Character position definition and scope:

A one-character alphabetic code indicates the generation stage of the motion picture film.

The concept of generation represents the photographic process required to create, duplicate, and preserve moving image materials.  The category of generation indicates how far away from the original material (e.g., the actual negative film or original videotape in the camera) an item is.  Material that is produced successively from the original is second, third, fourth, etc. generation material, for example, original negative to master-positive to duplicate negative to reference print.  Generation data is used to evaluate the quality of available copies, to make preservation decisions, and to identify material available for viewing and researchers.  A fill character ( | ) is used when no attempt has been made to code this position.

Record requirements for National-level and Minimal-level records:  Optional.

Guidelines for applying content designators:

Content designator history:

Prior to the definition of this character position in 1985, generation was coded in field 009 (Physical Description Fixed Field for Archival Collection) /00 (Genealogical stage).

To return, select:

007:  Motion picture

007  Physical Description Fixed Field