Film Research Guide
Most professional's who work at Ohio University work for one or more academic departments or programs.
They work with faculty members to develop the library's collection in that particular discipline,
teach library instruction classes for classes in the department,
and generally represent the interests of the department in matters relating to the library.
For the School of Film, the subject bibliographer is:
Lorraine Wochna, Bibliographer for Film, Theatre, and English Literature
Office: Alden Library, Reference Department, RM 401
Phone: (740) 597-1238
E-Mail: wochna@ohio.edu
I'm available for consultation on developing the resources for the library to better fit the research and pedagogical needs of the School of Film at any time. I'll also gladly conduct library research classes for both undergraduate and graduate classes, as well as any individualized research sessions that students may need.
The faculty library liaison is:
Adam Knee, Professor
Office: 382 Lindley Hall
Phone: (740) 593-4038
E-Mail: knee@ohio.edu
Joseph Lamb, Director, School of Film
E-Mail: lambj@ohio.edu
The School of Film homepage is at: http://www.ohiou.edu/film/index.html
Athens International Film & Video Festival: http://www.athensfest.org/
There are three different "levels" to finding books on a particular topic within our library system here at Ohio University.
ALICE, Ohio University Libraries' online catalog. It contains the catalog of all the OU libraries, including branches and annex. If a book is only available via the Annex or on one of our branch campuses, ALICE gives you the option to order that book for immediate delivery through the "Intercampus/Annex Request" button on the top horizontal menu that appears on each record.
OhioLINK. If you cannot find the item you need in Alden Library, the Library Annex, or one of the libraries on our branch campuses, try the OhioLINK Central Catalog. This Catalog contains the holdings of the 80 institutions that comprise this library consortium.
ILL/Interlibrary Loan. If none of the OhioLINK member libraries can provide you with the item, you can obtain it through InterLibrary Loan or ILL. You can access the ILL electronic form (ILLIAD) from the library homepage. Once you have successfully logged on to the ILLIAD system, you should be able to find forms for various types of items, including books, journal articles and dissertations.
If you have any questions about finding books in any of these three categories, feel free to contact me or come by the 4th floor of Alden Library to the Reference Desk or phone the reference desk at (740) 593-2699.
Remember that books are usually arranged on the shelves next to other books on the same subject, so that once you find a particular book, if you browse through the area you will likely find other useful materials.
Look at the call number range: PN 1992 - PN1998
4th floor (Reference Collection)
7th floor (books, scripts, etc.)
Film Scripts
Film scripts can be found at PN1997. More recent scripts will be filed alphabetically by title. Older film scripts may be under author. Bibliographic notes in the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers are invaluable in tracking down scripts, including those tucked away in relatively obscure periodicals.
Warner Brothers Film Scripts
Film scripts of approximately 300 films produced by Warner Bros. before 1950 are available on microfilm. All of these are housed in the Microforms Department on the first floor of Alden Library. Also searchable by genre and date.
Indexes
Film Literature Index
Location: INDEX section on 4thfloor/Reference
Z5784.M9 F45
Coverage: 1973-2001
Author-Subject periodical index to the international literature of film. Coverage of television begins in 1977.
Media Review Digest
Location: INDEX section on the 4thfloor/Reference
Z5784.M9 M85
The only complete guide to reviews of non-book media
Film Review Index (periodical reviews)
Location: Reference Section
Z5784.M9 F513 1986 (Volumes 1 & 2)
Coverage: 1882 - 1985. English language film before 1960. Cumulative 1882-1985. Newspapers, magazines and major books, reviews alphabetical by title of film. Provides citations to "those pictures that have established themselves as being of continuing importance to film researchers". (introd.) See Film Review Annual for specific reviews.
The New Film Index: A Bibliography of Magazine Articles in English, 1930-1970
Z5784.M9 M29 1975
Coverage: 1930-1970
Indexes some 12,000 articles from film periodicals and general circulation magazines, classified in 278 subject categories, with author index.
Basic Reference
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers - Vol. 1: Films
PN1997.8 .I58 2000
Profiles over 600 major or representative films, and gives country, year, director, running time, full production and cast credits, filming location, awards, bibliographies of books and articles and signed critical essay.
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers - Vols. 2-4: Directors, Actors and Actresses, Writers and Production Artists
Provides short biographical sketches, complete filmographies, bibliographies, and evaluative essays for the more than 1600 directors, performers, screenwriters, producers, cinematographers, art directors, designers, composers, and lots more.
Film review annual- 1981-1999
PN1995 .F463x
Full text reviews of films from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals.
