AMIM2 is predicated on the cataloging of the original manifestations of moving image works.  When deliberate modifications are made to original manifestations, these new works are considered versions.  Such changes must be made to the contents of original works, regardless of any other alterations.  Contents are defined as the image of a work or the image and sound of a work, but do not include technical specifications, such as format, type of production element, or projection characteristics.  Original works and all subsequent versions of original works are cataloged on separate bibliographic records.

Editions are versions.  A work may be described as an edition on the work itself or in secondary sources.

Versions and editions may require viewing and/or research to determine whether they are versions or editions of other works or not.  The history of a version or an edition may be recorded in a note.  See 7B11.

Versions are very often not described as versions on the works themselves or in secondary sources.  When a version statement is not on the work itself, it will have to be supplied.  The term "version" must always be used.  The term "edition" should not be used.  Occasionally, a work will bear a version statement.  In such a case, that version statement should be used on the record.  When edition statements are recorded, the term "edition" will always be present in the edition statement.

The contents of moving image works can basically be modified in three ways:  the addition of new material; the deletion of original material; and both the addition of new material and the deletion of original material (e.g., when an original ending is removed and a new ending is added).

There are two types of new material.  The first kind is incorporated into the original work, such as a new musical sound track, a dubbed sound track, subtitles, colorization, and the inclusion of outtakes, excerpts, trims, or clips.  The second kind is appended to the original work, such as an epilogue, prologue, interviews with persons involved with the work, still photographs, production documents, and other works related to the original work (e.g., documentaries on the making of the film or films of the same genre or time period).  An example of this type of version is a videodisc of a restored feature film which includes footage not used in the original release, an interview with the director, still photographs of storyboards, a trailer, and a short film on a related subject that was produced at the same time as the feature.

When the intention of combining or repackaging individual works is to create a new work, then it is cataloged as a version of the original works on one record.  When works are combined into one work but not for this purpose, such as a collector’s compilation reel, see 1A3.

Works produced simultaneously in multiple languages are all considered originals and each one should be cataloged separately.  For example, a feature film is co-produced by French, Italian, and Spanish companies.  The movie is made in French, Italian, and Spanish originals.  Each one would be cataloged on its own record.  See 2C2.  Each original is linked to the other originals by uniform titles if their titles differ.  See Appendix A3.3.

When works are modified in ways which do not affect their contents, they are not considered versions.  A change in title or credits only is not sufficient.  An incomplete work (i.e., a work that lacks part of its image and/or sound) should not be considered a version.  Reformatting of moving image materials does not constitute an alteration in the contents.  For example, 16 mm. reduction prints or pan-and-scan videos or letterbox videodiscs of films or television programs should not be treated as versions.  Likewise, production elements or generations of moving image materials, such as original negatives, master positives, or viewing prints, or video viewing copies, are not versions.  All of these types of moving image materials are cataloged on the same record.  Information about these works should be recorded in the physical description area or in notes.  See Chapters 5 and 7.

Rereleases and reissues are not versions because there is no change in the contents of the original works.  They are cataloged together with the original work on the same record.  If the original work is not held in the archive, then the information for the original is included on the record for the rerelease or reissue.  See 1D, Chapters 4, and 7.

Remakes are completely new works that are associated with previously produced works.  They are not to be considered versions.  Remakes can be connected to the original works through notes.  See 7B11.

See also:

2.  Version, Edition Area - Introduction