Mentioning a movie in APA style requires a specific format that includes the director(s), year of release, title, and source of access. This ensures proper attribution and allows readers to locate the film, upholding academic integrity.
Understanding the APA Film Citation
The American Psychological Association (APA) style provides specific guidelines for citing various sources, including films. A proper citation allows your readers to locate the specific movie you are referencing and provides credit to the creators. Knowing how to correctly cite a film in APA is crucial for academic and professional writing. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to creating accurate and effective APA film citations, covering both the reference list entry and the in-text citation.
Building the Reference List Entry
The reference list entry is a detailed description of the film, placed at the end of your paper. It includes crucial information for locating the source. Here’s the standard format:
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of the movie [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Let’s break down each element:
- Director, A. A. (Director): This is the director’s name, formatted as Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Director). If there are multiple directors, list them in the order they appear in the film credits, separated by commas. If there are more than 20 directors, list the first 19, then add an ellipsis (…), and then list the last director.
- (Year): This is the year the movie was released, not the year you watched it.
- Title of the movie: The title should be italicized and use sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized).
- [Motion picture]: This bracketed description clarifies the type of source.
- Production Company: This is the name of the primary production company. Usually, this is listed at the beginning or end of the film. If multiple production companies are listed, include the one most prominently displayed or the one that seems most directly involved in the production.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures.
Citing Specific Portions of a Movie
Sometimes, you might need to reference a specific scene or character. While you still cite the entire film in the reference list, you can be more specific in your in-text citation.
- Character: (Actor’s Last Name, Year).
- Scene: (Director’s Last Name, Year, timestamp). Example: (Spielberg, 1993, 0:25:15).
Creating In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper that point readers to the full entry in the reference list. For films, the in-text citation usually includes the director’s last name and the year of release.
Example:
(Spielberg, 1993)
If you are directly quoting from a movie script (which is less common), include the page number or timestamp if available.
Variations for Multiple Directors
If a film has two directors, include both their last names, separated by an ampersand (&).
Example:
(Coen & Coen, 1996)
If a film has three or more directors, use the first director’s last name followed by “et al.”
Example:
(Wright et al., 2004)
FAQs: Deep Dive into APA Film Citations
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of citing movies in APA style:
H3: What if the director is unknown?
If the director is genuinely unknown (rare for commercially released films), use the production company as the “author.”
Example Reference List:
Universal Pictures. (1975). Jaws [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures.
Example In-Text Citation:
(Universal Pictures, 1975)
H3: How do I cite a movie accessed online (e.g., streaming service)?
If you accessed the movie through a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, include the streaming service at the end of the reference list entry. If the specific URL for the movie is available, include it. If not, simply mention the streaming service.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures. Netflix.
H3: What if the movie is a documentary?
The citation format remains the same. Just ensure you correctly identify the director(s) and production company. The “[Motion picture]” designation still applies.
Example:
Moore, M. (Director). (2004). Fahrenheit 9/11 [Motion picture]. Dog Eat Dog Films.
H3: How do I handle foreign films with different title translations?
Use the title of the version you watched. You can provide the original title in brackets after the title in the reference list if you think it’s necessary for clarity.
Example:
Kurosawa, A. (Director). (1954). Seven Samurai [Motion picture] (Shichinin no Samurai). Toho Company.
H3: Do I need to include the actors in the reference?
No, actors are generally not included in the main reference list entry unless your analysis specifically focuses on an actor’s performance. If that’s the case, you can mention the actor’s performance in the body of your text and use the in-text citation example provided earlier (Actor’s Last Name, Year).
H3: What if I’m citing a commentary track?
Cite the film as usual in the reference list. In your in-text citation, specify that you’re referring to the commentary.
Example:
In the Jurassic Park commentary, Spielberg (1993) explains…
H3: What about citing deleted scenes or special features?
Cite the entire film in the reference list. When discussing specific deleted scenes or features in your paper, provide enough context so readers can easily locate the scene or feature. You can use timestamps or descriptive details.
H3: How do I cite a movie script that I found online?
If you’re citing a movie script found online, treat it as a webpage. Include the author (often the screenwriter(s)), the date (if available), the title of the script, and the URL.
Example Reference List:
Kaufman, C. (2004). Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind screenplay. Retrieved from [URL]
H3: How do I cite a movie trailer?
Treat the trailer as a video. Include the source (e.g., YouTube) and the URL.
Example Reference List:
Universal Pictures. (2015, November 26). Jurassic World – Official Trailer (HD) [Video]. YouTube. [URL]
H3: What if the movie has no identifiable production company?
This is rare, but if you cannot find the production company information, omit that part of the citation.
H3: Is it acceptable to use the director’s full name instead of initials?
While initials are preferred in APA, using the full first name is generally acceptable, especially if it helps avoid ambiguity with other directors with the same last name and initial. Just be consistent throughout your paper.
H3: Where can I find more examples of APA citations?
The official Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition) is the most comprehensive resource. Many reputable online resources also provide helpful examples and guidance, such as the APA Style website and the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab). Always prioritize information from official APA sources.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of citing movies in APA style ensures academic integrity and professionalism. By following these guidelines and understanding the nuances of different citation scenarios, you can confidently and accurately reference films in your research and writing. Remember to consult the official APA manual for the most up-to-date information.