How do I cite a film in MLA format, including the director’s name?
To cite a film in MLA format, you generally begin with the film’s title, followed by the director’s name, and then other pertinent details like the year of release, production company, and any other relevant contributors. The basic format is: *Title of Film*. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release.
When citing a film, the title should be italicized. If you’re focusing on a particular person’s contribution other than the director (e.g., the screenwriter or a specific actor), you can begin the citation with their name followed by their role (e.g., “Screenplay by Jane Doe” or “Performance by John Smith”). After the director, include the production company that distributed the film, if available and relevant, and the year the film was released. If you accessed the film via a streaming service or another platform, include the platform name after the year of release. Here’s an example: *Parasite*. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Neon, 2019. If you watched it on Hulu, you would add: *Parasite*. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Neon, 2019. Hulu. Remember that MLA 9th edition emphasizes citing the version you actually viewed, so providing that additional context is beneficial.
What MLA citation format should I use for a streaming film like on Netflix?
To cite a film viewed via a streaming service like Netflix in MLA format, you’ll need the following elements in this order: Title of the Film, Director, relevant Contributors (if important), Original Release Year, Streaming Service, and Date You Watched It. The basic format looks like this: *Title of Film*. Directed by Director’s Name, Original Release Year. *Streaming Service*, Date Viewed.
MLA emphasizes providing readers with enough information to locate the source. For streaming films, this means clearly identifying the specific version you watched. Include the original release year to differentiate from remakes or re-releases. List the director as the primary contributor, but if you’re focusing on a specific actor’s performance or a particular writer, you can include them after the director, preceded by “Perf. by” or “Written by.” The streaming service serves as the container, hence the italics. Here’s a more concrete example, let’s say you watched *Roma* on Netflix on October 26, 2023. The citation would be: *Roma*. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, 2018. *Netflix*, 26 Oct. 2023. Note that the date is abbreviated following MLA style. If a film was originally released theatrically, you would use that original release year, even if you streamed it later. When including other contributors like actors or writers, place them after the director’s name, preceding their role with “Perf. by” for performers or “Written by” for writers. For example: *Arrival*. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Perf. by Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, 2016. *Paramount+*, 15 July 2024. Remember that MLA 9th edition encourages you to be as specific as possible while remaining concise. If there are multiple versions of the film available (e.g., a director’s cut), try to identify the specific version you viewed if it’s relevant to your citation. The core goal is to accurately and ethically credit the work and allow your readers to find the same source.
If a film has multiple directors, how do I list them in the MLA citation?
When a film has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film itself, separated by commas. Use the word “and” before the final director’s name. For example: Scott, Ridley, and Tony Scott, directors.
The principle of listing directors in their credited order reflects MLA’s emphasis on accurately representing the source material. This approach acknowledges the specific contributions and roles assigned to each director within the film’s production. Even if one director is widely recognized as the primary creative force, adhering to the credited order maintains the integrity of the citation and avoids making assumptions about directorial hierarchy.
Remember to follow this list of directors with the appropriate descriptor, which is “directors,” placing a comma before it. The remainder of the citation follows the standard MLA format for films, including the title, year of release, distributor, and any other relevant information like performers or writers if your research specifically focuses on their contributions.
Where does the year of release go in an MLA film citation?
In an MLA film citation, the year of release immediately follows the title of the film. It is enclosed in parentheses after the film’s title and before any information about the director or other contributors.
The placement of the year is crucial for clarity and consistency in academic writing. By placing it directly after the title, readers can quickly identify the specific version of the film being referenced, especially important if multiple films share the same or similar titles. It acts as a key piece of identifying information, aiding researchers in locating the correct source.
For example, a film citation might look like this: *Casablanca*. (1942). Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros., 1943. Here, the (1942) is easily identifiable and clearly tells when the film was released. Note that while the film was released in 1942, the DVD might not have been released until 1943, which is why both dates are given. The first is the year of the film’s release, and the last is the year of the source. If the film was released on a streaming service, you will also add that information to the citation.
