On Filmography & MLA-Style Citation

On Filmography & MLA-Style Citation
Prep. for FA 125 Take-Home Midterm, Spring 2010, Prof. C. Agatucci
URL of this web page: http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/FA125/Midterm/FilmographyMLAstyle.htm

Understanding "Filmographical" Information

As stated in our FA 125 -World Cinema Syllabus course learning outcomes:

Learning Outcome 2. Provide accurate "filmographical" information on selected world films and directors, and demonstrate understanding of key information provided in a "filmography" especially important to World Cinema studies.

To achieve this course outcome, you should be able not only to cite accurate "filmographical" information on individual FA 125 World Cinema films we study this term, but also to demonstrate that you understand what this "filmographical" information means.

Filmography

Filmography, in its most general usage, means a list of all films in which a filmmaker, crew member, performer/actor, group, etc., have participated, as well as dates of film publication and distribution. In this general usage, a filmography, often subdivided by the role/s in which the person or group served, constitutes a resumé of professional film experience.

To review examples of Filmographies for François Truffaut, Guillermo del Toro, and Peter Weir, visit the following IMDb web pages and scroll down past the “Overview” to the “Filmography” in each case:

"François Truffaut." IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000076/>.

"Guillermo del Toro." IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 9 Apr. 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/>.

“Peter Weir.” IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. < http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001837/>.

MLA-Style "Filmographical" Citations of Films

"Filmographical" information required in MLA-style citations of individual films provides a break-down of key roles, and names the people and groups who served in these roles, in the making and distributing of a film. According to the newest 7th edition of MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, published in 2009, the basic filmographical information required by MLA-style citations is:

· the title of the film (italicized)

· the name of the director

· the original film studio/s and/or distributor/s of the film

· the original year in which the film was first released;
AND

· because films are often viewed and studied in reprinted media such as videotape or DVD format, MLA-style film citations also require that the medium consulted (e.g. DVD), preceded by the distributor and year for the DVD or videotape consulted, be provided (MLA Handbook 197; sec. 5.7.3).

Here are examples of MLA-style Works Cited “filmographical” entries giving only minimum required documentation information:

The 400 Blows. Dir. François Truffaut. Les Films du Carrosse, S.E.D.I.F., MK2, 1959. Janus Films: The Criterion Collection, 2006. DVD.

Pan's Labyrinth. Dir. Guillermo del Toro. PictureHouse - Telecinco - Estudios Picasso Tequila Gang Esperanto Filmo, 2006. New Line Home Entertainment, 2007. DVD.

Gallipoli. Dir. Peter Weir. Australian Film Commission - R & R Films, 1981. Paramount Pictures, 2005. DVD.

However, even more filmographical information is often required or recommended to be given in such citations.

· For foreign-language films subtitled in English, MLA recommends that the English-language title of the film be followed by the original foreign language title, italicized and enclosed in square brackets

· In addition, other "filmographical" information important to your study of the film, such as "the names of the screenwriter, performers, and producer," should be added "between the title and the distributor"
(MLA Handbook 197-198; sec. 5.7.3).

Here are some examples of fuller MLA-style citations for the above films including additional bibliographical information (beyond the minimum required) Cora deemed helpful to FA 125 students:

The 400 Blows. [French: Les quatre cents coups.] Dir. François Truffaut. Perf. Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy, Patrick Auffay. Les Films du Carrosse, S.E.D.I.F., MK2, 1959. Janus Films: The Criterion Collection, 2006. DVD.

Pan's Labyrinth [Spanish: El laberinto del fauno]. Wr. & Dir. Guillermo del Toro. Perf. Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo. PictureHouse -Telecinco - Estudios Picasso Tequila Gang Esperanto Filmo, 2006. New Line Home Entertainment, 2007. [New Line 2-Disc Platinum Series] DVD.

Gallipoli. Dir. Peter Weir. Wr. Peter Weir and David Williamson. Prod. Patricia Lovell and Robert Stigwood. Perf. Mark Lee, Mel Gibson, Bill Kerr, Bill Hunter. Australian Film Commission - R & R Films, 1981. Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Special Collector's ed., 2005. DVD.

Learning More about Key Personnel and Terms in Filmmaking: Some Recommended Web Sources

Dembrow, Michael. "Glossary of Film Terms." ENG 195, 196,197 Film Studies [course webs]. Dept. of English, Portland Community College-Cascades. 2008.Web. 3 Apr.2009. <http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/glossary.htm>.

Dembrow, Michael. “Key Personnel in a Feature-Length Film.” English 196 Film Studies: Directors, Winter 2008. Dept. of English, Portland Community College-Cascades, 2008. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/Key%20Personnel.htm>.

Dirks, Tim, ed. “Film Terms Glossary – Dictionary (alphabetical and illustrated).” Filmsite.org. AMC: American Movie Classics, LLC, 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.filmsite.org/filmterms.html>.