Magill's cinema annual- 1983-1995, 1996-
PN1993.3 .M34
Continuation of Magill's Survey of Cinema covering American films and foreign releases in the US. Each volume has a section of signed essay reviews on about 100 films of the previous year. Includes production credits, principal characters/players, length, review citations; 200-300 productions with basic credits and brief comment.
Magill's Survey of Cinema, First and Second Series
PN1993.45 .M3
The two series cover 1266 American, British, Canadian, Australian and other English language films of the sound era, 1926-1981. Focus is on major genres, directors, and performers. Entries include release date, producer, studio, credits, run time, cast and a signed essay, which includes a plot summary and critical evaluation.
A World History of Film
PN1993.5.A1 S555 2002
Read CONTENTS field of ALICE record - covers everything from 1920's American animation to Czech films of the 60's. Discusses rise and fall of cinematic trends.
Variety International Film Guide
PN1993.3 .I544
Highly popular annual reference to who, what, where and when of the international film scene and single most authoritative survey of world cinema. Its country by country accounting includes news, reviews and stills covering the film work from 70 countries.
International Film Index
PN1998 .I52 1991
Coverage: 1895-1990
Film titles, directors' filmography and index, comprehensive index to films by title and directors on a worldwide basis.
Encyclopedias
The Film Encyclopedia, 4th Edition, Ephraim Katz
PN1993.45 .834 2001
Definitions of terms, historical articles on countries, profiles of studios and other organizations, etc. Biographical sketches of directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers, art directors, composers, editors, actors and actresses, each accompanied by a complete or selective filmography.
Blacks in American Films and Televisions:
PN 1995.9 N4 B58 1988
Three main sections: Movies, Television and Profiles. In addition to credits and synopses, entries for individual films and programs offer extensive critical commentary.
Reel Black Talk: A Source Book of 50 American Filmmakers
PN1998.2 M66 1997
This is the first book by an African-American on contemporary African-American filmmakers. Here directors and producers speak for themselves, posing challenges to current thinking in the field. Special emphsasis is given to the filmakers' productions and their experiences.
100 Years of American Film
PN1993.5 U6 A59 2000
The unsigned entries (excerpted largely from previously published sources, which are not cited) cover actors, producers, directors, films, genres, terms, organizations, and miscellaneous related topics. Other "sidebar" features include quotations, film facts, award winners, and many photographs. (Library Journal)
The St. James film directors encyclopedia, Andrew Sarris
PN1998.2 .S68 1998
Film critic Andrew Sarris provides hard-to-find biographical and critical information on about 200 of the century's most significant directors from around the world. Photos.
Time Out film guide
PN1998 .T46 2002x
Updated annually, Time Out covers more than 11,000 films from every area of world cinema. Better international coverage and honest, lively criticism make this one of the most comprehensive film guides anywhere. New for this edition are awards listings for the Berlin, Venice, and Cannes film festivals, as well as Oscar winners since 1927.
Dictionaries & Thesauris
International Dictionary of Broadcasting and Film
PN1990.4 .B64 2000
A professional language and terminology guide to international radio, television, and film production. Includes acronyms and technical references used in the industry. The appendices list professional organizations and guilds, awards, festivals, international standards, film and television systems, and news agencies. Annotation by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Critical Dictionary of Film and Television Theory
PN1993.45 .C75 2001
This new Dictionary is the first in-depth reference to cover the approaches deployed in the study of the moving image as well as defining key theoretical terms. Featuring over 400 entries ranging from 500 to 3,000 words, this resource gives a context to the debates surrounding the terms rather than simplistic "definitions".
The Film Studies Dictionary
PN1993.45 .B53 2001x
The Film Studies Dictionary contains around 1,000 entries ranging from terms that have always puzzled audiences such as "best boy" and "gaffer" to those required by specialist students of film such as "post-colonial theory" and "third cinema." It uses a system of careful cross-referencing and concise and up-to-date references to further reading for exploration.
Filmmaker's Dictionary
PN1993.45 .S56 2000
A comprehensive book that offers concise nuts-and-bolts definitions of technical and legal terms used in scripts, contracts and every aspect of production and distribution. Also included are definitions for on-set slang and trade paper jargon ... truly indispensable.
The Ultimate Movie Thesaurus
PN1998 .C323 1996
Has more than 800 film entries, nearly 1600 categories and genres, box office hits and star ratings listed by year, current academy award winners.
The Complete Film Dictionary
PN1993.45 .K66 1997
Offers "a comprehensive lexicon of the motion picture as art, technology, and industry." (Pref). Includes practical, technical, and business terms, as well as selected terms relating to film history and criticism.
