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Major Group 78 of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), entitled “Motion Pictures,” includes
establishments producing and distributing motion pictures, exhibiting motion pictures in commercially operated
theaters, and furnishing services to the motion picture industry. The term “motion pictures,” as used in this major
group, includes similar productions for television or other media using film, tape, or other means. Industry Group
number 781, Motion Picture Production and Allied Services, is broken down into two industry numbers, SIC 7812
and SIC 7819.
Industry group number SIC 7812 includes establishments primarily engaged in the production of theatrical and non-
theatrical motion pictures and video tape for exhibition or sale, including educational, industrial, and religious films.
Included in the industry are establishments engaged in both production and distribution. Specific examples are
audiovisual motion picture program production, cartoon motion picture production, commercials, television tape or
film production, educational motion picture production, industrial motion picture production, motion picture
production and distribution, music video production, non-theatrical motion picture production, religious motion
picture production, tape production, video or motion picture, television film production, training motion picture
production, video tape production.
Industry group number SIC 7819 includes establishments primarily engaged in performing services independent of
motion picture production, but allied thereto, such as motion picture film processing, editing, and titling, casting
bureaus, wardrobe and studio property rental, television tape services, motion picture and video tape reproduction,
and stock footage film libraries. Specific examples are motion picture casting bureaus, developing and printing of
commercial motion picture film, independent directors of motion pictures, editing of motion picture film, motion
picture film processing, motion picture laboratories, motion picture consultants, motion picture reproduction, rental
of motion picture equipment, studio property rental for motion picture film production, television tape service, (e.g.,
editing and transfers), titling motion picture film, video tape or disk reproduction, and wardrobe rental. SIC 7819
covers many below-the-line film occupations.
The NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) will soon replace the SIC.
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Employment Data in the Film Industry
The U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system is the official U.S. Government
mechanism for categorizing and tracking data by industry.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) monitors employment data in the motion picture industry by tracking employment in two
SIC categories: (1) Motion Picture and Videotape Production and (2) Services Allied to Motion
Picture Production. Both categories include production for television or other media.
Although BLS data are helpful, an examination of only these two SIC codes does not
provide the entire picture for the impact of runaway film on employment. First, these SIC codes
include only those functions that are directly tied to motion picture production, and these
functions constitute only a portion of the jobs that actually go into making a movie or television
show. Dozens of other establishments (composed of, e.g., carpenters, accountants, caterers,
cleaners, electricians, hair and makeup stylists, and car rentals) are tracked in other SIC
categories, even though workers in these fields may work predominantly, if not exclusively, on
motion picture or television production. A second problem with these categories is that they do
not break out production of feature films from production of television programming. This is
significant because the two categories include establishments involved in tape and video
production not related to film or television, such as educational, industrial, institutional,