Citing a movie in MLA style requires meticulous attention to detail, accurately reflecting the film’s creators and contributors. Mastering this skill is essential for academic integrity and showcasing the depth of your research.
Understanding the Fundamentals of MLA Movie Citations
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style provides a standardized format for citing sources in academic writing. When citing a movie, the goal is to provide enough information for your readers to locate the film while acknowledging the key individuals responsible for its creation. The core principle of MLA citations is to identify the primary source, in this case, the film, and the individual or individuals whose work you are directly referencing.
The core format follows this general structure:
Director, Director’s Last Name. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.
However, the specific elements and their arrangement can vary depending on what aspect of the film you’re referencing and how you accessed it (e.g., DVD, streaming service). It’s crucial to understand the various components and how they interact to create a complete and accurate citation.
Building Your Citation: Key Elements Explained
A complete MLA movie citation often includes several elements, although not all are always necessary. Here’s a breakdown of each component:
-
Director: The director is generally considered the primary creative force behind a film. Start with “Directed by” followed by the director’s name in the format: First Name Last Name. If you’re referencing a specific aspect of the movie related to a different role (e.g., performance, screenplay), you would prioritize that role in the citation.
-
Title of Movie: Italicize the full title of the movie. Use title case, capitalizing the first letter of each significant word. If the title includes a subtitle, separate it from the main title with a colon and a space.
-
Production Company: This indicates the studio or company responsible for producing the film. This is an important element, aiding in tracking the specific version of the film referenced.
-
Year of Release: State the year the movie was originally released in theaters.
-
Optional Elements: Depending on your specific needs and the nature of your citation, you might include other elements, such as:
- Performers: List key actors if their performance is the focus of your discussion. Start with “Starring” followed by the actors’ names.
- Writer: Include the screenwriter(s) if the screenplay is the focus. Start with “Written by” followed by the writer(s)’ names.
- Medium: Indicate how you accessed the film (e.g., DVD, Streaming Service Name, Film).
- URL: If you accessed the movie through a streaming service, include the URL.
- Date of Access: When citing a streaming service, include the date you accessed the movie in the format Day Month Year (e.g., 15 Jan. 2024).
Examples of MLA Movie Citations
Here are a few examples illustrating different scenarios:
-
Basic Citation:
Scorsese, Martin. The Departed. Warner Bros., 2006. -
Citation Including Performers:
Scorsese, Martin, director. The Departed. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, Warner Bros., 2006. -
Citation for a Streaming Service:
Scorsese, Martin, director. The Departed. Warner Bros., Netflix, 2006, www.netflix.com/title/70044829. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
Incorporating In-Text Citations
Once you’ve created your Works Cited entry, you need to incorporate in-text citations to link your claims back to the movie. In MLA style, in-text citations typically include the first element of your Works Cited entry (usually the director’s last name) and a relevant page number or time stamp if applicable. Since movies rarely have page numbers, use timestamps to indicate the specific moment in the film you’re referencing, formatting it as hours:minutes:seconds.
In-Text Citation Examples
Here are some examples:
- (Scorsese) – For a general reference to the entire film.
- (Scorsese 00:25:10-00:25:20) – If referencing a specific scene or quote occurring between 25 minutes, 10 seconds and 25 minutes, 20 seconds into the film.
FAQs: Addressing Common Citation Challenges
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions designed to provide further clarification and guidance on citing movies in MLA style:
FAQ 1: What if the movie has multiple directors?
If a movie has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film’s credits, separated by commas, followed by “directors.” For example: “Coen, Joel, and Ethan Coen, directors.”
FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie that I watched on a DVD?
For citing a DVD, include the director, title, production company, year of release, and then specify “DVD” as the medium. For example: “Spielberg, Steven, director. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paramount Pictures, 1981. DVD.”
FAQ 3: What if I am focusing on the screenwriter rather than the director?
If the focus of your analysis is on the screenwriter, begin the citation with “Written by” followed by the screenwriter’s name. For example: “Goldman, William, writer. The Princess Bride. 20th Century Fox, 1987.”
FAQ 4: Do I need to include the country of origin for the film?
Generally, you do not need to include the country of origin unless it is relevant to your analysis or understanding of the film.
FAQ 5: How do I cite a movie that’s part of a series or franchise?
Cite the individual movie title, not the series as a whole. You can mention the series in your analysis if necessary.
FAQ 6: What if the movie’s title starts with “A,” “An,” or “The”?
Retain the article (“A,” “An,” or “The”) as part of the title. Alphabetize the entry in your Works Cited list according to the first significant word of the title, ignoring the article.
FAQ 7: Should I include the distributor in the citation?
You typically only need to include the production company. The distributor is not usually necessary unless it provides essential context.
FAQ 8: How do I cite a movie scene within a longer work, like an anthology?
Cite the movie scene individually. Include the title of the movie scene and the title of the anthology, specifying “In” before the anthology title.
FAQ 9: How do I cite a foreign film with subtitles?
Cite the film as you normally would. You do not need to specifically mention the subtitles unless they are relevant to your analysis.
FAQ 10: What if the director is also the writer?
You can list the director and writer separately if you are focusing on both aspects of their work. For example: “Scorsese, Martin, director and writer. Casino. Universal Pictures, 1995.” Alternatively, you can list them as the director and mention their writing credit in your analysis.
FAQ 11: How do I cite a movie I rented online?
Cite the movie using the streaming service as the source. Include the director, title, production company, year, streaming service name, URL, and date of access.
FAQ 12: What if the movie doesn’t have a listed director?
In rare cases where a director is not credited, you can use the term “Directed by” followed by “Anonymous.” However, strive to find the director’s name if possible through reliable sources like IMDb.
By adhering to these guidelines and frequently asked questions, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in MLA style, ensuring the integrity and credibility of your academic work.