"Glossary of Film Terms." PBS Hollywood Presents The Gin Game. Community Television of Southern California-KCET, 2003. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/hollywoodpresents/gingame/glossary.html>.

"Glossary" [of Special Effects]. Nova Online: Special Effects: Titanic and Beyond. PBS WGBH Science Unit, Nov. 2000. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/glossary.html>.

You may also find the following web source instructive:

Dirks, Tim. “Tips on Film Viewing: How to Watch Movies Intelligently and Critically.” 2 Parts. Filmsite.org. AMC: American Movie Classics, LLC, 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. Part 1: <http://www.filmsite.org/filmview.html>; Part 2: < http://www.filmsite.org/filmview2.html>.

Cite Sources—and Avoid Plagiarism!--in your Midterm:
MLA-Style In-Text Citations & Works Cited

To avoid (even unintended) plagiarism in your Midterm, you will need to provide:

· In-text citations of all summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations from sources used within your Midterm; AND

· Full bibliographical information on all sources cited within your Midterm in a separate Works Cited page included at the end of your Midterm

If you review Cora’s introduction handouts on the films we have studied so far, you will find models of MLA style in-text citations and Works Cited that you can follow. But here are more examples of In-Text Citations and corresponding Works Cited entries:

Example 1. In-Text Citations (direct quotations + paraphrases) from two sources:

According to PBS Hollywood Presents The Gin Game’s “Glossary of Film Terms,” a film’s Art Director “is responsible for creating and maintaining visual consistency of the art elements connected with the production including the design, construction and coloration of the sets and props.” The Art Director must also analyze “the script [or film screenplay] for the number and type of props, furniture, window, floors, ceilings dressings, and all other set materials,” working “closely with the [film’s] Set Decorator, Carpenter and Property Master” (“Glossary of Film Terms”). Michael Dembrow adds that the art director is sometimes called the “production designer” in film credits, but whatever s/he is called, this “person on a film crew [is] ultimately responsible for every aspect of film décor and set construction,” and has a big influence on “the visual quality,” “mood and atmosphere” of a film (“Key Personnel in a Feature-Length Film”). The Art Director or Production Designer has “one of the most complex jobs in filmmaking, requiring knowledge of architecture and design, a good grasp of decorative and costume styles of all periods, graphic ability, business acumen, and a working knowledge of everything concerning film production, including photography, lighting, special effects, and editing--all must be taken into consideration when designing the set” (Debrow, “Key Personnel in a Feature-Length Film”).

Example 1. Works Cited: For the two sources cited in-text above, here are the corresponding Works Cited entries giving complete bibliographical information on the sources (and listed in alphabetical order in the Works Cited):

Example 2. In-Text Citations (direct quotations + paraphrases) from two sources:

“Voice-Over” is a film term referring to “recorded dialogue” heard over visual images, but that usually “comes from an unseen, off-screen voice, [of a] character or narrator” (Dirks, “Film Terms Glossary”; T2-Z). The speaker is “usually not presented visually,” but if s/he “is visually present, there is no lip movement, a convention indicating that we are hearing the character’s thoughts” (Dembrow, “Glossary of Film Terms”). Voice-overs may be used to convey a “character’s thoughts” and/or to present “narrative information and commentary to explain the action or plot” of a film (Dirks, “Film Terms Glossary”; T2-Z). The understood convention is that voice-overs “can be heard by the [film] audience but not by the film characters themselves” (Dirks, “Film Terms Glossary”; T2-Z).

Example 2. Works Cited: For the two sources cited in-text above, here are the corresponding Works Cited entries giving complete bibliographical information on the sources (and listed in alphabetical order in the Works Cited):

Dembrow, Michael. "Glossary of Film Terms." ENG 195, 196,197 Film Studies [course webs]. Dept. of English, Portland Community College-Cascades. 2008. Web. 27 Apr.2010. <http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/glossary.htm>.

Works Cited
(in this handout – listed in alphabetical order)

"François Truffaut." IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000076/>.

"Glossary" [of Special Effects]. Nova Online: Special Effects: Titanic and Beyond. PBS WGBH Science Unit, Nov. 2000. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/glossary.html>.

"Guillermo del Toro." IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 9 Apr. 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/>.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Print.

“Peter Weir.” IMDb: The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com-Amazon.com,1990-2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010. < http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001837/>.

Spring 2010 FA 125 Syllabus | Course Plan | Online Course Pack Index | FA 125 Course Home Page

You are here: On Filmography & MLA-Style Citation
Prep. for FA 125 Take-Home Midterm, Spring 2010, Prof. C. Agatucci
URL: http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/FA125/Midterm/FilmographyMLAstyle.htm
Last updated: 27 April 2010