The resources department of the Films WikiProject provides a guide to finding information for sourcing articles, whether through online/print sources or members' personal libraries. Articles related to films need sources like any other Wikipedia article. Content must be verifiable. Editors writing articles in the scope of this project, however, may encounter some problems when finding sources, or citing them. This departments aims to point out some possible resources that can be used to gather information. In articles about films, citing the home video itself is often attractive. Wikipedia favors secondary sources, and the use of primary sources should be minimized. Films are primary sources in articles about themselves, especially for plot summaries. For a reader, who may not own or have access to the film, we should provide inline citations wherever possible, and enable readers to check the facts themselves when they do have access. [edit] Researching a topic Approaches to researching a film-related topic will vary by topic. For individual films, films released in the twenty-first century are more likely to have resources available online than earlier films. For example, there will be more online resources for a 2005 film than for a 1965 film. Films in general receive coverage from a wide range of publications. Periodicals (newspapers, magazines, etc.) are more contemporary in their coverage, and for films released around the turn of the twentieth century and beyond, periodicals sometimes make the coverage available on their websites. Books about films or containing chapters about films are published more in retrospect, though exceptions may include books about films' production published in conjunction with their theatrical releases. For example, the book The Spider-Man Chronicles: The Art and Making of Spider-Man 3 was published with the release of the 2007 film Spider-Man 3. Films that are significant to the history of cinema or that have achieved a milestone in the film industry are more likely to have comprehensive coverage in print publications. The best resources to use are academic and peer-reviewed publications, which analyze films more comprehensively than most contemporary coverage. The resources are also best to use for film-related topics broader than individual films, such as film genres or film history. Resources used for individual films can also be used for broader film-related topics. For example, the article The Matrix should mention how the film was a milestone in the science fiction genre, and the article science fiction film should say the same in the most suitable capacity. Editors can prepare a list of resources on the article's talk page or on a sub-page in their userspace, depending if they want to work on the article directly or work on a draft in their sandbox to import into the article later. Online resources can be accessed quickly; for websites that are subscription-based, use the BugMeNot Internet service to bypass registration. Print sources can be located in libraries or book stores. Editors may find it easier to access some periodicals through library databases rather than seek out physical copies. [edit] List of potential resources It is often difficult to gauge whether a source is reliable or not in the area of films. The following is a list of sources that have been established as reliable in the field of films per past consensus, except where otherwise noted. Please bring up all new additions on the talk page before posting them below. Note: "Medium" refers to the publication's principal means of content delivery. [edit] General | Name | Medium | Type | Notes and limitations | Owner | | Variety | online; print | General information on films | Go to News archives become patchier deeper into the past | Reed Business Information | | The Hollywood Reporter | online; print | General information on films | Requires paid subscription | The Nielsen Company | | Entertainment Weekly | online; print | General information on films and DVDs | All articles from publication's inception from 1990 | Time Inc. | | Empire | online; print | General information on films and DVDs | Online site is primarily advert and forum for magazine | Bauer Media Group | | Total Film | online; print | General information on films and DVDs | | Future Publishing | | Cinefantastique | Online, print | Articles and reviews on fantasy, science fiction and horror films and DVDs | Online archive limited | | | Fangoria | online; print | General information on horror films and DVDs | | The Brooklyn Company | | indieWire | online | News, interviews, and reviews of independent films | | Snagfilms | | Filmmaker Magazine | online; print | News, interviews, and reviews of independent films | | Independent Feature Project | | Cineaste | online; print | Articles, interviews, and reviews of films/DVDs | | Cineaste Publishers, Inc. | | Bright Lights Film Journal | online | Articles, interviews, and reviews of films | | | | Close-Up Film | online | Articles, interviews, and reviews of films | | | | Film Journal International | online, print | Articles and reviews of films | | Nielsen Business Media | | Time | Online, print | Articles and reviews | Unlimited free archive | Time Warner | | The New York Times | Online, print | Articles and reviews | Requires free subscription | The New York Times Company | [edit] Production | Name | Medium | Type | Notes and limitations | Owner | | American Cinematographer | Online, print | Articles on cinematography | Articles from 2001 issues missing from archive | American Society of Cinematographers | | Camera Operator | Online, print | Articles on camera operating, camera crew, equipment, and film production | Archives only contain selected articles from each issue | Society of Camera Operators | | CgSociety.org | online | Articles and interviews about productions and visual effects. | | | | Cinefex | Order via official site | Articles on visual effects | Requires payment to read print articles; see films covered by Cinefex | | | Film and Digital Times | Online, print | Articles on equipment | | Jon Fauer | | FXGuide | online | Articles on visual effects, news | | fxguide, LLC | | GBCT Techs | Online | Articles on British camera crews and production | | Guild of British Camera Technicians | | ICG Magazine | Online, print | Articles on camera crew, production, and equipment | Selected articles online; also contains some online-exclusive material | Local 600 International Cinematographers' Guild | | VFX World | online | Articles on visual effects, news | | Animation World Network | [edit] Box office | Name | Medium | Type | Notes and limitations | Owner | | Box Office Mojo | online | Box office