Citing movies correctly in MLA (Modern Language Association) format is crucial for academic integrity and showcasing the sources that informed your research. The core principle revolves around providing sufficient information for your reader to locate the film independently. This involves including the film’s title, director, key contributors, production company, and year of release. Adhering to these guidelines establishes credibility and prevents accusations of plagiarism.
The Foundation: Understanding MLA Citation Principles for Films
MLA citation prioritizes clarity and consistency. For a film, the citation should effectively guide your reader to the specific source. The standard format generally follows this structure:
Director, Director’s Last Name, director’s first name. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.
However, this format is only the starting point. Variations arise depending on what aspect of the film you’re emphasizing in your analysis, or which contributor you are highlighting. Understanding these nuances allows for a more precise and impactful citation.
Building Your Citation: Key Elements Explained
Let’s break down each component of a standard MLA movie citation:
- Director: Begin with the director’s last name, followed by a comma, and then the director’s first name. This is the primary entry point for the citation if you are focusing on the overall directorial vision. If you’re focusing on someone else (like an actor or writer), start with that person.
- Title of Movie: The title is presented in italics. Ensure you capitalize all principal words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and some conjunctions and prepositions).
- Production Company: This identifies the entity responsible for producing the film. If multiple companies are involved, choose the one listed first in the film’s credits or on reliable databases like IMDb.
- Year of Release: This indicates the year the movie was initially released. It is placed after the production company, followed by a period.
Variations on the Theme: Citing Specific Contributions
Sometimes, your argument hinges on the work of a specific actor, writer, or other contributor. In these instances, your citation should prioritize their contribution. For example, to cite a film based on an actor’s performance:
Actor’s Last Name, Actor’s First Name, performer. Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release.
This variation ensures proper credit and clarifies the focus of your citation. The term “performer” is used after the actor’s name. If you’re citing a screenplay, use “writer,” and so on.
Locating the Necessary Information
Gathering the correct information for your citation is paramount. The best sources include:
- The Film’s Opening and Closing Credits: These provide a comprehensive list of key contributors, production companies, and the release year.
- IMDb (Internet Movie Database): A reliable online database for film information. Double-check the information against other sources.
- Official Movie Websites: Often contain accurate information about the production and key personnel.
Always verify your information using multiple sources to ensure accuracy.
Examples in Practice
Here are some examples of how to cite movies in MLA format:
- Standard Citation (Director Focus): Nolan, Christopher, director. Inception. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010.
- Actor-Focused Citation: DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. The Wolf of Wall Street. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Paramount Pictures, 2013.
- Screenwriter-Focused Citation: Kaufman, Charlie, writer. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Directed by Michel Gondry, Focus Features, 2004.
These examples demonstrate the flexibility of MLA citation and highlight the importance of adapting the format to suit the specific focus of your analysis.
Addressing Challenges: Uncommon Citation Scenarios
Sometimes, you may encounter films with limited information or unique circumstances. Here’s how to address some common challenges:
- Unknown Director: If the director is unknown, begin with the title of the movie.
- Multiple Directors: List all directors, separated by “and,” or use “dirs.” if there are more than two.
- Streaming Services: If you accessed the film on a streaming service, include the platform after the production company and year of release. For example: Nolan, Christopher, director. Inception. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010. Netflix.
- Specific Scene or Segment: Include the time stamp or segment title if you are referencing a particular part of the film.
Mastering MLA: Beyond the Basics
While the guidelines above provide a solid foundation, remember that MLA is a continuously evolving style. Always consult the most recent edition of the MLA Handbook for the most up-to-date guidance and to ensure accuracy in your citations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What if a movie has multiple directors? How should I list them in the citation?
If a movie has two directors, list both their names separated by “and” (e.g., “Coen, Joel, and Ethan Coen, dirs.”). If there are more than two, you can use the abbreviation “dirs.” after the first listed director (e.g., “Scott, Ridley, et al., dirs.”).
FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie I watched on a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu?
Include the name of the streaming service after the production company and year of release. For example: “Fincher, David, director. The Social Network. Columbia Pictures, 2010. Netflix.”
FAQ 3: What if I don’t know the director of a movie?
If the director is unknown, begin the citation with the title of the movie. Alphabetize the entry in your Works Cited list by the first significant word in the title.
FAQ 4: What if I want to cite a specific scene or segment from a movie?
Include the timestamp of the scene or a brief description of the segment after the title and before the production details. For example: “Spielberg, Steven, director. Jurassic Park. The T-Rex Attack Scene (1:02:30-1:08:15). Universal Pictures, 1993.”
FAQ 5: Where can I find the production company information?
The production company is typically listed in the film’s opening or closing credits. You can also find this information on reliable online databases like IMDb or the official movie website.
FAQ 6: How do I handle foreign films with titles translated into English?
Cite the film using the translated English title, but you can also include the original title in parentheses after the English title for clarification. For example: “Antonioni, Michelangelo, director. Blow-Up (Blowup). Premier Productions, 1966.”
FAQ 7: What if I’m focusing on the music in a film? How would that citation differ?
If you’re focusing on the musical score, begin the citation with the composer’s name, followed by “composer.” Then, include the title of the film, the director, production company, and year of release. For example: “Zimmer, Hans, composer. Inception. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010.”
FAQ 8: Is it acceptable to use IMDb as my sole source for citation information?
While IMDb is a helpful resource, it’s always best to verify the information with other sources, such as the film’s credits or the official movie website. IMDb can sometimes contain errors.
FAQ 9: How do I cite a movie review in MLA format?
Follow the standard MLA format for citing articles, beginning with the reviewer’s name, the title of the review (in quotation marks), the title of the publication (in italics), the date of publication, and the URL (if accessed online). In your paper, you’re citing the review, not the movie itself.
FAQ 10: Do I need to include the running time of the movie in the citation?
No, the running time is not a required element in an MLA movie citation.
FAQ 11: What if the movie is a documentary? Does the citation format change?
The citation format for a documentary is the same as for a fictional film. Include the director, title, production company, and year of release.
FAQ 12: Should I italicize the production company name in the citation?
No, only the title of the movie should be italicized. The production company name is presented in regular font.