Media Arts and Film
For additional assistance, contact Michael Brewer
Finding Source Documents
Finding Films & Videos
16mm Films in the U of A Collection
A list of the 16 mm films in the library collection. Many of these are not in the library catalog. 16mm films do not circulate, except for classroom use. They may be viewed in the library. Inquire at the circulation desk for more information.
International Index to Film Periodicals [FIAF]
Includes the Treasures from Film Archives Database (with holdings information on over 35,000 silent films in archives around the world), the Documentation Collections database (with information on domestic and international film archives).
Films in Foreign Languages:
These lists change as the catalog is updated. (Silent feature films are not included).
Lists of Subject-Oriented Films in the U of A Library
These lists were created by librarians to help customers better know the range of films we have in various subject areas.
Library of Congress Moving Image Collections Database
Use this to search the MIC Union Catalog, listing moving images collected and managed by MIC participating organizations.
Library of Congress Moving Image Collections Explore Database
MIC lets you discover, locate, and even (in some cases) view moving images from around the world. MIC’s two databases can be searched from anywhere on the site.
If you do not find the film you need for your teaching or research in our collection, please contact the Media Arts Librarian. Please supply any information you have on the film. While every effort will be made to acquire the film, bear in mind that once films go out of print, they are often extremely difficult to acquire.
Finding Scripts, Screenplays & Text Summaries
AFI [American Film Institute] Catalog
The AFI Catalog, compiled by film experts and researchers at the American Film Institute, presents a detailed view of American feature films produced during the last century up to 1970. AFI Catalog offers an unmatched level of detail, with full production and cast information, extensive plot summaries and production notes.
American Film Scripts Online
Database of fulltext American feature film film scripts (1903-2002). Films range from classics and critically-aclaimed films to typological genre films and those judged especially valuable as social or historical documents. Currently 135 of a planned 1000 film scripts are available (5/2003). Also included are documents on scenes, characters and people related to the scripts.
Lexis Nexis News Transcripts
Transcripts from the major networks are available (and searchable) through Lexis Nexis's Academic Universe. Select "News Transcripts" from the first drop-down menu, and then select the network you wish to search from the second. Enter any kewords (and limit to a particular date range, if you wish) and search.
Vanderbilt Television News Archive
Searchable archive of abstracts (detailed summaries-not transcripts) of evening news broadcasts from ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, as well special news reports, such as ABC's Nightline, selected coverage from PBS and FOX News, political conventions, Presidential press conferences, State of the Union Addresses, political campaign coverage, and national and international events. Abstracts include names of reporters, a summary of the event reported, and beginning and ending times for each news segment.
Also includes RealVideo (online video) access to CNN programs from 1998-present. ABC, CBS, NBC - 1968-present
CNN - 1995-present. Political conventions, State of the Union Addresses - 1968-present
We own many scripts in book/print form. Search for the movie title, or scriptwriter (as an author search). You can bring up a pretty good list of screenplays by searching for the subject heading "motion picture plays"
Finding Promotional Materials
Historical New York Times, Historical Los Angeles Times & The Times [London] Digital Archive
The fulltext (including print ads) of these three newspapers (back into the pre-cinematic era) are searchable through these databases. To search for print ads, put the title, or a few words from the title, into the search box and then limit to "advertising" (in the Times), or "display ad" (under "Document Type" for NYT and LAT). You may also want to limit to a particular date range.
Variety
The library owns Variety (in print, on microfilm or online) from 1905 to the present. Many films were advertised in Variety. To locate advertisments, one can either just browse the issues at the time of the release of the film, or look in those issues in which the film was reviewed in Variety (to do this, consult . Variety Film Reviews PN1995 .V34 Main Ref, or Index to Motion Pictures Reviewed By Variety, 1907-1980. PN1995 .A39 1982 Main Ref). Variety also often provides a good deal of statistical information about films & film viewership.