Audiovisual Media (Films, TV, Online Videos, Podcasts, Music)

Audiovisual media, including films, television programs, online videos, podcasts, and music recordings, have become significant sources of information, cultural commentary, and artistic expression. These media offer unique perspectives, firsthand accounts (in interviews or documentaries), performances, and data that can be integral to research across many disciplines, from media studies and cultural studies to history and sociology. Properly citing these diverse audiovisual sources in MLA style is essential to credit creators and performers, establish the credibility of your research, and allow others to locate and experience the works you reference.

This section provides detailed guidelines on citing various forms of audiovisual media according to MLA 9th Edition conventions. We cover how to cite films, television episodes (broadcast and streamed), online videos (e.g., from YouTube or Vimeo), podcast episodes, and music recordings (songs and albums). The guidelines explain the core elements for each format, addressing creators, titles, platforms, publishers, dates, and how to include timestamps for precise referencing.

I. Videos (Films, TV Episodes, Online Videos)

Basic Formats:

Film:
Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name, performances by First Name Last Name, et al., Production Company or Distributor, Year of Release. Medium (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, or indicate streaming platform as part of location if applicable).
Example (focus on director):
Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Barunson E&A, 2019.
Television Episode:
"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, season number, episode number, created by First Name Last Name (if relevant), written by First Name Last Name (if relevant), directed by First Name Last Name (if relevant), performances by First Name Last Name, et al., Production Company or Network, Original Air Date. Streaming Service (if watched there), URL (if applicable).
Example:
"The Constant." Lost, season 4, episode 5, created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof, written by Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, directed by Jack Bender, ABC Studios, 21 Feb. 2008. Netflix.
Online Video (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo):
Author or Uploader Name (Channel Name). "Title of Video." Name of Website (e.g., YouTube), uploaded by Uploader Name (if different from author and relevant), Date of Upload, URL. Accessed Date (recommended).
Example:
CrashCourse. "The Cold War: Crash Course US History #37." YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 8 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C72ISMF_D0. Accessed 15 May 2025.

Detailed Explanation of Elements:

  • Author/Creator/Primary Contributor: The main person or group responsible for the content (director, uploader/channel, etc.). List their role if relevant (e.g., "directed by").
  • "Title of Specific Work / Episode / Short Video": Enclose in double quotation marks. Capitalize all major words.
  • Title of Larger Work / Container: Italicize titles of films, series, websites, etc. Capitalize all major words.
  • Other Key Contributors: Include significant contributors (performers, writers, etc.) with their roles.
  • Version/Number: Specify season/episode/version if relevant.
  • Publisher/Production Company/Distributor: The organization responsible for the work.
  • Date/Location/Platform: Provide the most specific date available and where you accessed it (platform, URL, medium).
  • Accessed Date: Recommended for online content.

In-Text Citation (Detailed):

Basic Format: Provide the name of the creator/author (or a shortened title if no creator is clear) and the relevant timestamp or range of timestamps for the specific part you are referencing.
Example (Film): (Scott 00:15:30-00:16:12).
Example (TV Episode): ("San Junipero" 00:03:15-00:03:45).
Example (Online Video): (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell 00:01:05-00:01:20).
Example (Podcast): (Gladwell 00:12:45-00:13:05).
Example (Song, if citing a specific moment): (Beyoncé 00:00:50-00:01:02).
No Creator Name: If citing a work where the creator is not obvious, use a shortened form of the title in quotation marks (for shorter works) or italics (for longer works).
Example: ("The Constant" 00:22:10-00:22:30).
Author's Name or Title in Text: If you mention the creator's name or the title of the work in your sentence, you only need to provide the timestamp(s) in parentheses.
Example: Ridley Scott often uses chiaroscuro lighting, as seen in Blade Runner (00:15:30-00:16:12).
Example: In the podcast episode "The Lady Vanishes," Gladwell explores (00:12:45-00:13:05).
Citing an Entire Work: If you are referring to an entire work (e.g., a whole film or song), you might not need a timestamp if the context is clear. The Works Cited entry provides the full details.
Example: The film Parasite critiques social inequality.

Important Notes:

  • Online Streaming: For music, films, and TV episodes accessed via streaming, include the platform and URL if stable. For podcasts, include the platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.).
  • Versions: If you are citing a specific version (e.g., director's cut, live performance), specify this in your citation.
  • Missing Information: If any information is missing, provide as much as possible. If the creator is not known, start with the title. If the release date is unknown, use "n.d."
  • Accuracy: Double-check the accuracy of all information, especially URLs and contributor names.
  • Consistency: Apply the same formatting consistently throughout your Works Cited list.
  • Accessed Date: Recommended for online sources that may change or disappear.