Audiovisual Media (Videos, Podcasts, Music)

Audiovisual media, including films, television programs, online videos, podcasts, and music recordings, are significant sources for research, offering unique forms of expression, information, and cultural commentary. Citing these sources in the Chicago/Turabian Notes and Bibliography (NB) system requires identifying key creators (like directors, performers, or hosts), titles, production or distribution details, dates, and information about the medium or platform through which they were accessed. For specific references, timestamps are often used in notes.

This section will provide detailed guidelines on how to format citations for these diverse audiovisual sources, including examples for full notes, shortened notes, and bibliography entries.

Core Elements for Citing Audiovisual Media:

Key Creator(s)/Contributor(s): This varies by medium. It could be the director (for films), main performer(s) or group (for music), host or creator (for podcasts/online videos), composer, writer, etc. The person or role most central to your discussion often comes first.
"Title of Specific Work/Segment": Titles of individual works like film scenes (if formally titled), TV episodes, specific online videos, podcast episodes, or songs are typically enclosed in quotation marks and use headline-style capitalization.
Title of Larger Work/Overall Series: Titles of feature films, TV series, podcast series, music albums, or websites (like YouTube) are italicized and use headline-style capitalization.
Production/Distribution Information: This includes the names of production companies, studios, networks, record labels, or platforms (e.g., Netflix, Spotify).
Date: The date of original release, broadcast, recording, or online posting.
Medium/Format: Specify the medium if relevant (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, CD, MP3, streaming service).
URL or DOI: For online content, provide a stable URL. DOIs are rare for audiovisual media but should be used if available.
Access Date: Chicago style recommends access dates for online audiovisual content that might be altered or removed, especially if no other stable publication date for the specific version viewed is available. (e.g., accessed May 28, 2025).
Timestamps: For citing a specific moment in an audio or video recording, include a timestamp (e.g., 01:15:32 for 1 hour, 15 minutes, 32 seconds) in the note.

I. Videos

A. Film

Focus is often on the director, but other contributors can be noted.

Full Note (N):

Title of Film, directed by Director's First Name Last Name (Original Release Year; Place of Publication of version used [if applicable]: Distributor of version used, Year of version used), Medium (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, name of streaming service), Timestamp(s) if citing a specific scene. Example (DVD): Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker (2001; Mumbai: Aamir Khan Productions, 2001), DVD, 00:45:10–00:47:30. Example (Streaming): Parasite, directed by Bong Joon Ho (2019; South Korea: Barunson E&A, distributed by Neon), Netflix.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Shortened Film Title, Timestamp(s) if applicable. (If director is key to discussion and already established: Director's Last Name, Shortened Film Title). Example: 2. Lagaan, 01:02:00. 2. Parasite.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Director's Last Name, First Name, dir. Title of Film. Original Release Year. Place of Publication of version used (if relevant): Distributor of version used, Year of version used. Medium (if not widely accessible or if specifying a particular version). Example (DVD): Gowariker, Ashutosh, dir. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India. 2001. Mumbai: Aamir Khan Productions, 2001. DVD. Example (Streaming - original distributor listed, streaming platform can be mentioned if key to access): Bong Joon Ho, dir. Parasite. 2019. Seoul: Barunson E&A. Distributed by Neon. (Accessed via Netflix).

B. Television Episode

Full Note (N):

"Title of Episode," Title of TV Series, season Season Number, episode Episode Number, directed by Director's Name (if relevant), written by Writer's Name (if relevant), featuring Performer's Name (if relevant), aired Original Air Date, on Network (or Production Company). Medium or Streaming Service, URL if directly from a unique source. Example (Streaming): "The National Anthem," Black Mirror, season 1, episode 1, directed by Otto Bathurst, written by Charlie Brooker, aired December 4, 2011, on Channel 4 (UK), Netflix. Example (DVD): "The Constant," Lost, season 4, episode 5, directed by Jack Bender, written by Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, aired February 28, 2008, on ABC (American Broadcasting Company), Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2008, DVD.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Title of TV Series, "Title of Episode." (Or just "Title of Episode" if context is clear). Example: 2. Black Mirror, "The National Anthem."

Bibliography Entry (B):

Option 1: Focus on the episode (common): "Title of Episode." Title of TV Series. Season Season Number, episode Episode Number. Directed by Director's Name. Written by Writer's Name. Original Air Date. Network. Medium or Streaming Service (if relevant to version accessed). Example (Streaming): "The National Anthem." Black Mirror. Season 1, episode 1. Directed by Otto Bathurst. Written by Charlie Brooker. Aired December 4, 2011, on Channel 4. Netflix. Option 2: Focus on the series, then cite episode in notes (less common for individual episode citation).

C. Online Video (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo)

Full Note (N):

Creator's/Uploader's First Name Last Name (or Channel Name), "Title of Video," Name of Website (e.g., YouTube video), length of video, Publication Date (or upload date), URL, Timestamp(s) if citing specific part. Example: CrashCourse, "The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37," YouTube video, 13:27, November 8, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C72ISMF_D0, 00:03:15.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Creator's/Uploader's Last Name (or Channel Name), "Shortened Title of Video," Timestamp(s). Example: 2. CrashCourse, "Cold War," 00:05:30.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Creator's/Uploader's Last Name, First Name (or Channel Name). "Title of Video." Name of Website (e.g., YouTube video). Length of video (optional). Publication Date (or upload date). URL. Example: CrashCourse. "The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37." YouTube video, 13:27. November 8, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C72ISMF_D0.

