Citing movies correctly in APA 7th edition is crucial for academic integrity and providing your readers with the means to locate the source material you used. This guide offers comprehensive instructions, clear examples, and answers to frequently asked questions to help you master APA 7th edition movie citations.
Understanding the Core Elements of an APA 7th Edition Movie Citation
The foundational principle of APA 7th edition citation is to provide enough information for the reader to easily locate the cited source. For movies, this involves carefully constructing a reference entry that includes the key players involved in the film’s creation. The core elements of an APA 7th edition movie citation are:
- Director(s): Listed as Director, A. A. (Director). Note the use of “Director” in parentheses. If there are multiple directors, separate them with commas and add “and” before the final director’s name.
- Year: The year the movie was released.
- Title: The full title of the movie, italicized.
- [Motion picture]: Included in brackets immediately after the title to clarify the source type.
- Production Company(ies): The name(s) of the production company or companies.
The general format is:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures.
In-Text Citations for Movies
In addition to the full reference entry, you must also provide in-text citations whenever you mention or refer to the movie within your paper. APA 7th edition utilizes the author-date system for in-text citations.
The general format for in-text citations is: (Director’s Last Name, Year).
Example:
(Spielberg, 1993).
If you mention the director’s name in the sentence, you can simply include the year in parentheses:
Spielberg (1993) masterfully blends science fiction and adventure in Jurassic Park.
Citing Specific Scenes or Dialogue
Sometimes, you may need to cite a specific scene or dialogue from a movie. While APA doesn’t have a specific format for this, the most accepted practice involves including a timestamp or a scene description in your in-text citation.
Example:
The iconic “Hold onto your butts” line exemplifies Goldblum’s chaotician character (Spielberg, 1993, 1:32:45).
Alternatively:
The raptor kitchen scene is a masterclass in suspense (Spielberg, 1993).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Citing Movies in APA 7th Edition
FAQ 1: What if there are multiple directors?
Include all directors in the reference list entry, separated by commas, with “and” preceding the last director. In the in-text citation, use the name of the first director listed, followed by “et al.” if there are more than two directors. For example, if a movie has three directors: Director A, Director B, and Director C. The reference entry would be “Director, A., Director, B., & Director, C. (Directors).”. The in-text citation would then be: (Director A et al., Year).
FAQ 2: What if the director is unknown?
While rare, if the director is truly unknown, use the title of the movie in the author position. Follow the title with the year and the remaining elements as usual. In-text citations would then use an abbreviated version of the title. For example, (Movie Title, Year).
FAQ 3: How do I cite a movie I watched on a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video?
Include the streaming service in the source element after the production companies, separated by a semicolon.
Example: Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures; Netflix.
FAQ 4: How do I cite a movie commentary track?
Cite the commentator(s) as the author. Include the year the commentary was recorded or released. In the description, mention that it is a commentary track and specify the original movie it’s associated with.
Example: Smith, J. (Commentator). (2005). Commentary on The Matrix [Audio commentary]. Warner Bros.
FAQ 5: What if the movie is based on a book?
Cite the movie as a movie, not as a book adaptation. Focus on the director and production companies, not the original author of the book. If you are specifically discussing the adaptation process, consider citing both the movie and the book.
FAQ 6: Should I include the actors in the citation?
No. While actors are essential to the movie, APA style prioritizes the director as the primary creative force behind the film. Actors are generally not included in the reference entry.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a foreign film with a different language title?
Provide the original title followed by the English translation in square brackets.
Example: Fellini, F. (Director). (1963). 8½ [Eight and a Half] [Motion picture]. Cineriz.
FAQ 8: What if the production company is also the distributor?
If the production company is also the distributor, list it only once.
Example: Scott, R. (Director). (1979). Alien [Motion picture]. 20th Century Fox.
FAQ 9: How specific should I be with the timestamp in an in-text citation for a specific scene?
The timestamp should be as precise as necessary to help the reader locate the specific scene. If the scene is clearly identifiable without a very precise timestamp, a broader range may suffice. Accuracy is key.
FAQ 10: What if the movie is a documentary?
The citation format remains the same as for a fictional film. Identify the director(s) and production company(ies), and include “[Motion picture]” in brackets after the title.
FAQ 11: What if I am citing a trailer for a movie?
Cite the trailer as a video. Include the director, year, title of the movie followed by “Trailer” in brackets, the production company(ies), and the platform where you viewed the trailer (e.g., YouTube).
FAQ 12: How do I cite a movie in my paper that I have never watched?
Avoid citing sources you haven’t personally reviewed. Relying on secondary sources without direct engagement can lead to misinterpretations and weakened arguments. If you absolutely must reference a movie you haven’t seen, acknowledge that your information comes from another source. This is, however, highly discouraged in academic writing.
By following these guidelines and FAQs, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in your APA 7th edition papers, ensuring proper attribution and academic integrity. Remember that consistency and attention to detail are crucial for maintaining a professional and credible academic reputation.