A & B rolls

Two or more matching rolls of film arranged for duplication having alternate scenes intercut with opaque leaders in such a way that, from a common starting point, Roll A presents picture to the duplicate being printed where Roll B presents opaque leader, and vice-versa.  This arrangement allows for the use of special printing techniques, including dissolves.  A third roll is called C roll, etc.

Access point

A name, term, code, etc., by which a bibliographic record may be searched and identified.  See also Added entry, Heading, Main entry.

Access term

In AMIM2, a term that describes the level of accessibility of a film or video.  It is an optional term that may be given in place of a generation term in the line of physical description.

Acetate film base

A safety film base composed principally of cellulose acetate.  This broad term covers both diacetate and triacetate film bases.  See also Diacetate film base, Film base, Safety film base, Triacetate film base.

Added entry

An entry, additional to the main entry, by which a work is represented in a catalog, e.g., production company name, director name, cast names, variant title, subjects, etc.  See also Access point, Main entry.

Alternative title

The second part of a title proper that consists of two parts, each of which is a title; the parts are joined by the word "or" or its equivalent in another language, e.g., The Limejuice mystery, or, Who spat in grandfather's porridge?

Amateur works

Works made by anyone who is not professionally connected with the film or video industry.  For films or videos of personal or family events, see Home movies.

Analog

In analog video recording, electrical signals vary continuously.

Anamorphic

A wide-screen process in which the filmed images have been optically compressed or "squeezed" in width but not in height.  During projection the images are restored to their normal proportions.  Both filming and projection are accomplished using special lenses.  A frequent aspect ratio is 2.35:1.  Some trade names of anamorphic processes include CinemaScope, Grandscope, Megascope, Naturama, Panavision, and Techniscope.  See also Aspect ratio, Letterbox, Nonanamorphic wide-screen, Pan-and-scan, and Wide-screen film.

Announcements

Commercial or non-commercial spots or brief promotions.  See also Public service announcements, Theater announcements.

Answer print

A film print delivered by a laboratory for approval of technical aspects, such as timing and synchronization.

Area

A major section of the bibliographic description, comprising data of a particular category or set of categories, e.g., title and statement of responsibility area.

Aspect ratio

The width of the screen image in relation to its height.  The older 35 mm. standard aspect ratio was 1.33:1 or four to three.  The early television industry adopted this ratio.  Some common aspect ratios for wide-screen films are 1.66:1, 1.85:1, and 2.35:1.  See also Anamorphic, Letterbox, Nonanamorphic wide-screen, Pan-and-scan, Wide-screen film.

Audio-visual press kits

Picture, sound, and/or print materials such as film, video, audio tapes, slides, news releases, etc., and background information distributed to the press for publicity purposes.

See also:

Glossary