Film Guides
VideoHound's DVD guide
PN1998 .M319 2001
Reviews of over 3000 films, significant television shows, and cartoon collections available in U.S.-compatible DVD format as of June 2000. Following the style of other VideoHound volumes, the DVD guide lists movies alphabetically by title. Each entry features a brief plot synopsis, cast/credit and production information, often biting commentary, the "bone" rating system (four bones through "woof!"), and remarks on the technical details of the film's transfer to DVD. (Library Journal)
VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (updated in August)
PN1992.95 .V554 2000
Covers some 22,000 feature film video releases. To title, entries give short plot/summary, etc. Various indexes such as foreign films by country, alternative titles, categories/subjects.
VideoHound's Independent Film Guide
PN1998 .S84 1999
Devoted exclusively to reviews of independent films, VideoHound's guide offers 1,000 video reviews arranged in an A to Z format plus insight into some of the people in the industry. 125 photos & 60 sidebars. (Ingram)
VideoHound's Epics : Giants of the Big Screen
PN1998 .H66 1999
The success of "Titanic" proclaims that the "event" movie is back. "VideoHound's Epics" provides the lowdown on 200 of the biggest movies ever to hit theater screens, covering "big" films-those with the budget, look, feel, box office gross and length to tell an epic story and demand an emotional reaction. (Ingram)
Directories
Producer's Directory
PN1998.A1 H58
Hollywood Creative Directory (HCD) over 1700 companies, 7900 names. The most complete directory of producers, studios, and network executives, TV shows and staff.
TLA film, Video & DVD guide
PN1998 .T465 2002-2003
Detailed indexes by star, director, country of origin, and theme. Lavishly illustrated with over 450 photos. Comprehensive selection of international cinema from over 50 countries. Over 10,000 films reviewed. Up-to-date information of video availability and pricing. Appendices with award listings, TLA Bests, and recommended films. Listing by themes/subjects.
Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series
PN1997.8.A762 2001
Lists of films by their settings and major theme. Title/Author/Subject periodical index to International literature of film. Expanded coverage of television began in 1977.
These three databases exclusively search only for information on FILMS:
AFI -- American Film Institute Catalog (1893-1970)
American Film Institute Catalog documents every American Film from 1893-1970 (except 1951 and 1960). Each film record has been compiled by the experienced editors and filmographers at the American Film Institute. Records may be searched by keyword; film title; cast, crew, and character names; subject; genre; release year and more. Most records include extensive plot summaries.
Film Index International (1900 - present)
Information compiled by the British Film Institute about approximately 90,000 films and 30,000 personalities. Also includes references to periodical articles on individual films.
FIAF - International Federation of Film Archives (1972-Present) - ONLINE
Contains complete data from all volumes (1972 to the present) of the International Index to Film / TV Periodicals--almost 300,000 entries from over 300 periodical titles. Database contains: Index Film Periodicals 4-6/2002, Index TV Periodicals 4-6/2002, Index Film Periodicals 1972-3/2002, Index TV Periodicals 1979-3/2002, List of Periodicals Indexed, Treasures from the Film Archives, Film/TV Documentation Collections and FIAF Members Publications.
Film & Television Literature Index
Article database covering the entire spectrum of television and film writing, including film and television theory, preservation and restoration, writing, production, cinematography, technical aspects, and reviews.
These databases are also useful when searching for information on films:
ABELL
Academic Search Complete
America: History and Life
Art Abstracts
Arts & Humanities Citation Index
Biography Resource Center
Book Review Index
Historical Abstracts
Humanities Abstracts
Lexis-Nexis Academic (useful for Reviews)
MLA International Bibliography
For a list of the electronic journals on Film that Ohio University Libraries presently subscribes to, click here.
