The Internet The Internet Movie DatabaseMovie Database

Jenna HymesJenna Hymes

Final ProjectFinal Project

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IMDb’s HomepageIMDb’s Homepage

IMDb’s PurposeIMDb’s Purpose The Internet Movie Database is meant to The Internet Movie Database is meant to

provide a wide variety of information on provide a wide variety of information on movies, including casts lists, directors, movies, including casts lists, directors, shooting locations, trivia, and moreshooting locations, trivia, and more

Though the site’s name refers only to Though the site’s name refers only to movies, it also catalogs information about movies, it also catalogs information about TV shows and miniseriesTV shows and miniseries

There is also an IMDb Pro, which requires There is also an IMDb Pro, which requires a fee to use and contribute to, so it is a fee to use and contribute to, so it is clear that “regular” IMDb is meant for the clear that “regular” IMDb is meant for the general population of people interested in general population of people interested in movies, actors and televisionmovies, actors and television

Basic SearchingBasic Searching

The basic search box appears at the top of The basic search box appears at the top of the home pagethe home page

You can search by various fields, including You can search by various fields, including Titles, Names, and KeywordsTitles, Names, and Keywords

There are also unusual fields under which There are also unusual fields under which you can search, including Plots, Bios, you can search, including Plots, Bios, Characters, TV Episodes, and QuotesCharacters, TV Episodes, and Quotes

This variety in searchable fields would This variety in searchable fields would seem to reflect the needs or search seem to reflect the needs or search patterns of userspatterns of users

Basic Searching, Basic Searching, ContinuedContinued

The search field “Plots” is The search field “Plots” is particularly interesting. It does seem particularly interesting. It does seem likely that many users probably likely that many users probably come to IMDb looking for a movie or come to IMDb looking for a movie or TV show whose plot they remember, TV show whose plot they remember, but whose title they can’t recallbut whose title they can’t recall

However, there are limitations to However, there are limitations to this search method, as I discovered this search method, as I discovered when I searched the term “aliens”when I searched the term “aliens”

Basic Searching, Basic Searching, ContinuedContinued

The results of the Plot search for “aliens” The results of the Plot search for “aliens” revealed a few key limitations to this search revealed a few key limitations to this search methodmethod 1. The results listed are the “Most Popular” titles 1. The results listed are the “Most Popular” titles

with plots matching the word “aliens,” meaning with plots matching the word “aliens,” meaning that they I am not getting a list of the most famous that they I am not getting a list of the most famous alien movie or the movie with the most aliens, but alien movie or the movie with the most aliens, but whatever IMDb considers the most popular titles whatever IMDb considers the most popular titles containing aliens. Popularity might mean highest containing aliens. Popularity might mean highest rated by visitors or most viewed.This is not clear rated by visitors or most viewed.This is not clear eithereither

2. The first two results in my search were episodes 2. The first two results in my search were episodes of the TV show “The Big Bang Theory.” Not only is of the TV show “The Big Bang Theory.” Not only is this not a show about aliens, but the term actually this not a show about aliens, but the term actually contained in both plot summaries was “alienation,” contained in both plot summaries was “alienation,” obviously not the term I was searching for. obviously not the term I was searching for.

Basic Searching, Basic Searching, ContinuedContinued

In this example, it is clear that a In this example, it is clear that a user would have to be quite specific user would have to be quite specific in her choice of search terms in in her choice of search terms in order to find the exact movie or TV order to find the exact movie or TV show she was searching for.show she was searching for.

Perhaps a controlled vocabulary Perhaps a controlled vocabulary would work to alleviate some of the would work to alleviate some of the confusion in searches like the one I confusion in searches like the one I conducted. conducted.

Advanced SearchingAdvanced Searching

The The AdvancedAdvanced

Search Search contains contains a few a few different different options options for for searchingsearching

Advanced Searching, Advanced Searching, ContinuedContinued

Just as with the basic search, these Just as with the basic search, these advanced search options are quite creative advanced search options are quite creative and seem to reflect the needs of IMDb usersand seem to reflect the needs of IMDb users

The “Collaborations and Overlaps” search is The “Collaborations and Overlaps” search is particularly interesting, as it once again particularly interesting, as it once again addresses a query that many movie fans addresses a query that many movie fans might have - what movie did these two might have - what movie did these two people star in, or how many movies did they people star in, or how many movies did they make together, or was there any common make together, or was there any common cast and crew between these two films? cast and crew between these two films?