performance, home video sales, news, budget figures | | Amazon.com | | The Numbers | online | Box office performance, home video sales, news, budget figures | | Nash Information Services, LLC. | [edit] Reception [edit] Non-English resources | Name | Medium | Type | Notes and limitations | Owner | | Kritiker.se (Swedish) | online | Aggregate ratings, links to reviews and quotes | Very few reviews for older films, somewhat irregular updates | Marcus Hansson | [edit] Soundtracks and video games [edit] Repository of resources [edit] Databases | Name | Website | Coverage | Notes and limitations | Publisher | | Film Index International | Link | Reference database for media coverage of individual films | Subscription-only, but many public libraries have access | British Film Institute | | FilmReference.com | Link | Books and articles about films | Resources only exist for older films | Advameg, Inc. | | Media Resources Center Movie Database | Link | Print and DVD sources for films | | University of California, Berkley | | Series name | Website | Coverage | Notes and limitations | Publisher | | BFI Filmstore Books & Magazines | Link | Books and magazines about film | Use books' details to find books at local libraries or book stores
Click on "BFI Classics" for list of books about specific films (e.g., The Godfather) | British Film Institute | | Directors' Cuts | Link | Books about filmmakers | Books, in covering filmmakers, explore their films | Wallflower Press | | Contemporary Film Directors | Link | Books about filmmakers | Books, in covering filmmakers, explore their films | University of Illinois Press | | Philosophers on Film | Link | Books about specific films | | Routledge Philosophy | | Directors on Directors | Link | Books about filmmakers | Books, in covering filmmakers, explore their films | Faber & Faber | | Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers) | Link | Books about filmmakers | Books, in covering filmmakers, explore their films | University Press of Mississippi | | The Scarecrow Filmmakers | Link | Books about filmmakers | Books, in covering filmmakers, explore their films | The Scarecrow Press | | Rutgers Films in Print | Link | Books about films | | Rutgers University Press | | BFI Film Classics | Link | Classic films | | Macmillan | | BFI Screen Guides | Link | Top 100 films under different genres | | | British Film Makers | Link | Self-explanatory | | | Cinema and Society | Link | Self-explanatory | Examples: Shooting the Civil War, Hollywood's History Films, Film Propaganda | | Film - General | Link | | | | Film History & Criticism | Link | | | | Film Reference | Link | | | | French Film Directors | Link | Self-explanatory | | | Inside Popular Film | Link | | Examples: Interpreting Rock Movies, Defining Cult Movies, Realism and Popular Cinema | | KINOfile | Link | European films | | | Spanish and Latin American Film | Link | Self-explanatory | | | Tauris World Cinema | Link | World cinema | Published by I.B. Tauris | | Turner Classic Movies British Film Guides | Link | Books about British films | | | Books in Film Studies | Link | Various film-related topics | | University of Chicago Press | | Film & Drama | Link | Various film-related topics | | Cambridge University Press | [edit] Members' libraries In addition to the vast array of sources available above that can be used for improving an article you are working on, below is a list of member's home video and print libraries. Members who have posted their libraries are willing to provide information about plot summaries, special features, print screenshots, and/or look up information to assist you. Keep in mind that members' lists may not always be accurate and to be polite in requesting assistance for information on an article. Send requests to the members' talk pages. Borrowing materials is entirely up to the editors, and discretion should be used. If you would like to add your library below make sure to mention any exclusions or areas you can help out with. For listing your libraries, either use external databases or create a subpage listing the media you own. - Nehrams2020 (talk · contribs) Requests may take a while, depending on the task.
- DVD/Blu-ray library - Over 240 DVDs on mostly action/drama/comedy ranging from mainly 1980-2000s. Willing to help with questions on special features, plot summaries, requested screenshots, or possibly anything else.
- Print library - I have copies of Entertainment Weekly from April 2007 to present (I may be missing a few issues). I also have access to a university database, which can help find older articles.
- Collectonian (talk · contribs)
- DVD/VHS library - Over 380 DVDs and 10 VHS covering a variety of genres from range of years. Collection browsable online by multiple means and always up to date.
- Print Library - I have access to a University library, so I can look up and do requests for news articles and book snippets from almost any book as long as I have the basic info (title, author, newspaper/magazine if applicable, month/year printed, and page number(s). Own Videohound's Horror Show - has 999 film reviews and tidbits on various horror films, including quite a few B-type films. -- Collectonian (talk · contribs) 20:45, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
- Alientraveller (talk · contribs)
- Print library - I have every issue of Empire up to September 2002, in addition to the March, June and July 2002 issues. Alientraveller (talk) 20:48, 3 February 2009 (UTC)
- Erik (talk · contribs)
- Access to university library, which includes the following: Access World News (major newspapers and some magazines), Lexis-Nexis Academic (newspapers, journals, magazines), JSTOR (academic journals), British Film Institute's Film Index International (good for starting point for research), and Film Literature Index (another good starting point). Additional journals I can access in part, depending on availability in online databases or in print (which requires a visit): American Cinematographer, Literature/Film Quarterly, Film Quarterly, Quarterly Review of Film and Video, Film Comment, Film Criticism, Film Studies, Film Journal International, Film Score Monthly, Filmmaker, Journal of Popular Film and Television, Journal of Film and Video, Cineaction!, Cinema Journal, Digital Cinematography, Sight & Sound, and more. I also have access to journals outside those related to film; these sometimes cover films depending on their subject matter, such as a gender studies journal covering how a film displayed sexuality. See User:Erik/Fight Club (film)#Saved journal articles for some instances. —Erik (talk • contrib) 18:16, 21 April 2009 (UTC)
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