Referencing movies in APA (American Psychological Association) style requires careful attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in your citations. The fundamental principle is to provide enough information for your reader to locate the film easily, encompassing the director’s name, year of release, title, and production company(ies).
Understanding the Core APA Movie Reference Format
The APA format for citing a movie in your reference list adheres to a specific structure:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Let’s break down each element:
- Director, A. A.: Start with the director’s last name, followed by a comma, then their initials. This highlights their creative control over the film. While traditionally only the primary director is listed, you can include additional directors if the film had multiple directors with significant contributions.
- (Director): This parenthetical addition specifies the role of the individual named. Including “(Director)” adds clarity for the reader.
- (Year): This represents the year the movie was released, not necessarily the year it was filmed or distributed on different platforms.
- Title of motion picture: The full title of the movie is italicized. Use title case, capitalizing the first word of the title, subtitle, and any proper nouns.
- [Motion picture]: This bracketed descriptor clarifies the format of the source being cited. This is especially important when dealing with sources available in multiple formats.
- Production Company: The name of the primary production company responsible for the film. If there are multiple companies, separate them with commas. Aim for the company most prominently displayed in the film’s opening or closing credits.
Example APA Movie Reference:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures.
In-Text Citations for Movies in APA
In addition to the reference list entry, you’ll need to include in-text citations whenever you refer to the movie in your paper. In-text citations are concise references within the body of your work.
Parenthetical In-Text Citation:
When referencing the movie in parentheses, use the following format:
(Director’s Last Name, Year)
For example: (Spielberg, 1993).
Narrative In-Text Citation:
When incorporating the director’s name into your sentence, use the following format:
Spielberg (1993) directed Jurassic Park.
Common Challenges and Considerations
Referencing movies in APA can present unique challenges. Here are some crucial points to consider:
- Multiple Directors: If a film has multiple directors with equally significant contributions, list them all in the reference, separated by commas, e.g., Director A. A., & Director B. B.
- Streaming Services: While the core information remains the same, include the streaming service if that’s where you viewed the film and it’s exclusive to that platform.
- Re-releases and Remakes: Be sure to use the year of the specific version you are referencing, not the original release year if you’re discussing a remake.
- Language: If the movie is in a language other than English, provide the original title followed by an English translation in brackets.
- Availability: If a movie is difficult to find or access, consider adding more detail (e.g., specific DVD edition) to help your reader locate it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Citing Movies in APA
Here are twelve frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of citing movies in APA style:
FAQ 1: How do I cite a movie I watched on Netflix or another streaming service?
If the movie is exclusively available on that streaming service, include the platform in the reference after the title and format information:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Streaming Service.
Example: Scorsese, M. (Director). (2019). The Irishman [Motion picture]. Netflix.
FAQ 2: What if the movie has multiple production companies?
List the production companies separated by semicolons, typically in the order they appear in the film’s credits. Focus on the most prominent companies involved in the production.
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Production Company 1; Production Company 2.
FAQ 3: Do I need to include the actors in the reference?
No, generally, actors are not included in the standard APA movie reference. The focus is on the director and production company. If you are specifically discussing an actor’s performance, you could mention them in your narrative but not in the formal citation.
FAQ 4: How do I cite a specific scene or quote from a movie?
APA style doesn’t have a precise method for citing a specific scene in a movie. The best approach is to provide enough context in your writing so readers can understand the source of the information. You can mention the scene’s context within your narrative. Precise timestamps are generally not required.
FAQ 5: What if the director is unknown or uncredited?
If the director is truly unknown, use “Anonymous” in place of the director’s name. However, make every effort to identify the director before resorting to this.
Anonymous. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Production Company.
FAQ 6: Can I use the movie’s website as a reference?
You can, but typically only if the website contains information that is not available elsewhere and is crucial to your argument. Reference it like a website, focusing on the author (if any), date, title, and URL. However, the movie itself should still be cited as the primary source.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a movie review?
Cite a movie review using the standard APA journal article or website format, depending on where the review was published. Focus on the author of the review, the publication title, and the date of publication.
FAQ 8: Is it okay to use a YouTube clip of a movie?
Yes, but only if the clip is essential to your argument and not readily available through official channels. Cite it as a video from YouTube, focusing on the uploader, date uploaded, title of the clip, and URL. Remember to analyze the clip critically and acknowledge its context within the larger film.
FAQ 9: What if the movie’s title is different in different countries?
Use the original title of the movie, followed by the translated title in brackets if necessary for your audience’s understanding.
FAQ 10: Do I need to include the running time of the movie in the reference?
No, the running time is not a required element in an APA movie reference.
FAQ 11: How do I cite a documentary film?
Cite a documentary film exactly the same way you would cite any other movie. The format remains consistent: Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Production Company.
FAQ 12: What if the movie is a short film? Does that change the citation format?
No, the citation format remains the same regardless of the length of the film. Use the standard APA movie reference format.