II. Podcasts

A. Podcast Episode

Full Note (N):

Host's First Name Last Name (if prominent, or Creator), "Title of Episode," Title of Podcast, produced by Production Company (if any), season Season No. (if any), episode Episode No. (if any), Publication Date of Episode, Medium (e.g., MP3 audio, or Podcast app/platform), URL if directly linking, Timestamp(s). Example: Sarah Koenig, host, "The Alibi," Serial, season 1, episode 1, produced by WBEZ Chicago, October 3, 2014, podcast audio, https://serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi, 00:12:45–00:13:10.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Host's Last Name, "Shortened Episode Title" (or Shortened Podcast Title if referring generally and host is clear), Timestamp(s). Example: 2. Koenig, "The Alibi," 00:15:00.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Host's Last Name, First Name (or Creator). "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast. Produced by Production Company (if any). Season Season No. (if any), episode Episode No. (if any). Publication Date of Episode. Medium. URL (if applicable). Example: Koenig, Sarah, host. "The Alibi." Serial. Season 1, episode 1. Produced by WBEZ Chicago. October 3, 2014. Podcast audio. https://serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi.

III. Music Recordings

A. Song/Track (from an album or as a single)

Full Note (N):

Performer/Artist's Name, "Title of Song," on Title of Album (if applicable), Record Label, Year of original release (or release of this version), Medium (e.g., CD, MP3, streaming service like Spotify), Track number (optional), Timestamp (if applicable). Example (Streaming): A. R. Rahman, "Jai Ho," on Slumdog Millionaire (Music from the Motion Picture), N.E.E.T. Recordings/Interscope Records, 2008, Spotify.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Performer's Last Name (or Group Name), "Title of Song." Example: 2. Rahman, "Jai Ho."

Bibliography Entry (B):

Performer/Artist's Last Name, First Name (or Group Name). "Title of Song." On Title of Album (if applicable). Record Label, Year of Release. Medium (if specifying a version). Example (Streaming): Rahman, A. R. "Jai Ho." On Slumdog Millionaire (Music from the Motion Picture). N.E.E.T. Recordings/Interscope Records, 2008. Spotify.

B. Album

Full Note (N):

Performer/Artist's Name, Title of Album, Record Label, Year of Release, Medium. Example (CD): The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone/Capitol Records, 1967, CD.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Performer's Name (or Group Name), Title of Album. Example: 2. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Performer/Artist's Last Name, First Name (or Group Name). Title of Album. Record Label, Year of Release. Medium (if specifying a version). Example (CD): Beatles, The. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Parlophone/Capitol Records, 1967. CD.

C. Classical Music Recording

Often prioritizes the composer, then key performers.

Full Note (N):

Composer's First Name Last Name, Title of Work, performed by Performer(s)/Orchestra, conducted by Conductor's Name (if applicable), Record Label, Recording/Release Year, Medium, specific movement or timestamp if relevant. Example: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67, Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon, 1947, CD, first movement.

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Composer's Last Name, Shortened Title of Work (or just title if short), specific movement. Example: 2. Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, first movement.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Composer's Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Performed by Performer(s)/Orchestra. Conducted by Conductor's Name (if applicable). Record Label, Recording/Release Year. Medium. Example: Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67. Vienna Philharmonic. Conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Deutsche Grammophon, 1947. CD.

Important Notes:

Note on Timestamps: When citing a specific quotation, sound, or visual element from an audiovisual source in a note, include the relevant timestamp or range of timestamps (e.g., 00:03:15–00:03:45 or 1:22:05). This allows your reader to quickly locate the precise moment you are referencing.
Access Dates for Online AV Media: While Chicago doesn't always require access dates for formally published online content with stable identifiers, for many online videos, streaming service content that might change, or less formal online audio, including an access date (e.g., accessed May 28, 2025, URL) in the note and/or bibliography entry is a good practice to indicate the version you consulted.

1. Videos

The format for citing a video includes the following elements:

Author/Creator: The person or group who created the video. If the uploader is different from the creator, use the creator as the author. For YouTube, this is often the username.
Year, Month, Day: The date the video was published.
Title: The title of the video. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, and proper nouns.
Source: The platform or website where the video is located (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo).
URL: The full URL of the video.

General Format:

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of video. Source. URL

Example:

Khan Academy. (2020, October 2). Intro to logarithms. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBp9xydmmqo

Full Note (N):

Shortened Note (SN):

2. Shortened Film Title, Timestamp(s) if applicable. (If director is key to discussion and already established: Director's Last Name, Shortened Film Title). Example: 2. Lagaan, 01:02:00. 2. Parasite.

Bibliography Entry (B):

Important Notes:

Online Streaming: When citing music from a streaming service (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music), you can often omit the label and provide a URL to the song or album.
Versions: If you are citing a specific version of a song or video (e.g., a live performance, a remix), include that information in brackets after the title.
Missing Information: If any information is missing, provide as much as possible. If the creator of a video is not known, start with the title. If the release date of a song is unknown, use "n.d."
Accuracy: Double-check the accuracy of all information, especially URLs.
Consistency: Apply the same formatting consistently throughout your reference list.