Citing a movie in an essay, regardless of the citation style, requires providing enough information for your reader to locate the source, including the title, director, and year of release. The specific format varies depending on the citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago), but the core principle remains consistent: accurate attribution and clear sourcing.
Understanding Citation Styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago
Different academic disciplines and institutions prefer different citation styles. The three most common are MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago. Understanding the nuances of each is crucial for accurate and consistent citation.
MLA Style
MLA is commonly used in humanities disciplines like literature, language studies, and film studies. The basic format for citing a movie in MLA is:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release.
For example:
Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019.
When referencing a specific person or aspect of the film (e.g., the director’s commentary), you may need to adapt the citation. If focusing on a specific performance, for instance:
Song Kang-ho, performer. Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019.
APA Style
APA style is prevalent in social sciences like psychology, education, and sociology. The APA citation for a movie typically includes the director’s name, year of release, and the film’s title.
Director’s Last Name, First Initial. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Film]. Production Company.
For example:
Bong, J. (Director). (2019). Parasite [Film]. CJ Entertainment.
If referencing a specific segment, time stamp can be added to the reference.
Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style offers two distinct methods: notes and bibliography, and author-date. The notes and bibliography style is generally preferred in the humanities, while the author-date style is more common in the sciences.
Notes and Bibliography:
-
Title of Movie, directed by Director’s Name (Production Company, Year of Release).
Example: Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz (Warner Bros., 1942).
Author-Date:
(Director’s Last Name, Year)
Example: (Curtiz, 1942)
Essential Elements of a Movie Citation
Regardless of the chosen style, certain elements are fundamental to a complete and accurate movie citation. These include:
- Title of the movie: Always italicized or underlined (depending on the citation style’s guidelines).
- Director(s): Crucial for attributing the film’s vision.
- Production company: Provides context regarding the film’s origin.
- Year of release: Essential for identifying the specific version of the movie.
- Format/Medium (e.g., Film, DVD, Streaming): Increasingly important, particularly when citing online sources.
Citing Specific Parts of a Movie
Sometimes, you’ll need to cite a specific scene, quote, or element within a movie. This requires additional information to pinpoint the exact location.
Using Time Stamps
When referencing a particular scene or quote, include the timestamp where the segment begins. This is particularly useful when citing streaming services or readily accessible digital versions.
Example (MLA):
Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019, 0:35:10-0:36:00.
This citation indicates that the cited material occurs between 35 minutes, 10 seconds and 36 minutes, 0 seconds into the film.
Citing Screenplays
If your research focuses on the written screenplay rather than the film itself, cite the screenplay as a book. Consult specific style guide rules for books.
FAQs: Citing Movies with Confidence
Here are 12 frequently asked questions about citing movies in essays, providing practical answers and clarifying common uncertainties.
FAQ 1: What if a movie has multiple directors?
List all the directors in the order they are credited in the film. Separate their names with commas and “and” before the last name. Follow the specific style guide for formatting director names (e.g., Last Name, First Initial. or First Name Last Name).
FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie I streamed online (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime)?
Include the name of the streaming service and the URL if required by your chosen citation style.
Example (MLA):
The Grand Budapest Hotel. Directed by Wes Anderson, American Empirical Pictures, 2014. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/70298854.
FAQ 3: What if the director is unknown or uncredited?
If the director is truly unknown, use “Director unknown” in the citation. Avoid speculating about the director’s identity.
FAQ 4: How do I cite a documentary film?
Cite a documentary film similarly to a feature film, paying close attention to the director and the production company. Treat it as a film, unless you are citing specifically transcripts or other associated written documents.
FAQ 5: How do I cite a foreign film?
Cite the film title in its original language, followed by the English translation in brackets if necessary for clarity. Be sure to adhere to the citation style’s requirements for handling foreign language titles.
Example (MLA):
Amour [Love]. Directed by Michael Haneke, Les Films du Losange, 2012.
FAQ 6: Is it necessary to include the actors in the citation?
Including actors is optional, but highly recommended if your analysis focuses on their performance or contribution to the film. If you include them, specify their role (e.g., actor, performer).
FAQ 7: What if the movie is based on a book? Do I need to cite the book as well?
Yes, if you are referencing the book in your analysis, you must cite it separately. You can also mention the book in your citation of the film to show that it is an adaptation.
Example (MLA):
Pride and Prejudice. Based on the novel by Jane Austen. Directed by Joe Wright, Working Title Films, 2005.
FAQ 8: How do I cite a quote from a movie in my essay?
When quoting dialogue, transcribe the exact words spoken in the film. Enclose the quote in quotation marks and include a citation with a timestamp to indicate where the quote occurs in the film.
FAQ 9: Can I use online citation generators?
While citation generators can be helpful, always double-check the generated citation against your chosen style guide. They are prone to errors and should not be relied upon blindly.
FAQ 10: What if a movie has no production company listed?
If the production company is genuinely unknown, you can omit it from the citation. However, make every effort to find the information before resorting to omission. Reputable online databases like IMDb often provide this information.
FAQ 11: How specific should I be with timestamps?
The level of specificity depends on the context of your citation. If you are referencing a brief quote or a specific moment, precise timestamps are crucial. If you are discussing a larger scene, a broader timestamp range is acceptable.
FAQ 12: Where does the citation go in my essay?
In MLA and APA, the full citation appears in your “Works Cited” or “References” list at the end of your essay. In Chicago style, the full citation appears in either the notes or the bibliography, depending on the chosen method. In all styles, a brief in-text citation (e.g., (Bong, 2019) or (Curtiz, 1942)) appears within the essay itself whenever you refer to the film.