Ever been captivated by a film, its visuals and narrative weaving a spell that stayed with you long after the credits rolled? Acknowledging the creative force behind those cinematic experiences is not just common courtesy, it’s crucial for academic integrity. In the realm of research and scholarly work, properly citing sources, including films, ensures you’re giving credit where it’s due and building a foundation of trust in your own arguments. Neglecting to cite a movie, like any source, can lead to accusations of plagiarism and undermine the credibility of your work.
Accurate and consistent citation also allows your audience to easily locate the film you referenced, enabling them to verify your claims and engage with your interpretation of the material. While the concept of citing a movie might seem straightforward, the details can be tricky, particularly when adhering to a specific style guide like MLA (Modern Language Association). Different formats, roles, and versions of a film can all impact how the citation should be structured. Master the art of movie citation, and you’ll not only elevate your academic work, but also demonstrate a respect for the collaborative art form that is cinema.
What details do I need and how do I put them together?
What year should I use in the MLA citation for a movie?
In MLA style, use the **year the movie was originally released in theaters** as the publication year in your citation. This is the year the film was first made available to the public, regardless of when you watched it or what version you viewed.
It’s crucial to distinguish the original release year from other dates that might appear on a DVD, Blu-ray, streaming service, or film database. These other dates might refer to the release of a specific edition (like a director’s cut) or when the film became available on a particular platform. Always prioritize the *original* theatrical release year for accurate citation.
If you’re unsure about the original release year, reputable sources like IMDb (Internet Movie Database), the AFI Catalog (American Film Institute Catalog), or Wikipedia can usually provide this information. Be sure to cross-reference the information from at least two sources to ensure accuracy. The citation needs to reflect when the creative work first became available to the world.
How do I cite a movie title within my essay in MLA format?
When citing a movie title in your essay using MLA format, you should italicize the title. For example: *Casablanca* is a classic example of a film noir.
Italicization signals to the reader that you are referencing the title of a longer work, such as a movie, book, or journal. This distinguishes it from shorter works like song titles, poems, or articles, which are enclosed in quotation marks. Consistency in applying this rule throughout your essay is crucial for maintaining clarity and adhering to MLA guidelines.
If you are referencing a particular edition of a movie (e.g., a director’s cut) or a specific version (e.g., a DVD or Blu-ray), include that information in your Works Cited entry, not within the sentence itself. The italicized title in your essay should remain consistent regardless of the version you consulted. If the title appears within another title (for instance, referencing a movie within a book title), italicize the movie title as usual. For example: My book, *The Making of Casablanca*, explores the film’s production history.
What if a movie has multiple directors in MLA citation?
When a movie has multiple directors, list all directors in the order they appear on the film, separated by commas, followed by “directors.” in the “Directed by” element of your MLA citation. If there are more than three directors, list only the first director followed by “et al., directors.”
The MLA format emphasizes giving credit where credit is due. Therefore, it’s important to acknowledge all directors involved in the filmmaking process when they are explicitly credited. If you omit directors from your citation, you risk misrepresenting the creative contributions to the film. Including all listed directors (up to three) ensures proper attribution and allows researchers to understand the collaborative nature of the film’s direction.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of how to handle multiple directors in your MLA citation:
- **Two or Three Directors:** List all names as they appear on the film, separated by commas, followed by “directors.” For example: Directed by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, directors.
- **More Than Three Directors:** List only the first director’s name followed by “et al., directors.” For example: Directed by Robert Rodriguez et al., directors.
Where does the medium of release (e.g., DVD, streaming) go in MLA?
In MLA 9th edition, the medium of release or format of a movie (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, streaming service) is included as the *second* container within your citation, if applicable. It follows the movie title and any other contributing roles like director or performers and their respective labels. The name of the streaming service (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video) or physical media (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray) is styled in italics.
The purpose of including the medium is to clearly indicate how you accessed the film. This information is crucial for readers who may wish to locate the same version you used. If you watched the film on a streaming service, specify the service. If you watched a physical copy, specify DVD or Blu-ray. If a movie was watched in a movie theater, this is generally not included.
Here’s an example: *Parasite*. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Neon, 2019. *Hulu*. In this instance, “Hulu” denotes the streaming service through which the film was accessed. When citing a DVD, the format is noted like so: *Casablanca*. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros., 1942. *DVD*. It is very important to remember that the format, as the second container, is styled in italics in MLA.
How do I cite a specific scene from a movie using MLA?
To cite a specific scene from a movie in MLA format, you need to provide the standard movie citation information (title, director, distributor, year) followed by a timestamp indicating the scene’s start time. Include “at” before the timestamp to clearly denote the specific point in the film you’re referencing. For example: *Arrival*. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Paramount Pictures, 2016. at 00:23:15.
Citing a specific scene allows readers to quickly locate the exact moment in the film you’re referencing, providing crucial context for your argument or analysis. The MLA format emphasizes accessibility and clarity, so including the timestamp is vital. Remember to use the hour:minute:second format, ensuring consistency and ease of navigation. If the scene’s exact start time is unclear, estimate to the nearest second or, if necessary, provide a range of times. Furthermore, ensure that your Works Cited list includes the full movie citation, even if you are only referencing specific scenes within your paper. The timestamp is added inline within your text or in your notes to direct readers to the precise moment you are discussing. For example, within your paper, you might write something like, “Dr. Banks first experiences the heptapods’ language (*Arrival* at 00:23:15), leading to a transformative shift in her perception of time.” This direct reference, coupled with the full citation in the Works Cited, will give your readers all the information they need.
What’s the correct order of information in a movie citation, MLA style?
In MLA style, a movie citation should generally follow this order: Title of the Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Distributor, Year of Release.
Breaking this down further, the Title of the Movie should be italicized. The Director’s Name should be formatted as “Directed by First Name Last Name.” If a film has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film, separating names with “and.” The Distributor is the company that released the movie, such as Warner Bros. or Netflix. Finally, the Year of Release is the year the movie was originally released in theaters, not necessarily the year you watched it. Remember to punctuate carefully, paying close attention to commas and periods.
While the core elements remain consistent, there might be additional optional elements to include if relevant. For instance, if you are focusing on a particular performance, you could add the performer’s name after the title: Title of the Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Performance by Actor’s Name, Distributor, Year of Release. Also, if you are accessing the movie through a streaming service, you can add that information to the end: Title of the Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Distributor, Year of Release. *Streaming Service Name*, URL.
How do I cite a movie commentary track in MLA?
To cite a movie commentary track in MLA format, you’ll generally follow the format for citing a part of a larger work. The basic structure includes the commentator’s name, the descriptor “commentary,” the title of the film in italics, the director (if relevant), the distributor, and the year of release.
When citing a commentary track, focus on giving credit to the speaker. If the commentary is by the director, writer, or actor, you can usually omit their role in the “commentary by” phrase. The key is clarity. For example: “Spielberg, Steven, commentary. *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, Paramount Pictures, 1981.” If there are multiple commentators, list them in the order they appear on the track and separate their names with “and.” If you need to cite a specific quote or moment from the commentary, you can include a timestamp after the publication information. For instance: “Spielberg, Steven, commentary. *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, Paramount Pictures, 1981, 0:22:15.” This lets your reader find the exact place in the commentary you’re referencing. Remember to consult the MLA Handbook for the most up-to-date guidelines, as citation styles can evolve.
And that’s a wrap! Hopefully, this guide has made citing movies in MLA a little less daunting. Thanks for reading, and feel free to swing by again for more citation tips and tricks. Happy writing!