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How to Cite Movies in Credits

Citing movies is essential for proper bibliographical documentation. As of August, 2011, according to Source Aid, three main formats of citation style guidelines exist: Modern Language Association (MLA); American Psychological Association (APA); and Chicago Manual of Style. MLA is used when writing education texts, while APA and Chicago Manual of Style is appropriate for psychological and social sciences or art, history and literary texts, respectively.

Instructions

  1. Citing Movies in MLA Style

    • 1

      Write the title of the film in italics. Add a period after the title. Write the abbreviation "Dir." to signify the director. List the director's full name and add a period after the director's last name.
      Step 1 example: The Insider. Dir. Michael Mann.

    • 2

      Write the abbreviation "Perf." to signify the leading actors. Add the full names of up of to five actors. Add a period after the last actor's name.

      Step 2 example: Perf. Al Pacino, Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer.

    • 3

      List the production company and the year the movie was produced. Add a period after the listed year. Write "Film." to establish the medium.

      Step 3 example: TouchStone, 1999. Film.

      Complete MLA citation example: The Insider. Dir. Michael Mann. Perf. Al Pacino, Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer. TouchStone, 1999. Film.

    Citing Movie in APA Style

    • 4

      List the last name and first initial of the producer of the film. Add a period after the initial. Write "(Producer)." to the right of the initial to signify the title. List the last name and first initial of the director of the film. Add a period after the initial.

      Step 1 example: Brugge, P., Mann, M. (Producers)

    • 5

      Write "(Director)." to signify the title. Write the year the movie was made in parenthesis. Add a period after the year. List the name of the movie in italics. Add a period after the name of the movie.

      Step 2 example: Mann, M. (Director). (1999). The Insider.

    • 6

      Write "[Film]." as the medium. List the production company for the film. Add a period after the production company listing.

      Step 3 example: [Film]. TouchStone.

      Complete APA citation example: Brugge, P., Mann, M. (Producers), & Mann, M. (Director). (1999). The Insider. [Film]. TouchStone.

    Citing Movies According to The Chicago Manual of Style

    • 7

      List the title of the film in italics. Add a period after the title. Write the medium in capital letters -- "FILM" or "DVD," for example -- followed by a period.

      Step 1 example: The Insider. DVD.

    • 8

      Write "Directed by" and add the name of the director. Add a period after the director's name. List the year the movie was made, followed by a semicolon. Add the city and state in which the movie was made -- "Los Angeles, CA," for example -- followed by a colon.

      Step 2 example: Directed by Michael Mann. 1999; Los Angeles, CA:

    • 9

      Add the production company name, followed by the year the movie was released on the medium in which you are viewing it -- "2000," if it is on DVD, for example. End the citation with a period.

      Step 3 example: TouchStone Home Video, 2000.

      Complete Chicago citation example: The Insider. DVD. Directed by Michael Mann. 1999; Los Angeles, CA: TouchStone Home Video, 2000.

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