The journals are:
American cinematographer
Americana: the journal of American popular culture
Annual report
BelphÈgor: littÈrature populaire et culture mÈdiatique
Black camera
Bright lights film journal
Camera obscura
Cineaste
Cinema journal
Cineman syndicate
Culturefront
Daily variety
Entertainment design
Film & history
Film comment
Film criticism
Film history
Film quarterly
Film score monthly
Filmmaker the magazine of independent film
Filmmaker's film shorts
Hitchcock annual
Hollywood quarterly
Hollywood reporter
Hollywood reporter 64th anniversary issue
Hollywood reporter American film market special issue
Hollywood reporter animation special issue
Hollywood reporter anniversay issue
Hollywood reporter film & TV music special issue
Hollywood reporter independent producers & distributors special issue
Hollywood reporter New York special issue
Images: a journal of film and popular culture
Intensities: the journal of cult media
Journal of American & comparative cultures
Journal of American culture
Journal of film and video
Journal of popular culture
Journal of popular film
Journal of popular film and television
The journal of religion and film
Journal of religion and popular culture
Journal of the Society of Cinematologists
Jump cut
Kinema: a journal for film and audiovisual media
Kinoeye: film in the new Europe
Literature/film quarterly
Millimeter the magazine of motion picture and television production
Moving image
Other voices: the (e)journal of cultural criticism
PAJ: a journal of performance and art
Plunkett's entertainment & media industry almanac
positions: east asia cultures critique
Post script
Quarterly of film, radio, and television
Quarterly review of film and video
Scope: an on-line journal of film studies
Screen digest
Senses of cinema
Shoot
Sight and sound
The sight and sound top ten poll
South Central review
Spectator: the University of Southern California journal of film and television
Star interviews
Subrights letter
Variety
The velvet light trap
Wide angle
Search ALICE > For a list of the print journals on Film that Ohio University Libraries presently subscribes to, perform a subject search in ALICE for the subject "Motion Pictures-Periodicals," or click here.
Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com
Pick your film in the frame on the left, click on External Reviews, and this will link to full text reviews.
Movie Review Query Engine
http://www.mrqe.com
Index to online movie reviews from a wide variety of sources. Searchable by film title, or browseable by categories of common interest.
Rotten Tomatoes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/
Rotten Tomatoes is a search engine for movie reviews. There are about a gazillion reviews here for about a bazillion movies, and its navigation makes it easy to use. (ResearchBuzz)
To find videos in ALICE: From the ALICE Online Catalog do a Basic Search by Video and enter the title or author.
To find the list of DVD titles in ALICE go to the Instructional Media and Technology Services Homepage and click on the MEDIA LIBRARY button. This page provides a shortcut to limit the search to DVD titles in ALICE. (Titles located only at IMTS.)
IMTS: Instructional Media and Technology Services (2nd floor, Alden Library)
Hours: M-F, 8-8 (Closes at 5 pm on Fridays during Summer Sessions)
Phone: 740-593-2665
Magic Video:
Phone: 740-592-4544
All Movie Guide (search for movies, people)
http://www.allmovie.com
Over 200,000 feature movies and documentaries are rated and described. The most useful feature is the cross-referenced indexing of the films. Film Finder allows searching by such factors as films with two actors in common, author or title of original works made into films, and location or setting of the film. People Finder lets you find people in common from two films. Quick Browse lets you look by genre or country. Also find the definition of a film term or read one of the many essays by the AMG staff.
Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com
Features plot summaries, reviews, cast lists, and theatre schedules.
Film and History
http://www.filmandhistory.org
Alden Library carries the print journal of Film and History--focusing on how media shapes history and vice versa. This web site is the journal's home page, although the journal is not accessible online at this time. Of especial interest are the listing of Events and Announcements and the list of Links & Resources.
Internet Movie Database - Film Glossary
http://us.imdb.com/Glossary/
Definitions of terms and phrases used in the world of movies, film and acting.
ForeignFilms.com
http://www.foreignfilms.com/
This site contains everything from classic foreign titles to the latest art house releases.
AIVF - Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers
http://www.aivf.org/
AIVF was established by a group of independent filmmakers to offer support and resources to independent artists. The information service link will direct the user to more links of importance to independent filmmakers.
Documentary Films
http://www.documentaryfilms.net/
To provide information to viewers of documentary films and to provide resources and news for filmmakers. Includes News, Resources and Reviews.
Filmsite.Org
http://filmsite.org
This site, in 1996, initiated the recent trend to select 100 landmark movies in the history of American/Hollywood cinema, that serve as signposts to map the milestones of our cinematic past. Greatest lists, top 100, etc.
UCLA Film and Television Archive
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/
The UCLA Film and Television Archive contains over 220,000 films and television programs, and 27 million feet of newsreel footage. The Archive serves the past, present, and future by assuring that the audio-visual records of our century survive to be enjoyed and studied for generations to come. (Source: UCLA Film & Television Archive - About us info page).
BFI National Library - 16+ Source Guide
http://www.bfi.org.uk/nationallibrary/collections/alevel/
These 16+ source guides are aimed at the media studies community, and have been devised to enable users to identify some starting points for their research into particular topics. Key writings in books, newspapers and periodicals are identified with brief annotations given; although the focus is inevitably on bfi-held material, users are encouraged to explore local resources and are also directed towards relevant websites.
