Citing a movie in APA 7th edition requires adhering to a specific format that ensures clarity and proper attribution. The fundamental structure involves identifying the director(s) as the primary author(s), followed by the year, title, and source information, mirroring the style used for other creative works.
Understanding the Core Elements of an APA Movie Citation
The core of any APA citation, including one for a movie, rests on identifying the key players and providing the reader with enough information to locate the source. This means understanding the role of the director, the importance of accurate title formatting, and the nuances of specifying the source of the movie. Remember, accuracy is paramount in academic writing, and proper citation practices uphold the integrity of your work.
The APA 7th Edition Movie Citation Format
The basic APA 7th edition format for citing a movie is as follows:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Film]. Production Company.
Let’s break down each component:
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Director, A. A. (Director): Start with the director’s last name, followed by a comma, then their initials. Add “(Director)” in parentheses after their name. If there are multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film’s credits, separated by commas. The last director in the list should be preceded by an ampersand (&).
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(Year): This is the year the film was released.
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Title of movie: Italicize the full title of the movie. Use title case, capitalizing the first letter of each major word.
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[Film]: Include “[Film]” in square brackets to indicate the type of work being cited.
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Production Company: This refers to the production company(s) primarily responsible for producing the film. If multiple production companies are listed, separate them with semicolons.
Example Citation:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Film]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures.
Citing a Movie in Text (In-Text Citation)
In-text citations are crucial for acknowledging sources within the body of your paper. For a movie, the in-text citation includes the director’s last name and the year of release.
- Narrative In-Text Citation: Spielberg (1993) revolutionized special effects with Jurassic Park.
- Parenthetical In-Text Citation: Special effects were revolutionized in Jurassic Park (Spielberg, 1993).
If you are directly quoting dialogue from the movie, you should include a timestamp indicating the point in the film where the dialogue occurs. For example: (Spielberg, 1993, 0:45:12).
Citing a Streaming Service Version
If you watched the movie on a streaming service, the production company remains the same in the reference list entry. The important aspect is that the location of where you watched the movie does not change the reference list entry. The production companies listed in the reference list entry relate to who created the work, not where you accessed it.
Example with Streaming Service
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Film]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures.
In-text citations remain the same: (Spielberg, 1993).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 12 FAQs designed to address common questions and challenges when citing movies in APA 7th edition:
1. What if a movie has multiple directors?
If a movie has multiple directors, list all of them in the reference entry in the order they are credited on the film. Separate each director’s name with a comma, and use an ampersand (&) before the last director’s name. For example: Nolan, C., & Nolan, J. (Directors).
2. What if the director is unknown?
In rare cases where the director is genuinely unknown, you can use the production company as the “author” in your citation. However, strive to find the director’s name; it is usually available through reliable sources like IMDb or the film’s official website. If using the production company, the format would be: Universal Pictures. (1993). Jurassic Park [Film]. Universal Pictures; Amblin Entertainment.
3. How do I cite a movie scene or specific moment in the film?
While the standard citation covers the entire movie, if you need to reference a specific scene or moment, you can include a timestamp in your in-text citation. For example: (Spielberg, 1993, 1:22:30) refers to the scene approximately 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 30 seconds into the film.
4. How do I cite a movie soundtrack?
Citing a soundtrack follows a similar format, but the “author” would be the composer or the artist who performed the song. If citing the entire soundtrack album, credit the composer or the collective of artists. If citing a specific song from the soundtrack, credit the performing artist of that song. Include “[Album]” or “[Song]” in brackets after the title, as appropriate.
5. What if the movie is based on a book?
You would cite the movie using the film citation format described above. If you are discussing the relationship between the movie and the book it’s based on, you might also cite the book separately, following APA guidelines for citing books.
6. How do I cite a documentary film?
The format for citing a documentary film is identical to that of a fictional film. Use the director(s) as the author(s), the year of release, the title of the documentary (italicized), “[Film]” in brackets, and the production company.
7. What if the production company is unknown or difficult to find?
Try to locate the production company information from reliable sources such as IMDb, the film’s official website, or the film’s credits. If, after diligent searching, the production company remains unknown, you can omit this element from the citation.
8. How does the APA citation change if I am citing a foreign film?
The core citation structure remains the same. If the film has an English title, use that. If you are using the original foreign title, keep it in the original language and alphabet (if possible; otherwise, transliterate it). If you provide a translation, include it in square brackets after the original title.
9. Should I include the format (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray) in the citation?
No, APA 7th edition does not require you to specify the format you used to watch the movie (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, streaming). The focus is on the original production details.
10. How do I cite a movie review?
Citing a movie review follows a different format than citing the movie itself. You would cite the review as you would cite any other article, with the reviewer as the author, the year of publication, the title of the review, and the source (e.g., journal, website) where the review appeared.
11. What if the movie has both a director and a producer? Which do I cite?
In APA style, the director is the primary author for citation purposes. While the producer plays a crucial role, the director is considered the driving creative force behind the film.
12. Does capitalization matter in the movie title?
Yes, capitalization is important. Use title case for the movie title, capitalizing the first letter of each major word. Minor words such as articles (a, an, the), prepositions (of, in, to), and conjunctions (and, but, or) are typically not capitalized unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle. For example, The Lord of the Rings.
By adhering to these guidelines and understanding the nuances of APA 7th edition citation, you can accurately and effectively cite movies in your academic work, ensuring proper attribution and upholding the standards of scholarly integrity. Remember to always double-check your citations and consult the official APA Style manual for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information.