How do I cite a film clip used in another work in MLA style?
To cite a film clip used within another work (like a documentary, analysis video, or presentation) in MLA style, you’ll need to cite both the original film and the work in which the clip appears. First, create a standard MLA citation for the original film. Then, in the citation for the work using the clip, include information about the original film clip within the description or notes section of that entry. Make sure to specify the time range where the clip is used in the current work.
The primary principle here is providing clear attribution for both the source of the clip and the work you’re actually engaging with. The citation for the original film remains crucial because it allows readers to access the complete context of the excerpt. This citation will follow the standard MLA format for films, including the title, director, distributor, and year of release. You need this original film citation to then connect it to the work where you actually viewed the film clip.
In the works-cited-list entry for the work *containing* the clip, your note about the clip’s inclusion should be as precise as possible. Include the specific time stamps, if available, of where the clip appears. For example, if you are citing a documentary, you would provide all the usual information for citing a documentary. At the end of the citation, add a note that says “Includes a clip from [Original Film Title], [Time range].” This helps the reader understand that you’re analyzing the documentary, and that it happens to contain the specified film clip. The MLA Handbook (9th ed.) recommends making clear the function or purpose of the clip in the work being cited, if that is relevant. Be clear and comprehensive so that the citation is easily verifiable.
What elements are needed in the Works Cited entry for a film using MLA?
A Works Cited entry for a film in MLA format needs the film’s title, the director’s name, the distributor, and the year of release as core elements. Additionally, including the names of principal performers can strengthen the citation’s utility.
The basic structure is as follows: Title of Film. Directed by Director’s Name, Distributor, Year. For example: Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros., 1942. When citing a film, prioritize the version you viewed. If available, indicate the specific format (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, streaming service). If you’re focusing on a specific performance, you can begin the citation with the performer’s name followed by “perf.,” and then list the film title. The role of a director is generally considered the primary creative force behind a film, justifying its placement directly after the title.
Including additional information can be beneficial. You might add the names of principal performers after the director, using “Starring” or “With.” If you accessed the film through a streaming service, include the service’s name after the distributor and before the year. If the film is part of a series, indicate the series title after the film title. Remember to italicize the film title, which distinguishes it as a larger, standalone work. This structured approach ensures clarity and helps readers locate the source material effectively.
How does citing a film screenplay in MLA differ from citing the film itself?
Citing a film screenplay in MLA differs from citing the film itself primarily in what you emphasize and include. While a film citation focuses on the director, performers, and production details, a screenplay citation prioritizes the screenwriter(s) as the primary author(s) and emphasizes its status as a script, which may be published or unpublished.
When citing a film, the director takes precedence as the key creator. The citation begins with the director’s name, followed by the film title in italics, then the distributor, and the year of release. You might also include the names of key performers if relevant to your research. In contrast, citing a screenplay places the screenwriter(s) at the forefront, similar to citing the author of a book. The title remains in italics, but you’ll specify that it is a screenplay (e.g., Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino). The source information will then indicate where the screenplay can be found – a published collection, a website, or perhaps an archive if it’s an unpublished manuscript. Furthermore, depending on the source of the screenplay, specific details will vary. If the screenplay is published as a book, you’ll follow MLA guidelines for citing a book, including publisher and publication year. If it’s accessed online, you’ll provide the website name and URL. For unpublished screenplays accessed in an archive, you’ll need to include the archive’s name, location, and any relevant collection information, such as the collection name and call number, to enable other researchers to locate the material. The medium of performance (Film or Screenplay) is the most impactful difference in the citation.
And that’s a wrap on citing films in MLA! Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion and you’re feeling confident in your ability to properly credit those cinematic masterpieces. Thanks for reading, and we hope you’ll come back for more helpful writing tips soon!