Citing a movie correctly ensures you give credit to the creators and allows your audience to locate the source material you used in your research. The Purdue OWL offers detailed guidelines for various citation styles, and this article provides a comprehensive guide specifically for citing movies according to MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, referencing the Purdue OWL’s recommendations throughout.
Understanding Citation Styles for Film
Different academic disciplines and publications require different citation styles. The three most common are MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago (Turabian). Each style has its specific rules for formatting citations, including the information required and the order in which it’s presented. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate and consistent citation. This guide leans heavily on the Purdue OWL as the definitive resource for these citation formats.
Citing a Movie in MLA Style
MLA style focuses on authorship and provides a straightforward method for citing films. The MLA citation typically includes the film’s title, director, performers, production company, and year of release.
Basic MLA Format for Movies
The basic MLA format for citing a movie is as follows:
- Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Actor 1, Actor 2, Production Company, Year of Release.
Example:
- Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz, performances by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Warner Bros., 1942.
Key Elements and Variations
- Title: The title of the movie should be italicized. Capitalize the first letter of each main word.
- Director: Include the director’s name as “Directed by Director’s Name.”
- Performers: List the most important actors and actresses. You can choose actors whose performances were central to your analysis. If the film has a large ensemble cast, you might choose to list only a few key performers.
- Production Company: Include the name of the production company or distributor.
- Year of Release: This is the year the movie was originally released.
Citing Specific Scenes or Elements
If you are referencing a specific scene or element of the movie, you can specify this in your citation. For example:
- The Godfather. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Paramount Pictures, 1972. Scene featuring the horse head.
Citing a Movie in APA Style
APA style, commonly used in social sciences, emphasizes the date of publication and the role of the director. The APA citation highlights the director as the primary author, acknowledging their artistic vision and control over the film.
Basic APA Format for Movies
The basic APA format for citing a movie is as follows:
- Director, D. (Director). (Year). Title of movie. [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Example:
- Curtiz, M. (Director). (1942). Casablanca. [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
Key Elements and Variations
- Director: List the director’s last name followed by their initials and the designation “(Director).”
- Year: The year of release is enclosed in parentheses after the director’s name.
- Title: The title of the movie should be italicized. Only the first word of the title and subtitle should be capitalized, as well as any proper nouns.
- Motion Picture: Include “[Motion picture]” in brackets to indicate the type of work.
- Production Company: Include the name of the production company.
In-Text Citations in APA
In-text citations in APA include the director’s last name and the year of release. For example: (Curtiz, 1942).
Citing a Movie in Chicago Style
Chicago style offers two options: notes and bibliography (used primarily in humanities) and author-date (similar to APA). This section will focus on the notes and bibliography style, which is more common when citing films in humanities disciplines.
Basic Chicago Format for Movies
The basic Chicago format for citing a movie in the bibliography is as follows:
- Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name. Production Company, Year of Release.
Example:
- Citizen Kane. Directed by Orson Welles. RKO Radio Pictures, 1941.
Key Elements and Variations
- Title: The title of the movie should be italicized. Capitalize the first letter of each main word.
- Director: Include the director’s name as “Directed by Director’s Name.”
- Production Company: Include the name of the production company.
- Year of Release: This is the year the movie was originally released.
Notes in Chicago Style
When citing a movie in a footnote or endnote, the format is similar to the bibliography entry, but with commas separating the elements instead of periods.
Example:
- Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles (RKO Radio Pictures, 1941).
Common Challenges and Best Practices
Citing movies can present some challenges. Sometimes, determining the exact role of individuals involved or finding complete production information can be difficult. Using resources like the Purdue OWL and reliable film databases (such as IMDb) can help overcome these hurdles.
Always strive for accuracy and consistency in your citations, regardless of the style you are using. Proofread your citations carefully to avoid errors, and consult the Purdue OWL or other style guides when in doubt. This will ensure the credibility of your work and give proper credit to the filmmakers and artists involved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 12 FAQs to address common questions and concerns about citing movies, with reference to the Purdue OWL’s principles:
Q1: What if a movie has multiple directors? How should I cite it in MLA style?
A: In MLA style, if a movie has multiple directors, list them all, separated by commas. For example: The Matrix. Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, Warner Bros., 1999. The Purdue OWL emphasizes inclusivity when multiple individuals share creative responsibility.
Q2: How do I cite a movie that I watched on a streaming service like Netflix in APA style?
A: In APA style, include the streaming service as the source. For example: Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park. [Motion picture]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures. (Available on Netflix).
Q3: When citing in Chicago style, should I include the running time of the movie?
A: Chicago style doesn’t typically require the running time in the bibliographic entry. However, it can be helpful to include it in a note if it’s relevant to your discussion. Follow the general guidelines presented on Purdue OWL for presenting similar optional details.
Q4: What if I want to cite a specific actor’s performance in a movie in MLA style?
A: In MLA style, you can emphasize the actor’s performance by placing their name at the beginning of the citation. For example: Depp, Johnny, performer. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Directed by Gore Verbinski, Walt Disney Pictures, 2003.
Q5: How do I cite a movie that is based on a book in APA style?
A: APA style primarily focuses on the movie itself. You wouldn’t typically cite the book in the movie citation. If you’re also referencing the book, cite it separately. The Purdue OWL provides guidelines for citing books and adaptations separately.
Q6: What if the production company is unknown when citing in Chicago style?
A: If the production company is unknown, you can omit this element from the citation. Just be sure to verify that it is truly unknown and not simply difficult to find. As always, refer back to the Purdue OWL as needed for guidelines on unknown variables.
Q7: How should I handle foreign language titles in MLA style?
A: In MLA style, italicize the original foreign language title and include an English translation in brackets after the title. For example: Amélie [Amélie]. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, UGC, 2001.
Q8: How do I cite a movie trailer in APA style?
A: Cite a movie trailer similarly to a movie, but indicate that it’s a trailer in brackets. For example: Nolan, C. (Director). (2010). Inception (Trailer). [Motion picture trailer]. Warner Bros.
Q9: In Chicago style, if I’m citing a movie multiple times, can I use “Ibid.”?
A: Yes, in Chicago style, you can use “Ibid.” in footnotes if you are citing the same movie consecutively. Consult the Purdue OWL for specific formatting rules relating to “Ibid.”
Q10: What if a movie has been re-released or remastered? Which year should I use in MLA style?
A: In MLA style, use the original release year, but you can also include information about the re-release or remastered version if relevant to your analysis. The emphasis is on the original creation, as defined by Purdue OWL in the overarching definition of citations.
Q11: How do I cite a documentary film in APA style?
A: Cite a documentary film similarly to a regular movie in APA style, indicating that it’s a documentary in brackets. For example: Burns, K. (Director). (1990). The Civil War. [Motion picture]. Florentine Films; WETA.
Q12: Does Purdue OWL offer examples of citing online sources related to a film, such as interviews or reviews?
A: Yes, Purdue OWL provides comprehensive guidelines for citing various online sources, including interviews and reviews. Simply adapt those general guidelines to the specifics of the film context, making sure to provide all relevant details, such as author, title, publication date, and URL.