The Turabian style, a widely used manual of style for college students, especially in the humanities, provides specific guidelines for citing various sources, including movies. To cite a movie in Turabian, you’ll typically need to provide the movie title, director, distributor, and year of release; however, the exact format can vary slightly depending on whether you’re creating a footnote/endnote or a bibliography entry. This article, meticulously crafted and based on the latest edition of Turabian, will guide you through the intricacies of properly citing films, ensuring academic integrity and giving due credit to the creators of cinematic works.
Understanding the Nuances of Turabian Citation Styles
Turabian style offers two primary citation methods: notes-bibliography style and author-date style. For movies, the notes-bibliography style is generally preferred, especially when discussing aspects like directorial vision or specific scenes. Author-date style is more common in scientific disciplines and may be less suitable for in-depth cinematic analysis.
Footnote/Endnote Citations
Footnotes and endnotes are used to provide direct references to the source material within the body of your paper. Each time you mention or quote the movie, you’ll include a superscript number at the end of the sentence or clause. This number corresponds to a note, either at the bottom of the page (footnote) or at the end of the chapter or paper (endnote), that provides the full citation information.
A typical footnote/endnote citation for a movie in Turabian would look like this:
- Movie Title, directed by Director’s Name (Distributor, Year of Release).
Example:
- Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz (Warner Bros., 1942).
Bibliography Entry
The bibliography appears at the end of your paper and lists all the sources you cited. Unlike footnotes/endnotes, bibliography entries provide more complete information and are formatted differently. The order of the elements is reversed.
A bibliography entry for a movie in Turabian would look like this:
Movie Title. Directed by Director’s Name. Distributor, Year of Release.
Example:
Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Warner Bros., 1942.
Key Elements of a Movie Citation
To accurately cite a movie in Turabian, ensure you have the following information:
- Movie Title: The full and accurate title of the movie.
- Director’s Name: The name of the director of the movie.
- Distributor: The company that distributed the movie (e.g., Warner Bros., Universal Pictures).
- Year of Release: The year the movie was originally released.
Variations and Additional Information
Sometimes, you may need to include additional information in your citation, such as:
- Country of Origin: If relevant to your analysis or if the movie’s origin is not immediately apparent.
- Specific Scenes or Time Stamps: When discussing particular scenes or moments in the movie. This is often included within the footnote/endnote.
- Format: If you accessed the movie through a specific medium, like streaming or DVD.
Example (with country of origin):
Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette). Directed by Vittorio De Sica. Italy, 1948.
Example (with specific scene and footnote):
… the infamous airport scene highlights the tragic consequences of love and war.1
- Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz (Warner Bros., 1942), 01:42:00.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are twelve frequently asked questions about citing movies in Turabian style:
FAQ 1: What if the movie has multiple directors?
Include all the directors’ names, separated by “and.” For example: Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie available on a streaming service like Netflix?
Add the streaming service name and access date to your citation. For example: Movie Title. Directed by Director’s Name. Distributor, Year of Release. Netflix, accessed October 26, 2023.
FAQ 3: How do I cite a specific scene in a movie?
In your footnote/endnote, add the specific timestamp of the scene after the year of release. For example: (Distributor, Year of Release), [Timestamp].
FAQ 4: What if the movie is foreign and I’m using an English-dubbed version?
Cite the original title and add a note indicating the version you watched. For example: Original Title. Directed by Director’s Name. Distributor, Year of Release. English-dubbed version.
FAQ 5: What if the movie is based on a book? Do I need to cite the book as well?
Yes, if you discuss both the movie and the book, cite both. In your analysis, clearly distinguish between references to the movie and references to the book.
FAQ 6: How do I cite a director’s cut of a movie?
Indicate that it is the director’s cut in your citation. For example: Movie Title. Directed by Director’s Name. Director’s Cut. Distributor, Year of Release.
FAQ 7: What if I’m citing a documentary film?
The citation format is the same as for a fictional film. Ensure you include the director and distributor.
FAQ 8: How do I handle a movie with a very long title?
Use the full title, even if it’s lengthy. Accuracy is paramount in Turabian style.
FAQ 9: Should I include the production company in the citation?
Generally, include the distributor, not the production company. The distributor is the entity that makes the film available to the public.
FAQ 10: What’s the difference between citing a movie in the body of my text vs. in a footnote/endnote?
In the body of your text, you typically only mention the movie title and director (and perhaps the year). The full citation details are reserved for the footnotes/endnotes and the bibliography.
FAQ 11: How do I cite a movie trailer?
Treat it like a short film or video clip. Include the title of the trailer, the website where it’s hosted (e.g., YouTube), and the date you accessed it.
FAQ 12: Is it necessary to italicize the movie title?
Yes, in Turabian style, movie titles are always italicized, both in footnotes/endnotes and in the bibliography.
Putting it All Together: Examples of Complete Citations
To further illustrate the proper format, here are a few more comprehensive examples:
Example 1: A movie on DVD
Footnote:
- Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino (Miramax Films, 1994), DVD.
Bibliography:
Pulp Fiction. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Miramax Films, 1994. DVD.
Example 2: A foreign film on a streaming service
Footnote:
- Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain), directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (France, UGC, 2001), Netflix, accessed October 26, 2023.
Bibliography:
Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain). Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. France, UGC, 2001. Netflix, accessed October 26, 2023.
By following these guidelines and examples, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in Turabian style, ensuring the integrity of your academic work and properly acknowledging the creative contributions of filmmakers. Remember to always consult the latest edition of the Turabian Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information.