10.3 Boundaries between Variants
It is possible for a moving image Variant to be modified in such a way as to create a new Variant related to the previous one1.
This implies the possibility of having a Variant of a Variant, e.g. a shortened version of a film also then has a further dubbed version. Many systems may not support this type of structuring technically, or an institution may feel this could lead to overly complex structuring impacting data display and accessibility. Also, importantly, a Variant of a Variant (or Expression of an Expression) is not supported as a data structure in either EN15907, FRBR, RDA, or LRM, although it is possible within MARC21.
In cases such as the above example, both the shortened version and shortened dubbed version would constitute two separate Variants of the one Work. However, the two Variants can then be further linked together in an associative relationship using a relevant associative term, e.g. Related Variant, Dubbed version of, Variant derived from, etc. A Variant can have more than one Variant Type, so in this case, one Variant would have the Variant Type of Shortened Version, while the other would have the two Variant Types Shortened Version and Dubbed Version.
The boundaries between one Variant and another may be drawn on the basis of the following alterations to the content.2
10.3.1 Change in continuity (secondary editing)¶
Revision or modification of already edited footage of completed work.
Example
In 2007, some in-flight showings of The Queen (2006) distributed to Delta and other airlines had all references to the word “God” edited out by an overzealous and inexperienced employee.
Abridgements or additions to existing content.
Example of a release of a dubbed film abridged or augmented.
Example
Il gattopardo (Italy, France,1963, Luchino Visconti)
Dubbed/ Abridged: The leopard, English (spoken language) -1963 – United States of America – 161’ (Theatrical distribution in United States of America, the 20th Century Fox cut 45 minutes); Subtitled: The leopard, English (spoken language) -1980 – United States of America (reintegrates the original running time of 187’).
10.3.2 Change in textual and spoken word aspect¶
Same dialogue and/or narration rendered in different spoken, sung or written languages.
Example of a release of a foreign film (dubbed), subtitled in a different language.
Example
Die kleine und die grosse Liebe (Germany, 1938, Joseph von Backy)
Dubbed/Subtitled Variant: Il piccolo e il grande amore, Italian (spoken language), English (subtitles) – Italy – 1938
10.3.3 Change in performance/performers¶
Addition, removal and/or replacement of some of the contributors (e.g., cast and/or crew), associated with a Work.
Example
The re-dubbed North American English version of the Japanese movie, Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999), includes the following credits unique to this Variant:
Dubbing Director: Mike Schlesinger
Media: Cinema/TV/VHS/DVD
Dubbing Studio: Tristar Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment
| Character | Japanese actor | Tristar Pictures English dub |
|---|---|---|
| Godzilla | Tsutomu Kitagawa | Tsutomu Kitagawa |
| Yuji Shinoda | Takehiro Murata | Francois Chau |
| Yuki Ichinose | Naomi Nishida | Denise Iketani |
If much of the original textual and spoken word material remains, most of the original footage remains in roughly the same continuity, however abridged, and substantially most of the contributors are the same, the existence of alterations more often than not constitute a new Variant, rather than a new Work.