diff --git a/pandora/item/models.py b/pandora/item/models.py
index fb629f6ef..6e3f6e9ac 100644
--- a/pandora/item/models.py
+++ b/pandora/item/models.py
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ class Item(models.Model):
                 ll.append(a.json())
         return layers
 
-    def get_json(self, fields=None):
+    def get_json(self, keys=None):
         i = {
             'id': self.itemId,
             'rendered': self.rendered
@@ -371,21 +371,28 @@ class Item(models.Model):
         i.update(self.data)
         for k in site_config()['itemKeys']:
             key = k['id']
-            if key not in i:
-                value = self.get(key)
-                #also get values from sort table, i.e. numberof values
-                if not value and  self.sort and hasattr(self.sort, key):
-                    value = getattr(self.sort, key)
-                if value:
-                    i[key] = value
+            if not keys or key in keys:
+                if key not in i:
+                    value = self.get(key)
+                    #also get values from sort table, i.e. numberof values
+                    if not value and  self.sort and hasattr(self.sort, key):
+                        value = getattr(self.sort, key)
+                    if value:
+                        i[key] = value
 
-        if not fields or 'poster' in fields:
+        if not keys or 'poster' in keys:
             i['poster'] = self.get_poster()
-        if not fields or 'posters' in fields:
+        if not keys or 'posters' in keys:
             i['posters'] = self.get_posters()
-        if not fields or 'frames' in fields:
+        if not keys or 'frames' in keys:
             i['frames'] = ['/%s/frame/poster/%d.jpg' %(self.itemId, p)
                            for p in range(0, len(self.poster_frames()))]
+        if keys:
+            info = {}
+            for key in keys:
+                if key in i:
+                    info[key] = i[key]
+            return info
         return i
 
 
diff --git a/pandora/item/views.py b/pandora/item/views.py
index f78e9b7c4..c8dcfc5e3 100644
--- a/pandora/item/views.py
+++ b/pandora/item/views.py
@@ -343,9 +343,7 @@ def get(request):
             info['stream'] = item.get_stream()
         if 'layers' in data['keys']:
             info['layers'] = item.get_layers(request.user)
-        response['data'] = {} 
-        for key in data['keys']:
-            response['data'][key] = info[key]
+        response['data'] = info
     else:
         response = json_response(status=403, text='permission denied')
     return render_to_json_response(response)
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/ui/flipbook.js b/static/js/pandora/ui/flipbook.js
index 86cf091e6..509ea77c7 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/ui/flipbook.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/ui/flipbook.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ pandora.ui.flipbook = function(item) {
             pandora.UI.set('videoPosition|' + item, data.position);
             pandora.URL.set(item + '/timeline');
         });
-        pandora.api.getItem(item, function(result) {
+        pandora.api.get({id: item, keys: ['duration', 'posterFrame']}, function(result) {
             var duration = result.data.duration,
                 posterFrame = result.data.posterFrame || parseInt(duration/2),
                 steps = 24,
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/ui/list.js b/static/js/pandora/ui/list.js
index 110b21bd0..abd08048f 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/ui/list.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/ui/list.js
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ pandora.ui.list = function(view) { // fixme: remove view argument
                 pandora.$ui.mainMenu.disableItem('openmovie');            
             }
             if (data.ids.length == 1) {
-                pandora.api.getItem(data.ids[0], function(result) {
+                pandora.api.get({id: data.ids[0], keys:['stream']}, function(result) {
                     pandora.user.infoRatio = result.data.stream.aspectRatio;
                     var height = pandora.$ui.info.width() / pandora.user.infoRatio + 16;
                     if(pandora.$ui.infoStill) pandora.$ui.infoStill.removeElement();