13.3 Agents for Manifestations
Definition
An Agent for moving image Manifestations is defined as an entity that is involved in the exploitation (release, distribution, broadcasting), publishing, manufacturing or preservation of a Manifestation and who is considered to have major responsibility for, or be of major importance to, the Manifestation.
Work and Variant Agent(s) tend to be involved in the original creation of the Work or Variant so are not repeated in the Manifestation record. Only “new” Agents that contributed to the Manifestation as described above are included in the Manifestation record.
An institution should determine the types of activities they wish to include. These activities may vary from institution to institution according to the types of moving image material held. For example, an institution holding television material would probably consider, for Manifestations, the function of broadcaster more important than that of distributor. The opposite would be the case for institutions whose collections are composed of motion picture material. Provide access to Agents when they have made an important contribution to the particular Manifestation, even when the type of responsibility (credit function) is one that may not be considered major in other Manifestations.1
In the case of aggregate Manifestations, if desirable and applicable, record multiple instances of Agent associated with the aggregated content.
13.3.1 Agent Activity for Manifestations¶
Describes the activity of the Agent(s) to make explicit the relationship(s) between the Agent(s) and the Manifestation.
Record one or more Agent activity terms, for example, “distributor,” “broadcaster,” “broadcast channel”, “streaming channel” etc., to express the nature of the agent’s relationship to the Manifestation. Selection should be made from a controlled list of terms.
Choose the single most specific term in each case, if possible. If no suggested terms apply, compose a term to describe the relationship between the creator and the Manifestation being catalogued. If the relationship is ambiguous, use a value to indicate this, for example, “unknown” to indicate a person/organisation performing in a capacity that is uncertain or not covered by typical terms.2 Optionally, when the activity performed by an Agent is probable but not certain, provide the function name followed by a question mark.
Besides the principal Agent Activities suggested, institutions, particularly those with special interests, should create and apply in-house value lists of other specific Agent activities, which may vary from institution to institution.
Example
Broadcaster: CBS
Example
Broadcast Channel: BBC1
Example
Distributor: GUO Film Distributors
Example
Publisher: Buena Vista International
Example
Streaming platform: Netflix
13.3.1.1 Distributor (theatrical)¶
Agent responsible for the theatrical distribution of a Manifestation. A distribution company is a business entity responsible for making a finished film available to the audience. They are critical intermediary between the film's production company and the public. A distributor's role encompasses a range of tasks, from marketing and promotion to negotiating with exhibitors such as cinemas and streaming platforms.
13.3.1.2 Distributor (non-theatrical)¶
Agent responsible for the non-theatrical distribution.
13.3.1.3 Broadcaster¶
Agent responsible for the broadcasting of a Manifestation, namely the network or station on which it aired or the network which makes it available on demand.
13.3.1.4 Publisher¶
Agent responsible for the home video publication or for the web publication of a moving image Manifestation: i.e. the publishing company, which is often the same as the distribution company. This may engage in various activities, including producing films, distributing them, screening them in cinemas, providing in-theatre advertising, and selling film rights. They may also operate video-on-demand platforms and conduct marketing, among other activities.
13.3.1.5 Manufacturer¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
Agent responsible for the activities of manufacturing a Manifestation: i.e. a laboratory.
13.3.1.6 Agent responsible for preservation¶
Agent responsible for the preservation of a Manifestation: namely the rights-owner(s), the distributor(s) or an archive.
13.3.1.7 Agent responsible for reproduction or transfer¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
Agent responsible for the activities of duplication/reproduction/transfer (dupes and masters): namely the rights-owner(s), the distributor(s) or an archive. (name: personal, corporate).
13.3.1.8 Agent responsible for the archival availability¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
The institution responsible for the availability of a moving image Manifestation intended for consultation or exploitation for cultural “fair” use, on the premises or through the activities of the institution.
For example, in a scenario where a Manifestation or Event occurs within the context of a film being shown for educational, research, cultural event purposes, etc. e.g. where an Archive has a public mediatheque which streams a large number of films and TV programmes on its premises for free which are for educational and cultural purposes, not financial ones.
13.3.1.9 Agent responsible for the mere availability¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
Agent responsible for making available a Manifestation not intended for public release (distribution, publication or broadcasting) in private environments.
For example, in a scenario where a Manifestation not intended for public release is shown within a private environment, such as a production company showing a “blooper” reel (off-cuts of amusing things that went wrong during shooting the film) at a cast and crew party on the production company or studio premises. Or a private press preview showing.
13.3.1.10 Agent unclear or undetermined¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
Indicate if the Agent is unclear or undetermined, i.e. has not yet been determined. Also, if the Agent could be one of two or more possibilities then name them and qualify that there is uncertainty as to which is correct.
13.3.1.11 Agent not identified¶
(Optionally, this information can be specified directly at the Item level)
Indicate if the Agent cannot be identified, i.e. not identified after extensive research to determine the Agent.