Advanced Searching, Advanced Searching, ContinuedContinued

One aspect of the “Collaborations and Overlaps” One aspect of the “Collaborations and Overlaps” search that makes it more precise than the “Plots” search that makes it more precise than the “Plots” basic search is that when you begin to type in a title, basic search is that when you begin to type in a title, a drop down menu appears and allows you to double a drop down menu appears and allows you to double check that you have typed in the film you intended to check that you have typed in the film you intended to search forsearch for

Indexes on the SiteIndexes on the Site

IMDb is a pretty vast site, with many IMDb is a pretty vast site, with many various ways of searching and multiple various ways of searching and multiple means of organizing the information means of organizing the information contained withincontained within

On the homepage, there is an index On the homepage, there is an index containing drop down menus, which allow containing drop down menus, which allow for another, more general way of entering for another, more general way of entering the site as opposed to the specific the site as opposed to the specific searches we have already coveredsearches we have already covered

Indexes, ContinuedIndexes, Continued This index works to further divide the This index works to further divide the

site, in some ways making it more site, in some ways making it more manageable to navigate, indexable manageable to navigate, indexable matter contained in the index includes matter contained in the index includes more specific information on TV, more specific information on TV, Movies, Videos, News, and Community. Movies, Videos, News, and Community.

The index listed under “Movies” is the The index listed under “Movies” is the most specific of the drop down menus most specific of the drop down menus and contains the most interesting terms. and contains the most interesting terms.

Indexes, ContinuedIndexes, Continued This is the index This is the index

listed under listed under “Movies”“Movies”

Once again, it Once again, it seems to reflect seems to reflect the needs of the the needs of the IMDb users, not IMDb users, not just the typical just the typical subcategories subcategories that one might that one might expect to appear expect to appear in a search box in a search box for a movie for a movie databasedatabase

Indexes, ContinuedIndexes, Continued One of the most useful links from the One of the most useful links from the

“Movies” Index is the Site Index“Movies” Index is the Site Index At the top of the site index it states, “If At the top of the site index it states, “If

you're curious about the wide variety of you're curious about the wide variety of features here at IMDb or if you're trying to features here at IMDb or if you're trying to find a particular one, this is the place to find a particular one, this is the place to come. Though it's not an exhaustive list of come. Though it's not an exhaustive list of every single page here, it's a good road every single page here, it's a good road map for finding your way around” (map for finding your way around” (www.imdb.comwww.imdb.com). ).

It is a nice feature and somewhat unusual It is a nice feature and somewhat unusual feature for a free internet database to make feature for a free internet database to make clear the scope of its index and the fact that clear the scope of its index and the fact that it is not exhaustive. it is not exhaustive.

Indexes, ContinuedIndexes, Continued

As with the other search functions As with the other search functions and indexes found on the site, the and indexes found on the site, the categories listed on the site index categories listed on the site index are widely varied and specific to are widely varied and specific to IMDb, including a link to information IMDb, including a link to information on the Oscars, Fall TV Preview, a on the Oscars, Fall TV Preview, a place to give Feedback on the site, place to give Feedback on the site, and a link to showtimes and movie and a link to showtimes and movie tickets in the United States. tickets in the United States.

ConclusionConclusion

While IMDb is not perfectly organized or While IMDb is not perfectly organized or consistent, they do a pretty nice job of consistent, they do a pretty nice job of indexing a ton of information and making it indexing a ton of information and making it searchable. searchable.

IMDb must deal with the fact that the movie IMDb must deal with the fact that the movie and TV industry is constantly changing, so the and TV industry is constantly changing, so the information on the site needs to be constantly information on the site needs to be constantly updated and the fact that people who are updated and the fact that people who are searching for information about movies may searching for information about movies may be looking for different search fields than be looking for different search fields than when conducting other types of searches. when conducting other types of searches.