Filmmaker

Use for maker(s) of personal, independently produced films, where an individual is responsible for the conception, sponsorship, and execution of all aspects of the film. In some cases, films may have been created by filmmakers working together.

Guest

Use for person(s) invited to appear in the context of a visual image work, most often a television talk show. Guests normally appear as themselves, but may also appear as characters in short skits. When in doubt as to whether to apply this term or the related terms "Cast" and "Performer," prefer "Cast" or "Performer."

Host

Use for a person who performs as a master of ceremonies maintaining overall control of the on-camera performances of guests May also preside over discussions for the purpose of ensuring a fair representation of each participant's point of view.

Music

Any person(s) responsible for the musical score or music track accompanying a moving image work. This includes the composition of the musical score and/or lyrics, the selection of the works to be performed, the arrangement of the composition, its orchestration, the adaptation of the music track to the picture, and unseen conductors or musicians.

Narration

Use for the speaker presenting an informative or explanatory account accompanying a production, supplying the audience with objective descriptions of an act, occurrence, or course of events, often off-camera. Use for the speaker who relates information in a production directly rather than through a character's dialogue; often employed in documentary- type productions. Use for commentary or commentator, announcer, etc.

Performer

Use for performing artists who do not portray characters as required by a script, as do cast members playing roles, but rather who appear primarily as themselves, exhibiting their skills or talents. Includes comedians, dancers, singers, musicians, mimes, etc.

Production

Use for those having the ultimate administrative and financial responsibility for a moving image work. Use for the executive supervisor, clearly distinct from the director, who often secures money for the project, purchases the film script, hires the director, primary actors, and artists. May include assistant producer, associate producer, executive producer, casting director, or production manager. For a producer of animation, use Animation.

Production design

Use for person(s) responsible for the design, in cooperation with the director, of all sets and props, and oversight of realization of designs, structures, makeup, and costumes. Includes art director and assistant art director, set designer and decorator, props, costumes, and title design.

Reporter

Use for person(s) responsible for investigating newsworthy events or persons, and presenting an account, normally in narrative form, accompanied by visual images. Includes interviewer (unless "Host"), correspondent, newsperson. See also "Anchor."

Research

Use for person(s) involved in analytical and exhaustive investigation to determine and authenticate subject matter, objects, costumes, music, and events used in a production; also, in the case of compilation films or programs, those involved in investigating moving and still picture and sound archives to isolate appropriate segments of existing pictures and sound for inclusion into the compilation production.

Sound

Use for those involved in all aspects of voice and non- music aural effects comprising the track portion of a moving image work; covers equipment, production, recording, engineering, editing and mixing of sound; includes special sound effects not covered by special effects. For music, use "Music."

Special effects

Use for person(s) involved in the creation of action sequences and/or of apparent action or sound using photographic, mechanical, electric, optical, or electronic devices. Effects range from simple optical effects to elaborate explosions, miniatures, computer- produced action, sets, or props. The term also includes stunt arranging, fight arranging, flying sequences, stunt men, etc. For special sound effects, use "Sound." For animated effects, use "Animation."

Voice

Use for person(s) supplying a voice for a character appearing in a production, especially an animated production, but not appearing before the camera. For ventriloquist, use "Performer." For voice-over narrator, use "Narration."

Writing

Use for person(s) involved in creating the script or scenario, the basis for which may or may not be his or her own work. Includes screenplay or teleplay writer, author, scriptwriter, adapter, commentary or narration writer, playwright, creator of idea or concept, etc.

From Cataloging Service Bulletin 31 (Winter 1986): 71-75 and Cataloging Service Bulletin 50 (Fall 1990). Local UCLA additions in italics.

Last modified: August 12, 2004