Film and Television Studies
From Simmons Library Research Guides
We have selected these resources to help you find relevant information on your research topic. Please contact a librarian for help using the resources listed in this guide or for help with your research process.
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Reference and Background Information
Use the Simmons Eresource called [http://0-refuniv.odyssi.com.library.simmons.edu/ Reference Universe] to search for information about your topic in all of our Reference sources.
or, search for Reference sources that contain information about your specific research topic here:
You may also consult the resources below for overviews of the topic that you have chosen to research. Use these resources to help you to put your topic in context and give you the big picture of what information exists about your topic. These resources may have bibliographies at the end of each entry that can help further your research.
- Critical Dictionary of Film and Television Theory
Level 1 Reference PN1993.45 .C75 2000
Accessible introduction to theoretical terminology and concepts from the 1960s to the present, with a focus on British and American cinema.
- The Facts on File Dictionary of Film and Broadcast Terms
Level 1 Reference P87.5 .P43 1991
Defines terms used by creators, performers, and other working in the trade of film and broadcast production.
- The Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Free Online
A massive online directory of movies and people in the movies, current movie/industry news, archived reviews, a glossary to film terminology, box office statistics, links to film festivals, schools, studios, and more.
- The Video Source Book
Level 1 Reference PN1992.95 .V52
Considered to be the most complete listing of videos in any format (including VHS, DVD, and 8mm). The Video Source Book lists narrative, or fiction films, as well as non-fiction in areas like sports, how-to, and health. Entries are listed alphabetical by title and include alternative title(s), subject, and credits. The source also has a special formats index and the program distributors section with contact information.
Film
- The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States
Level 1 Reference PN1998 .A57
This source list every feature film produced in the United States from 1911-1970.
- The British Film Catalogue
Level 1 Reference PN1998 .G543 2001 and Free Online 1998 to the Present
The book lists every film produced in the UK between 1895 and 1994. Volume 1 cover fiction film and volume 2 covers non-fiction. The online version covers British films 1998 to the present.
- Dictionary of Film Terms: The Aesthetic Companion to Film Art
Level 1 Reference PN1993.45 .B33 2006
This resource offers an alphabetically arranged listing of definitions used in film production and criticism. Entries fairly long and descriptive and offer real examples when appropriate. Access to terminology is facilitated by topical, artist, and film indexes.
- The Film Encyclopedia
Level 1 Reference PN1993.45 .K34 2001
Based on what was originally a one-person effort by Ephraim Katz, the Film Encyclopedia is an indispensable resource for information about narrative cinema. While the scope is international, Hollywood movies are treated most comprehensively. All entries are cross-referenced, and biographical entries include filmographies.
- Films by Genre: 775 Categories, Styles, Trends, and Movements Defined, with a Filmography for Each
Level 1 Reference PN1998 .L63 1993
Lists genres or categories of films, both fiction and non-fiction with sub-genres, explanations, and examples for each.
- International Motion Picture Almanac
Level 1 Reference PN1993.3 .I55
This is useful source for up-to-date information on the film industry worldwide, with an emphasis on Hollywood. The first section, The Year, includes a narrative review of the past year in the industry, statistics, top grossing films, awards, and festivals and markets. The biographies section includes information about executives, actors, producers, and others in the film industry, with a section including obituaries. The next five sections are directories: Producers and Distributors, Production Services, and Digital Services, Exhibition, and Professional Organizations and Government Offices. The final section covers the World Market.
- The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry
Level 1 Reference PN1993.5.U6 S539 1998
This source provides entries on American producing and releasing companies, technical innovations, industry terms, studios, genres, and organizations. Entries are alphabetical, cross-referenced, and include bibliographies for further research.
- Magill's Survey of Cinema: English Language Films, First Series
Level 1 Reference PN1995 .M3
This resource works like Masterplots for feature films, surveying of over 500 movies and providing a storyline synopsis and an examination of the directing, acting, cinematography, editing, etc.
- Click here for to access more resources on film and Film Studies in the Library catalog.
Television
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Television Programs, 1947-1976
Level 1 Reference PN1992.3.U5 T46
While information about recent and current television programs and the more famous, older classics and cult hits are not hard to find on the internet, nowhere will you find such a complete list of every television program that aired between 1947 and 1976 as The Complete Encyclopedia of Television Programs. Entries include series name, format, characters, premise, air dates, and other information about the shows.
- Encyclopedia of Television
Level 1 Reference PN1992.18 .E53 1997 and Free Online
This source includes over 1,000 original entries covering television programs, people, events, trends, politics. It also includes entries on issues in television such as violence and racism. Entries vary in length from short to longer essays, are signed, cross-referenced, and included bibliographies for further research.
- International Television & Video Almanac
Level 1 Reference HE8698 .I55
This is useful source for up-to-date information on the television and video industries worldwide, with an emphasis on American production and distribution. The first section, The Year, includes a narrative review of the past year in the industry, statistics, Neilsen ratings, awards, and festivals and markets. The biographies section includes information about executives, actors, producers, and others in the film industry, with a section including obituaries. The third section lists current series and movies and mini-series from the current year and previous five years. The next five sections are directories: Stations and Ownership; Networks, Producers, Distributors, and Programs; Cable, Satellite, and Wireless; Production Services; DVD and Video; and Professional Organizations and Government Offices. The final section covers the World Market.
- Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television
Level 1 Reference PN1992.18 .B7 1992
A comprehensive source for information on all aspects of the television industry, both on screen and behind the scenes. Entries are shorter than those in the Encyclopedia of Television, but include more entries on behind-the-camera people, issues, and technology.
- The Television Industry: A Historical Dictionary
Level 1 Reference PN1992.3.U5 S57 1991
This source provides entries on the television industry, including production and distribution companies, technical innovations, industry terms, studios, genres, and organizations. Entries are alphabetical, cross-referenced, and include bibliographies for further research as well as contact information for current organizations.
Finding Articles
Below are suggested databases and indexes for articles on the topic that you have chosen to research. These databases include articles from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. Articles are shorter and more narrowly focused than books or reference materials so you should use them after you have narrowed your topic.
- Film and Television Literature Index
Simmons Eresource (1897 to present) and Free Online (1976-2001)
The definitive index to film and television literature, drawing from over 600 publications. While the focus of the resource is film criticism and information about films, it also includes reviews.
- Communication and Mass Media Complete
Simmons Eresource
This database is the combination of CommSearch and Mass Media Articles Index. It provides the full text of over 200 communication related journals, as well as articles from reviews, encyclopedias, and handbooks. Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
- Humanities Fulltext
Simmons Eresource
A database of article citations on topics in the Humanities, some available full-text. Includes content from more than 300 key humanities publications, including feature articles, book reviews, interviews, obituaries, bibliographies, original works of fiction (including dramas and poems), and reviews of plays, operas, ballets, dance, musicals, movies, and television and radio programs.
Find reviews and critical articles from film periodicals such as American Film, Film Comment, Film Criticism, Film Quarterly, Journal of Popular Film and Television, Literature/Film Quarterly, and Sight & Sound.
- JSTOR
Simmons Eresource
JSTOR offers both multidisciplinary and discipline-specific collections. Provides full-text backfiles of many core scholarly journals, some dating back to the 1800s. However, JSTOR is not the database for current issues as it focuses on older journals.
- Project MUSE
Simmons Eresource
Offers nearly 250 quality journal titles from 40 scholarly publishers. As one of the academic community's primary electronic periodicals resources, Project MUSE covers the fields of literature and criticism, history, the visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, political science, gender studies, economics, and many others. Project MUSE is setting the standard for scholarly electronic journals in the humanities and social science.
- Academic Search Complete
Simmons Eresource
Academic Search Complete is a great place to start your search for both popular and scholarly articles, no matter what your topic is! It contains journals from almost every topic and is designed specifically for academic institutions. It provides more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, 4,400 of which are peer-reviewed journals. This resource also features content as far back as 1865.
- Academic Onefile
Simmons Eresource
Academic Onefile contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text, available in HTML and PDF formats. In addition it contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC.
- Expanded Academic ASAP
Simmons Eresource
From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images. Updated daily.
TIP: Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
Searching the Web
Simmons librarians have created a customized search engine that allows you to find information about Film and Television Studies, including reviews, criticism, and biography. Use this Film and Television Studies Google Custom Search box to search all the select free web sites listed below at the same time:
You can also go directly to, or bookmark the Film and Television Studies Google Custom Search
Tips for Searching the Internet:
- Use the advanced search function, which is available from most search engines:
- Google - See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Ask - Click "Advanced." See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Live (MSN) - See also "Options"
- Exalead - See also "Exalead FAQ"
- Yahoo! Search
- Limit your search to .edu and .gov sites. These often provide quality research, statistics, and commentary. Sites ending in .org often have good information, too, but are likely to espouse a strong stance or bias on the issues they cover and may not be objective.
- Try Scandoo, which presents search results from Google, Yahoo! Search, or Live (MSN) with an evaluation about the objectivity, credibility, and overall reliability of the site.
- Consider using a directory of pre-screened, annotated sites:
Writing Style and Citation
For more information on style and citation for this discipline, please contact the Simmons College Writing Center
You may also consider consulting these resources:
- Writing Resources
Free Online
The Writing Center provides online resources for citing your research. If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor and consider the following:- Use APA (American Psychological Association) when your topic is in the Social Sciences
- Use ASA (American Sociological Association) when your topic is in Sociology
- Use MLA (Modern Language Association) when your topic is in the Humanities
- Use Chicago/Turabian when your topic is in Literature, History or the Arts
- Use CSE (Council of Science Editors) when your topic is in the Sciences
- RefWorks
Simmons Eresource
RefWorks is a great program for organizing articles, books, and other materials you need for research. You can also use RefWorks to create bibliographies, create in text citations in your paper (Write-N-Cite), and share your research with others. Access RefWorks from the A-Z list of resources on the library's web page, and then follow the instructions to create your own username and password. We hold RefWorks Clinics throughout the semester. For more information, ask a reference librarian
