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Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

Sidecar File: Meaning & Definition in Film

An auxiliary file carrying metadata or translations alongside primary media assets.

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Sidecar File: Overview

A Sidecar File is an external file—often with extensions like .xmp, .xml, .srt, or .ale—stored alongside a media asset to carry metadata, editorial notes, subtitles, or color information without altering the original file. Sidecars ensure that metadata travels with the media without risking corruption of the master.

Sidecar File: Common Types

  • XMP Sidecars: Store camera metadata (EXIF, IPTC) for RAW image sequences.
  • ALE/EDL Sidecars: Contain logging and editing decisions for NLEs.
  • Subtitle Sidecars: SRT, VTT files for closed captions and translations.

Sidecar File: Workflow Integration

  1. Capture: Cameras write metadata to embedded headers when possible. When unsupported, tools generate XMP sidecars upon ingest.
  2. Editing: Subtitle editors deliver .srt sidecars, which editors import into timelines.
  3. Color and Effects: Color decisions (CDL, LUT) can be saved in XML sidecars for grading suites to consume.

Advantages and Drawbacks

  • Advantages: Non‑destructive; easily versioned; cross‑platform interoperability.
  • Drawbacks: File management complexity; potential for orphaned metadata if sidecars are misplaced.

Sidecar File: See Also

  • ALE File
  • Look Metadata

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Entries filed on the same shelf as Sidecar File, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

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