Citing a Film: A Cinematic Guide to Chicago Style
So, you've just finished binge-watching a masterpiece (or maybe a guilty pleasure) and now you need to cite it in Chicago style. Fear not, fellow cinephile! This isn't rocket science, but it might feel like it at first. Let's break it down into something even a film critic could understand.
 |
| How Do You Cite A Film In Chicago Style |
The Basics: It's All About the Credits
Think of citing a film like giving proper credit to the cast and crew. You're acknowledging their hard work and giving your readers a way to find the film themselves. In Chicago style, there are two main ways to do this:
- Footnotes or Endnotes: This is like a classic film credit roll. You put a little number at the point in your text where you mention the film, and then at the bottom of the page (footnote) or end of the document (endnote), you provide the full citation.
- Author-Date: This is more like a modern, fast-paced action movie. You put the director's last name and the year of release in parentheses after the film title in your text, and then you list the full citation in a bibliography at the end.
The Nitty Gritty: What to Include
Now, let's get into the specifics. Here's what you need to include in your citation:
QuickTip: Reflect before moving to the next part.
- Director's name: The person who called the shots.
- Film title: The name of the movie, in italics.
- Release year: When the film first hit the big screen.
- Production company or distributor: The studio that brought it to life.
- Format: DVD, Blu-ray, streaming, etc.
Example (Footnote):
- Quentin Tarantino, dir. Pulp Fiction (Miramax, 1994), DVD.
Example (Author-Date):
Tip: Slow down at important lists or bullet points.
Tarantino 1994.
Special Considerations: It's a Wrap!
- Multiple directors: List all directors separated by commas.
- TV movies or miniseries: Treat them like films, but include the episode title if referencing a specific episode.
- Documentaries: Cite like films, but you can also include the distributor or broadcaster if applicable.
- Online streaming: Include the platform (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and the URL if possible.
Remember: Consistency is key. Choose one style (footnote or author-date) and stick with it throughout your paper.
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
 |
How to Ace Your Film Citations
How to choose between footnotes and author-date?
- Footnotes are traditional, while author-date is more modern. Choose based on your assignment guidelines.
How to format the film title?
Tip: Read carefully — skimming skips meaning.
- Always italicize the film title.
How to cite a film with multiple directors?
- List all directors separated by commas.
How to cite a specific scene in a film?
- Include a timecode (e.g., 1:25:45) after the year in your citation.
How to cite a film from a streaming service?
- Include the streaming platform (e.g., Netflix) and the URL if possible.
 |
💡 This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
