Citing movies correctly in APA (American Psychological Association) style is crucial for academic integrity and proper attribution. The core principle is to provide enough information for readers to easily locate the film you referenced, and to do so according to the specific APA guidelines.
Understanding the Basics of APA Movie Citations
The essential components of an APA movie citation include the director (or producer, depending on your focus), year of release, movie title, and production company. Let’s break down how these elements are arranged in both the reference list entry and the in-text citation. The reference list entry provides full details, allowing readers to find the movie, while the in-text citation gives a brief identifier within the body of your paper, linking back to the full entry.
The Reference List Entry: The Foundation
This is where you provide all the necessary information. The format generally follows this structure:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Movie Title [Film]. Production Company.
Let’s unpack each element:
- Director, A. A.: List the director’s last name, followed by a comma and their initials. If you are focusing on the producer, replace “Director” with “Producer.” If a movie has multiple directors, only list the primary director.
- (Director): Place the word “Director” in parentheses after the director’s name. This clarifies the person’s role. Use “(Producer)” if citing the producer instead.
- (Year): Indicate the year the movie was released.
- Movie Title: Italicize the full title of the movie. Use title case, capitalizing the first letter of important words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns). Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), or prepositions (of, at, in, on, to, etc.) unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle.
- [Film]: Indicate that the source is a film by including “[Film]” in square brackets immediately after the movie title.
- Production Company: State the name of the production company that released the movie. If there are multiple companies, list the first one listed on the film itself or on reputable online databases like IMDb.
Example:
Nolan, C. (Director). (2010). Inception [Film]. Warner Bros.
In-Text Citations: Brief Identifiers
The in-text citation is a concise reference within the body of your paper that directs the reader to the full entry in the reference list. The general format is:
(Director’s Last Name, Year)
Example:
(Nolan, 2010)
If you are specifically referencing a scene or element attributable to the director, this format works well. If you are directly quoting dialogue (which is rare when writing about film), or referring to a specific character’s actions, the year is usually sufficient:
Nolan’s (2010) depiction of dreams within dreams creates a complex narrative.
Citing Different Versions or Formats
While the core principles remain consistent, you might need to adapt the citation depending on the version or format you’re using.
Citing a Movie Accessed Through a Streaming Service
When citing a movie you watched on a streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Hulu, include the name of the streaming service after the production company in the reference list entry.
Example:
Scorsese, M. (Director). (2006). The Departed [Film]. Warner Bros.; Amazon Prime Video.
Citing a Director’s Cut or Extended Edition
If you’re citing a director’s cut or extended edition, specify this in square brackets after the movie title.
Example:
Scott, R. (Director). (1982). Blade Runner: The Final Cut [Film]. Warner Bros.
Citing a Movie with Multiple Directors
If a movie has multiple directors, but one is predominantly credited, cite only that director. If no single director stands out, consider citing the producer instead.
FAQs: Addressing Common Citation Concerns
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of citing movies in APA style:
FAQ 1: Do I need to include the writers of the film in the citation?
Generally, APA style prioritizes the director as the key creative figure. If your focus is on the screenplay, you can cite the writer(s) instead of the director, replacing “Director” with “Writer(s)” and listing the writer’s name(s) accordingly. However, for most academic purposes, citing the director is sufficient.
FAQ 2: What if the director is unknown?
If the director is truly unknown, which is rare, you can use the production company as the “author” in your citation.
FAQ 3: How do I cite a foreign film?
Cite the film in the language in which you viewed it. If it’s subtitled, use the English title if available. If not, use the original title and provide a translation in brackets after the title.
Example:
Kurosawa, A. (Director). (1954). Shichinin no Samurai [Seven Samurai] [Film]. Toho Company.
FAQ 4: Is it necessary to include the running time of the movie?
No, including the running time is not required in APA style for movie citations.
FAQ 5: What if I’m citing a specific scene from the movie?
APA style doesn’t typically accommodate citing specific scenes. You can provide context in your writing to indicate the scene you’re referencing, but the citation remains the same as for the whole movie.
FAQ 6: Can I use IMDb as a source to find citation information?
While IMDb can be helpful for finding information about a film, it’s always best to verify the information with another reputable source, such as the movie itself, a film database maintained by a library or archive, or a scholarly article about the film. IMDb is user-generated and can sometimes contain inaccuracies.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a movie review?
Citing a movie review follows the standard APA format for journal articles or online articles. Include the author, year, title of the review, name of the publication, and URL (if applicable).
FAQ 8: Do I italicize the movie title in the in-text citation?
No, you do not italicize the movie title in the in-text citation. Only the movie title in the reference list is italicized.
FAQ 9: What if I watched the movie on DVD?
If you watched the movie on DVD, the citation remains the same as a regular film citation. The medium (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) is not typically included in APA style unless it’s a crucial aspect of your analysis.
FAQ 10: What if the production company is not listed?
If you cannot find the production company, search for the movie on reliable film databases, such as the American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog. If the information truly cannot be found, you can omit that element from the citation.
FAQ 11: How do I cite a documentary film?
The citation for a documentary film follows the same format as a regular film. Indicate the director (or producer) and the production company.
FAQ 12: What if I am citing a specific person interviewed in the documentary?
If the documentary focuses heavily on the perspective of one or more specific individuals, you can potentially frame the citation around them, but consult with your professor regarding whether this is appropriate for your assignment. Otherwise, cite the documentary as a whole.
By following these guidelines and addressing these common questions, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in APA style, ensuring the integrity and credibility of your academic work. Remember to always double-check your citations against the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual for any updates or specific instructions relevant to your field of study.