7. Moving Image Agents
For recording the attributes of Agents (e.g. first name, last name, nationality, etc.), refer to authoritative sources such as AACR2, applicable RDA chapters for recording attributes of Persons, Families, and Corporate Bodies,1 Functional requirements for authority data: a conceptual model, 2 or tools such as the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) (viaf.org), Library of Congress Linked Data Service (id.loc.gov), Getty Union List of Artists Names (ULAN), the Library of Congress Name Authority File, or International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) 126.127
It is also recommended where possible to register key Agents with any of the aforementioned authority bodies if they are not already included.
Optionally, if the Agent is credited under a name that is not identical with the preferred name from an authority file, record the name as used in the current instance of the related entity. Some databases may include fields and structures to deal with various alternative or credited forms of the Agent name
Give the Agent(s) and Agent Activity in the terms and language in which they appear, either in the sources of information or in the language of the institution, or both.
In many relational databases Agents have their own actual records with their own identifier fields such as reference numbers, activities, nationality, alternative/credited names, birth and death dates, biographies, etc. In these cases, relevant name/agent fields within Works, Variants, Manifestations, and Items will link through to these Agent records.
Agent(s) may also have relationships to an instance of a specific Event or of an “Other” relationship in connection with the Work, Variant, Manifestation or Item, e.g. cinema of a premiere screening, film classification body, film laboratory, etc.
Because responsibility for moving image materials is most often complex and highly diverse, institutions - particularly those with special interests - should determine the number of Agents and the types of roles and activities they wish to include. These may vary from institution to institution according to the types of moving image material held.
| Work | Variant | Manifestation | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast | Dubbing cast | Distributor/Publisher | Acquisition source (e.g. donor) |
| Cinematographer/ Director of photography | Additional credits | Broadcaster | Curator |
| Presenter | Additional cast | Streaming Channel | Lab technician |
| Director | Manufacturer | Archivist | |
| Producer | |||
| Production Company |