Washington University Library System: WorldWindow
http://library.wustl.edu
(Click on "Subject Guides", then on "Film Studies")
Yahoos List of Film Schools
http://dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Movies_and_Film/Film_Schools
Yahoos List of links to Movies and Film
http://dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Movies_and_Film/
ADAM: Art, Design, Architecture & Media Information Gateway
http://adam.ac.uk/index.html
Directory to more than 2500 high-quality websites in the general areas of arts and communications.
CinemaSpot
http://www.cinemaspot.com/
Nice gateway to film topics. Reviews, top 100's, new on DVD, Film Schools, Box Office Charts and more.
Film Libraries from CinemaSpot
http://www.cinemaspot.com/categories/filmlibraries.htm
Gateway to Film Libraries.
EarlyCinema.com
http://www.earlycinema.com/
Earlycinema.com aims to provide an introduction to the first decade of motion pictures and the developments which help shape cinema as we know it today. The site is by no means a complete account of the development of cinema, and concentrates on the major events in cinema's history encouraging further reading and research. Special focus on timeline, pioneers of cinema and technology and A-Z list of film topics. (Source: web site).
Reel.com
http://www.reel.com/reel.asp
Access to an entertaining environment filled with a wide variety of film-related information designed to help consumers select and view movies. DVD reviews, interviews, Hollywood news, category searches.
UCSD Communications
http://communication.ucsd.edu/resources/filmlinks.html#databases
New York Public Library - Selected Film Resources on the Internet
http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/internet/lpa.cfm?Trg=1&d1=130&d3=Film
Film Studies Resource Guides: CinemaS p a c e
http://cinemaspace.berkeley.edu
Indiana University Libraries--Film Studies
http://www.indiana.edu/~libreser/film/www-resources.html
SCREENsite
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/Screensite
Web Sites
Latin American Video Archives
http://www.lavavideo.org/
(LAVA) provides an on-line, searchable database and ordering service for Latin American film and video titles. Serves as a gateway to a variety of Internet resources by Country and subject.
IMDB International
http://us.imdb.com/Browse/international
IMDb has cataloged titles from 169 countries. Search Titles by Country, Language, Translated Title, Release dates and more.
ForeignFilms.com
http://www.foreignfilms.com/
This site contains everything from classic foreign titles to the latest art house releases.
Web Sites
Documentary Films.Net
Click on Resources and then Filmmakers -- lots of resources for filmmakers
Independent Film Production
IFP is a not-for-profit service organization
dedicated to providing resources, information and avenues of communication
for its members: independent filmmakers, industry professionals and independent
film enthusiasts. It is committed to the idea that independent film is an important
art form and a powerful voice in our society.
NewEnglandFilm
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/
How To Fund Your Film, an article from 1998, but helpful.
MacArthur Foundation
The goal of the Foundation's media grantmaking is to improve the diversity
of viewpoints and high-quality documentary content available in radio and
television and to use media -- especially television and radio production -- to further
the goals of the other Foundation programs.
The primary focus of funding is
independent documentary film. The Foundation usually supports films and
programming that address subject matter close to MacArthur's grantmaking
strategies; but also it occasionally supports projects on other subjects of
overall relevance to the Foundation's mission. The Foundation also supports
outreach efforts, especially related to films it has supported in the production
stage and organizations serving filmmakers. Funding for public radio is intended
to maintain and strengthen its program-production infrastructure.
Center for Independent Documentary
The Center for Independent Documentary is beginning its 20th year in
collaborating with independent producers to create films and videos on
issues of contemporary social and cultural concern. These programs have
been broadcast nationally and locally on public and cable television, won
numerous awards, and all are in distribution nationwide to educational markets.
AIVF: Association of Independent Film and Video
http://www.aivf.org/
AIVF was established by a group of independent filmmakers to offer
support
and resources to independent artists. The information service
link will direct
the user to more links of importance to independent filmmakers.
Produces
The Independent Film & Video -- via access from ALICE OU has print and
online access (online access is restricted to select articles starting in 2002).
This is the foremost national publication dedicated to the diverse issues facing
the independent media field.
Sundance Documentary Fund
The Sundance Documentary Fund is dedicated to supporting U.S. and international
documentary films and videos focused on current and significant issues and movements
in contemporary human rights, freedom of expression, social justice, and civil liberties.
In supporting independent vision and creative, compelling stories, the Sundance
Documentary Fund hopes to give voice to the diverse exchange of ideas crucial to
developing an open society, raise public consciousness about human rights abuses
and restrictions of civil liberties, and engage citizens in a lively, ongoing debate
about these issues. Visit www.sundance.org for details.
Web Gateways
Google Web Directory on Documentaries
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