Citing a movie correctly in MLA 8 is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit to the creators whose work you’ve used as a source. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the process, from the basic template to dealing with complex scenarios.
The Core MLA 8 Movie Citation Format
At its heart, citing a movie in MLA 8 follows a specific formula designed to clearly identify the film and its key contributors. The general format is:
Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Movie. Distributor, Year of Release.
For example:
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Warner Bros., 1990.
Let’s break down each component of this citation and explore variations for different circumstances.
Understanding the Citation Elements
Director
The director is generally considered the primary creator of a film, so their name comes first. Always list the director’s last name, followed by a comma and their first name. The abbreviation “director” follows, set off by a comma. If the film has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film, separated by commas, and use “directors” instead of “director.”
Title of Movie
The title of the movie is italicized and should appear exactly as it does on the film itself, including any subtitles. Capitalize all principal words in the title.
Distributor
The distributor is the company responsible for releasing the movie. This information can usually be found on the film’s packaging or at the end of the credits. Use the full company name if possible (e.g., Warner Bros. instead of WB).
Year of Release
The year of release refers to the year the film was originally released to theaters or for distribution.
Variations and Additional Information
While the basic format provides a solid foundation, you may need to include additional information depending on the nature of your citation.
Including Other Contributors
Sometimes, you’ll want to highlight the contributions of other key figures, such as writers, actors, or composers. In these cases, you can add their names after the title, using “performance by” or “written by,” for example.
Example (citing an actor):
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Performance by Robert De Niro, Warner Bros., 1990.
Example (citing the writer):
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Written by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese, Warner Bros., 1990.
Citing a Specific Scene or Segment
If you are only referencing a particular scene or segment of the movie, you can include the timestamp.
Example:
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Warner Bros., 1990. (0:30:00-0:32:00)
Citing a Streaming Service
When you’re accessing a film through a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you need to include the name of the service.
Example:
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Warner Bros., 1990. Netflix.
If you’re citing a specific episode from a series, the format changes slightly.
Example:
“Pilot.” Stranger Things, created by The Duffer Brothers, Netflix, 15 July 2016.
FAQs: Mastering Movie Citations in MLA 8
Here are some frequently asked questions to address common challenges and nuances in citing movies in MLA 8:
FAQ 1: What if the director is unknown?
If the director is unknown, you can start the citation with the title of the movie.
Title of Movie. Distributor, Year of Release.
Example:
The Godfather. Paramount Pictures, 1972.
FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie I watched on YouTube?
Cite it as a video on YouTube. Provide the uploader’s name, the title of the video, “YouTube,” the date it was uploaded, and the URL.
Uploader’s Last Name, First Name [or Channel Name]. “Title of Video.” YouTube, Date Uploaded, URL.
Example:
FilmSchoolRejects. “Every Quentin Tarantino Death, Ranked.” YouTube, 11 Aug. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExampleURL.
FAQ 3: What if there are multiple directors?
List the directors in the order they appear on the film. Use “directors” instead of “director” after the names.
Example:
Russo, Anthony, and Joe Russo, directors. Avengers: Endgame. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2019.
FAQ 4: How do I cite a foreign film?
Cite the film as usual, but if you’re using a translated title, include the original title after the translated title, separated by a slash.
Example:
Truffaut, François, director. The 400 Blows / Les Quatre Cents Coups. Janus Films, 1959.
FAQ 5: Do I need to include the format of the movie (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.)?
No, MLA 8 generally doesn’t require you to specify the format unless it’s relevant to your analysis.
FAQ 6: How do I cite a commentary track on a movie?
Treat the commentary track as its own independent work. Cite the person speaking on the commentary track, the title (e.g., “Director’s Commentary”), “On,” the title of the movie, the distributor, and the year of release.
Example:
Spielberg, Steven. “Director’s Commentary.” On Jaws, Universal Pictures, 1975.
FAQ 7: What if the movie is part of a larger collection?
If the movie is part of a collection (e.g., a box set), you can include the collection title after the movie title.
Example:
Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. The Martin Scorsese Collection, Warner Bros., 1990.
FAQ 8: How do I handle in-text citations for movies?
In-text citations typically include the director’s last name and the year of release, enclosed in parentheses.
Example:
(Scorsese, 1990)
If you’ve already mentioned the director’s name in your sentence, you only need to include the year.
Example:
As Scorsese demonstrates (1990)…
FAQ 9: What if the distributor is a small, independent company?
Use the full name of the company as accurately as possible. If the distributor is extremely obscure and difficult to find, you can omit it, but it’s best to include it if you can.
FAQ 10: How do I cite a documentary film?
The citation format for documentaries is the same as for fictional films. Just identify the director and include the title, distributor, and year of release.
Example:
Neville, Morgan, director. 20 Feet from Stardom. Radius-TWC, 2013.
FAQ 11: What if the movie has been re-released?
Use the original release date, not the re-release date, unless you are specifically discussing the re-release.
FAQ 12: How do I cite a trailer for a movie?
Cite it similarly to a YouTube video, focusing on the source where you found the trailer. Include the title of the trailer, the source (e.g., YouTube, website), and the date it was accessed.
Example:
Avengers: Endgame Trailer. YouTube, uploaded by Marvel Entertainment, 7 Dec. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExampleURL.
Conclusion
Mastering MLA 8 movie citations requires attention to detail, but the basic principles are straightforward. By understanding the core elements and addressing potential variations, you can ensure your citations are accurate and effectively convey the necessary information. Remember to always double-check your citations against the latest MLA handbook for the most up-to-date guidelines. Correct citation not only strengthens your academic work, but also acknowledges the hard work and creativity involved in filmmaking.