This unique reference work is designed to bridge the gap between guides and dictionaries that are primarily academic and theoretical and those that deal mainly in technical jargon.

Emmons, a librarian at the U. of New Mexico, provides an annotated research guide to film and television reference sources, with approximately 1200 entries of books in English up to 2004, websites available in 2005, and some CD-ROMs. Organized by topic, sections cover general guides, dictionaries, and encyclopedias; filmographies; sources on national cinema; genres; formats; studios; portrayals; filmmakers; screenplays; filmmaking and television production; the film and television industry; and fans and the audience. Only reference sources are included, and individual works and people are excluded. Indexes are separated by author/title and subject.