1.1 FilmName
1) Use the stylebook for spelling and other guidelines.
2) Don't cap articles and prepositions for English titles.
Example:
Stranger at the BackdoorDon't cap any word -- besides the first word, names and/or words that are always capped -- for French titles.
Example:
L'indécente aux enfers (if we want to respect rules #3 and #4, this should actually be
Indecente aux enfers)
Cap only the first word and nouns in German titles.
Example:
B.B. nass und geil3) Don't use foreign spelling in the main title field, but do add the foreign spelling in the title AKA field.
4) Don't use articles at the beginning of titles, including foreign language titles, unless a title makes no sense otherwise. The begin article can be used in the title aka field.
A reference list of articles in foreign languages:
French:
the = "le", "la", "les", "l'" (used in front of words beginning with a vowel)
a/an: "un", "une", "des" -- however take care, un/une can also mean "one" (1), in which case it's not used as an article. Also don't confuse "des" with "dès", which means "since".
German:
the = "der", "die"
a/an = "ein", "eine" -- however take care, ein/eine can also mean "one" (1), in which case it's not used as an article.
Italian:
the = "il", "la", "gli", "le", "l'" (used in front of words beginning with a vowel)
a/an = "un", "una"
Spanish:
the = "el", "la", "los", "las"
a/an = "un", "una"
Dutch
the = "de", "het"
a/an = "een" -- however take care, een can also mean "one" (1), in which case it's not used as an article
5) Always add "1" to the first of a series. When the actual title has no "1", add the title without the "1" in the title AKA field. Try to backtrack this whenever you come across a 'first' without the "1".
6) The following hierarchy is used for exact spelling of a title when there are differences between what's on tape versus what's on the box: 1. opening credits; 2. closing credits; 3. box covers
There is 1 exception: Each title of a series has to have the same spelling; if a particular installment differs from the usual spelling, add the actual but deviant spelling in the title aka field.
7) Tips:
- before adding a new title, do a quick title search to see if it isn’t in the db already. Use parts of the title when doing the search so different ways of spelling can be caught.
- and/or before adding a new title, if you know one major star in the cast (preferably one with two names), check that star's filmography for all variations of the title. For the title,
Pussyman's Great American Blowjob Adventure, look under P, G, and B. We may have previously entered the title via a review or a vendor site. And we know how screwed (and skewed) they can be!
- before adding a title to an existing series, do a quick title search to see how the other titles in the series have been spelled/treated. Also, this is a good way to see if we are missing any volumes from series.
- when spelling is in doubt or there are different spellings on the box versus the video itself, use the Vendor Match tool to link vendors manually. Use parts of the title when doing the search in the Vendor Match tool so different ways of spelling can be caught
1.2 (Title) AKAs
1) Spelling
Use the stylebook for spelling and other guidelines as for main titles, with these exceptions:
a) add the article at the beginning of the title
b) use foreign spelling when needed
c) when marking different versions released by a known company, use the exact same spelling of that company as can be found in the distributor list.
Example 1: Video Marc Dorcel, not Vmd, VMD, Marc Dorcel or any other way of spelling.
Example 2: the exact spelling of TEN Network is "TEN"
2) When do we use it
a) for different versions of the same video, such as cable versions and foreign versions of American originals
b) for differences in spelling between the box cover and the title as seen on the tape itself: the box cover title will be put in the AKA field
c) for re-releases: the original/oldest title is the main title, re-release titles are AKA titles
d) for foreign versions use these rules:
- if an American title and distributor exists, it will be the main title/distributor
(All other fields – year, minutes, … — will be taken from the original release though.)
- if no American/English title and distributor exists, the foreign title is the main title and we do not create our own English translation; we do however add the foreign title with foreign spelling in the title AKA field if necessary
3) How to mark different versions:
a) a foreign original (with an American version as main title) is marked as follows: Original title (Country “original,” original distributor)
Example:
Le contrat des anges 1 (French original, Video Marc Dorcel)
b) a foreign version which is not an original is marked as follows: Foreign title (Country “version,” foreign distributor)
Example:
Natuurcamping ‘t Paaltje (Dutch version, Fun Video)
c) cable versions are marked as follows: Cable Title ("cable version," cable company); if the company is not known, just use the expression "cable version".
Example 1:
Silly Cable Title (cable version, TEN)
Example 2:
Another Silly Cable Title (cable version)
d) re-releases are marked as follows: Re-release Title ("re-release," distributor, year); if distributor and/or year is not known, just drop that part.
Example 1:
Re-release Title (re-release, Blue One, 1999)
Example 2:
Re-release Title 2 (re-release, Blue One)
Example 3:
Re-release Title 3 (re-release, 1999)
Example 4:
Re-release Title 4 (re-release)
e) box cover titles (when different than the title on the tape) will be marked as follows:
Box Cover Title (box cover)
4) Title AKA vs. mother-daughter relations:
a) When we know of alternative titles and don’t know if there are actual differences between versions or what those differences are exactly, just use the title AKA field.
b) Create a mother-daughter film page once we have established what the actual differences are between two versions and mark the differences in the comments to both movies.
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