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.
- 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