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MLA Video Citation: A Handy Guide For Citing A Video In MLA

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Why Should I Cite Videos in MLA?

Let us assume that you are writing an essay that deals with social media or you try to complete your Fashion Studies team project where you must provide multimedia content or mention some YouTube reference. It makes it vital to cite your sources correctly to avoid any plagiarism risks and keep within the formatting rules. Thankfully, MLA 8 (Modern Language Association) format is quite simple and has clear rules that are worth learning even if you are using our free MLA movie citation generator. As soon as you see the templates and real-life examples, things become much clearer and you’ll feel confident in any scenario that you must follow!

What is MLA?

As a college student, you might already know the basics of MLA formatting, which is the most popular academic writing format for general essay writing and research papers. Currently, in its 8th edition, it is a set of standards that can be applied in different types of college writing. However, it must be noted that it is not only about your sources and correct font types, it also has certain structure rules that you must follow and consult as you place your source as the in-text citation or when making a reference in your Works Cited or Bibliography page. When you have to work with digital sources like YouTube videos or references from official DVDs, you are also bound by the requirements that make your source valid. Even if some information is missing, you should also follow the MLA formatting rules because knowing how to cite videos MLA style is vital! 

What Information is Required For Citing Videos MLA?

Providing as much data as possible for your MLA video citation is crucial because it helps to avoid plagiarism and offers enough information to obtain your source, especially if you are dealing with some VHS tape as an example. In general requirements, you must provide: 

  • The Video Creator
  • Title of Your Video
  • The Website or Video Platform (in italics)
  • Name of the Channel or User That Uploaded Your Video
  • Original Upload Date. 
  • URL 

Note: 

  • If the video in question has been uploaded by the same person or organization behind it, the MLA 8 manual recommends omitting the author part and start right away with the video’s title. 
  • Your in-text citation should match the first element of the Works Cited reference. What it means is that it must be either the creator’s name or a short version of the title. 
  • While it is not obligatory for short videos, you can always include a timestamp that would act as the page number reference. 

How to Cite Different Types of Videos MLA

Even though youtube videos might be the most frequent type, some types of video citations like Television Series Episode will be different since you will have to add more information. Nevertheless, once you understand MLA citation Youtube video rules for your multimedia sources, it will become simpler for you! 

YouTube Citation Video

“Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, day month year, www.youtube.com/link. 

MLA cite Youtube video In-text citation: 

(“YouTube video title”) 

For example, if the author of your video is not the same as the person who originally uploaded the video, then cite as follows: 

Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the video.” YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, day month year, www.youtube.com/link 

Here are the actual examples: 

“Lita Ford & Lzzy Hale ‘Close My Eyes Forever’ Live @ Webster Hall.” YouTube, uploaded by Guy Masucci, May 19, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54rokjpt3WU

Here is when you have the original uploader or the author is unknown: 

Abdul, Paula. “Paula Abdul – Straight Up (Official Video).” YouTube, uploaded by Paula Abdul, Feb 28, 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1kgCqD7Xk

Citing a Specific Fragment Using Timestamps

For your in-text citation, it will go like this:

When you are working with the seashells, you have to apply patience and creativity (Shelby 00:09:12). 

It means that when you are citing a direct quote, it is the video created by Ann Shelby and the text that appears at 9 minutes, 12 seconds. 

However, when you are dealing with the Works Cited page, it will go exactly like the usual citation without timestamps because it is only done for your in-text citation.

Video from a Website

When you are dealing with the video that you have discovered online, MLA citation video goes exactly the same way as YouTube: 

Last Name, First Name of video creator or Username of video creator. “Title of Video”. Title of the Hosting Website, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year of Publication. URL of video. Accessed Day Month Year video has been accessed. 

In-text citation: 

(“Title of the Video”) 

As you can see, we have this for our Works Cited page: 

NASA, “NASA | Landsat – From The Archives”. Nasa Landsat Archives, May 8, 2014. https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/article/landsat-video-archives Accessed 21 March 2021. 

Online Video Without an Author

When you do not know the author of your video that you discover online, the MLA 8 manual recommends:

(“Words from Video Title” Start Time of Relevant Section – End of Section) 

(“Dealing With Infographics” 04:12-05:26) 

The Works Cited Page also starts with the title without an author just as we have seen in our cite video MLA examples above. 

Video From a Streaming Platform

Once again, you do not have to change much when you are citing Vimeo or Netflix as an example. Here is what you must do: 

Last Name, First Name of Video Creator or Director (Writer). “Title of Video”, Title of the Hosting Platform, uploaded by Username or Organization, Day Month Year of Video Publication, URL of the video. Accessed Day Month Year when you have accessed the video. 

In-text citation and Works Cited Page remains the same as citing videos MLA for your YouTube references! 

Film or Video Not Viewed Online (DVD)

In most cases, you will encounter more than one contributor when citing films or TV episodes. It is a reason why you must give credit to personalities or a single person who is most relevant to your project for the movie citation. For example, it can be a director or producer if you are dealing with that aspect precisely. For example, our MLA citation for a video not available online will be this way: 

Title of Video (in italics). Contributor(s), Publisher/Production Company, Date. Title of Library Database. 

“The Neverending Story”. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Warner Brothers, 1984, The Children’s Media Foundation (CMF). 

The in-text rules for citing a movie: 

(“The Neverending Story”) 

Film from a Streaming Video Service (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.)

Pay It Forward. Directed by Mimi Leder, screenplay by Leslie Dixon. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2000. Amazon

When you are using in-text citation for a lengthy movie online or on DVD, it is recommended to provide timestamps exactly as it appears in your media player.

(“Pay It Forward” 12:04:06-13:11:34) 

Television Series Episode

“La Mala Sombra.” Renegade, created by Stephen J. Cannell, performance by Lorenzo Lamas, Season 1, episode 4, New World Entertainment, 1992. 

The in-text citation MLA format for a video goes with the timestamps with the episode’s name in quotations. 

Why Choose Our MLA Movie Citation Generator

Citing things accurately when you have over thirty sources for your lengthy essay is not easy, which is why our free MLA movie citation generator is a great and reliable solution that helps you to stay away from plagiarism risks. Some of the features for your film citation or Youtube include:

  • No registration required & free access. 
  • Your information is not stored anywhere.
  • You can go automatic by pasting the video link or enter information manually.  
  • You can choose any other content, which means that you are not limited to movies alone. 

Create your citations effortlessly and save some precious time as you can focus on things that really matter for you! 

FAQ

Should I use a Youtube video when it is available on some website or use the web page where I have found it?

It is better to use the website that you have if it is original. However, using the YouTube link is fine, too. 

Can I use your MLA video generator for other sources? 

You can use it for books, online sources, journals, newspaper articles, and more.  

Should you use Works Cited page with the timestamps as well instead of pages? 

No, MLA 8 manual only requires using timestamps in your text exactly as it appears in your media player. 

 

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