The Modern Language Association (MLA) style provides clear guidelines for citing sources, and movies with multiple directors require specific formatting. To cite a film with two or three directors, list them in the order they appear on the film, separated by commas, and use “directed by” before their names. If there are more than three directors, use the first director followed by “et al.”
Understanding MLA Citation Principles
MLA citation aims to provide readers with enough information to locate the original source. When citing a movie, you need to include core elements like the title, directors, release year, and production company. The intricacies arise when dealing with movies that credit multiple directors, necessitating a nuanced approach to accurately represent the source.
Core Elements of an MLA Movie Citation
A basic MLA citation for a movie should include the following:
- Title of the Movie: In italics.
- Directors: Listed as “Directed by” followed by the director(s)’ names.
- Other Contributors (Optional): Actors, writers, composers, etc., introduced using appropriate descriptors like “Performance by,” “Written by,” or “Music by.”
- Production Company: The studio or company responsible for producing the film.
- Year of Release: The year the movie was released.
Citing Movies with Multiple Directors: The Specifics
The key lies in how many directors are credited. MLA addresses this situation distinctly:
Two or Three Directors
When a movie has two or three directors, list them in the order they appear in the film’s credits. Separate each director’s name with a comma, and use the phrase “directed by” before the list of names.
Example:
- Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer.
In the Works Cited entry, invert the name of the first director listed.
Example:
- Wachowski, Lana, Lilly Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer, directors. Cloud Atlas. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2012.
More Than Three Directors
If a movie has more than three directors, list only the first director followed by “et al.” (Latin for “and others”). This abbreviation signals that there are more directors involved.
Example:
- Directed by Robert Rodriguez et al.
In the Works Cited entry, invert the name of the first director listed.
Example:
- Rodriguez, Robert, et al., directors. Sin City. Dimension Films, 2005.
Formatting the Works Cited Entry
The Works Cited entry is a crucial component of MLA citation. It provides complete information about each source you’ve referenced in your work. Here’s the general template for a movie with multiple directors:
Template (2-3 Directors):
Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name, directors. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.
Template (More Than 3 Directors):
Last Name, First Name, et al., directors. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.
Example (2 Directors):
- Coen, Joel, and Ethan Coen, directors. No Country for Old Men. Paramount Vantage, 2007.
Example (More than 3 Directors):
- Lord, Phil, et al., directors. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Columbia Pictures, 2018.
In-Text Citations for Movies with Multiple Directors
In-text citations are brief references within your writing that point back to the full source in the Works Cited list. For movies, the in-text citation typically includes the movie’s title (or a shortened version) and, optionally, a timestamp if you’re referencing a specific scene.
Examples:
- (No Country for Old Men)
- (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 0:15:30)
If you mention the directors’ names in your sentence, you don’t need to include them in the parenthetical citation.
Example:
- As the Coen brothers demonstrate in No Country for Old Men, suspense can be built through minimalist dialogue.
Navigating Special Cases
While the general guidelines are clear, some scenarios require special attention:
Different Versions of a Movie
If you are citing a specific version of a movie (e.g., a director’s cut, a special edition), include that information in your citation.
Example:
- Lucas, George, director. Star Wars: A New Hope: Special Edition. Twentieth Century Fox, 1997.
Streaming Services
If you watched the movie on a streaming service, you can include that information in your citation.
Example:
- Coen, Joel, and Ethan Coen, directors. No Country for Old Men. Paramount Vantage, 2007. Netflix, www.netflix.com.
Online Videos (Clips, Trailers)
If you are citing a short clip or trailer found online, cite the specific video.
Example:
- “The Dark Knight – Official Trailer.” YouTube, uploaded by Warner Bros. Pictures, 18 July 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXeTwQWrcwE.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What if the movie has both directors and producers? How do I cite them?
You can include both directors and producers, but prioritize the directors in the primary citation. You can mention the producers later in the citation using “Produced by.”
Example:
- Directed by Christopher Nolan; produced by Emma Thomas.
FAQ 2: Should I include the country of origin in the citation?
No, including the country of origin is not typically required in MLA. The production company and year of release are sufficient.
FAQ 3: What if the film is a documentary? Does that change the citation?
The citation format remains the same for documentaries. Focus on the director(s), title, production company, and year of release.
FAQ 4: How do I cite a movie I only watched a portion of?
You should still cite the entire movie. If you are referencing a specific scene or moment, include a timestamp in your in-text citation.
FAQ 5: What if the director is also the writer?
You can include both roles in the citation. List the director(s) first, then add “written by” followed by the writer’s name(s).
Example:
- Directed and written by Quentin Tarantino.
FAQ 6: Is the production company always necessary in the citation?
Yes, the production company is a core element and should always be included if you have that information.
FAQ 7: How precise does the timestamp in the in-text citation need to be?
The timestamp should be as precise as possible to help the reader locate the specific scene you are referencing. Include minutes and seconds.
FAQ 8: Can I use a shortened title in the in-text citation?
Yes, you can use a shortened title, especially if the full title is long. Make sure the shortened title is easily recognizable.
Example:
- (No Country) instead of (No Country for Old Men)
FAQ 9: What if the movie is based on a book? How do I indicate that?
You can add “Based on” followed by the author and title of the book after the director(s) information.
Example:
- Directed by Stanley Kubrick; based on The Shining by Stephen King.
FAQ 10: What if I accessed the movie on a DVD or Blu-ray?
The citation format is the same as for other formats. Simply include the production company and year of release. You don’t need to specify the DVD or Blu-ray format.
FAQ 11: Are there any differences in citation style between the 8th and 9th editions of MLA?
The 9th edition of MLA places more emphasis on the core elements and encourages providing as much information as possible without rigidly adhering to a fixed template. The underlying principles for citing movies with multiple directors remain consistent. The 9th edition also officially recommends including URLs for online sources.
FAQ 12: Where can I find more information and examples of MLA citation?
The official MLA Handbook is the most comprehensive resource. Many university writing centers and online citation generators (though they should be used with caution and verified) can also provide helpful examples. Purdue OWL is an excellent, reliable online resource.