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MLA Style Guide, 8th ed.

This guide provides tips and examples for MLA style formatting of papers and citations.

Television, Film, and Video

Television Episode

If you access the episode from a website whose name is essentially the same as the publisher, there is no need to list it twice.

Examples

"Self Help." The Walking Dead, season 5, episode 5, AMC, 9 Nov. 2014, www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/full-episodes/season-05/episode-05/self-help. Accessed 5 July 2016.

"Hush." Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Geller, season 4, episode 10, Mutant Enemy, 1999.


Television Series

If you are focusing on a series and not on an individual episode or specific contributors, begin with the series title.

Examples

Grey’s Anatomy. Created by Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland, 2005-2016.

Parks and Recreation. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, Deedle-Dee Productions/Universal Media Studios, 2009-2015.


Television - Focus on Contributor

If your research is focusing on the actor or another contributor of the episode or series, start the citation with the contributor’s name.

Examples

Gellar, Sarah Michelle, performer. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mutant Enemy, 1997-2003.

Dahl, John, director. "Sassenach." Outlander, season 1, episode 1, Starz, 9 Aug. 2014, www.starz.com/video/6dd18f29a87b4d3188e9963c7bf68e67. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.


Film

If your research focuses on the film itself, begin with the title. You may include information about the director and other participants in the position of other contributors

Examples

The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994. Netflix, dvd.Netflix.com/Movie/The-Shawshank-Redemption/70005379. Accessed 26 Aug. 2016.

Blade Runner. Directed by Ridley Scott, performance by Harrison Ford, director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992.


Film - Focus on Contributors

If you are focusing on the contributors of a particular person, begin the citation with that person’s name, followed by a descriptive label.

Examples:

Darabond, Frank, director. The Shawshank Redemption. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994. Netflix, dvd.Netflix.com/Movie/The-Shawshank-Redemption/70005379.

Scott, Ridley, director. Blade Runner. 1982. Performance by Harrison Ford, director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992.


Video in a Database

The Library subscribes to some streaming video databases that allow you to watch videos online.

Examples

Among the Wild Chimpanzees. National Geographic Digital Media, 1984. Films on Demand, https://flclosrios.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=237206&xtid=52294. Accessed 11 Oct.  2017.


The Films on Demand database also allows you to view and use short clips taken from the entire video. If using just a clip, follow these guidelines:

"Oral Polio Vaccine" Vaccines: Calling the Shots. NOVA, 2014. Films on Demand, https://flclosrios.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=237206&xtid=60737. Accessed 10 Aug. 2016


Video on a Website

If the website name is essentially the same as the publisher, there is no need to list it twice.

Examples

"The Speech that Made Obama President." YouTube, uploaded by THNKR, 30 Aug. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPwDe22CoY. Accessed 4 Aug. 2016

"Why Citation is Important." Writen by Joshua Vossler, Vimeo, uploaded by Kimbel Library, 2010, vimeo.com/13547869. Accessed 26 Aug. 2016.