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APA 7th ed. Citation Guide: Videos & DVDs

Contains the latest changes and updates to APA Style

Missing Information?

Some sources, such as websites, may not have the full information to create a citation.  APA has guidelines for dealing with missing components of a citation, both in-text and reference entry.

Tips

Who to Credit - DVD or Film

Many people can be involved in the production of a video and not all need to be listed in the citation. Typically the director, producer and/or writer are the names that are used. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Streaming Video or Movie

Reference page citation, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Kanopy, Films on Demand, etc.

Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Director). (Year of Publication). Title of movie or video.  [Video or Film]. Production Company.

Gitlitz, R. (Director). (2017). The story of Diana [Film]. ABC Entertainment.

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Gitlitz, 2017)

Quote:            (Gitlitz, 2017, 51:45)

Rules:

For In-Text citations, as videos do not have page numbers or section headings, provide a time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Only specify HOW you watched a film (DVD, streaming, etc.) when it is important to indicate a specific version. This information will appear in square brackets after the word "Film" and a semicolon. 

If there are multiple directors, use (Directors) after listing all names. 

If the Director is unknown, credit the producer or writer and put their job title in round brackets after their name.

 

Reference page citation, including TED Talks, Webinars, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video] . (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Website: http:xxxxxxx

Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8). Bill Nye the science guy on energy [Video].  YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

TED. (2012, March 16). Brene Brown: Listening to shame [Video]. You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0

Goldberg, J. F. (2018). Evaluating adverse drug effects [Webinar]. American Psychiatric Association. https://education.psychiatry.org/Users/ProductDetails.aspx?ActivityID=6172

Cutts, S. (2017, November 24). Happiness [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/2444405542

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Nye, 2009)

Quote:            (Goldberg, 2018, 25:15)

Rules:

According to APA, for citing purposes, the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

For In-Text citations, videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings.  Use the time stamp at the start of the quotation.

Reference page citation: 

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Website. http://xxxxxx

All Aces Media. (2012, January 19). Often awesome the series [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (All Aces Media, 2012)

Quote:            (All Aces Media, 2012, 15:33)

Rules:

According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

For In-Text citations, videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings. Use the time stamp at the start of the quotation.

Reference page citation:

 Title of movie or video [Video or Film]. (Year Movie or Film was produced). Production Company.

Era of viruses [Film]. (2006). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Era of Viruses, 2006)

Quote:           (Era of Viruses, 2006, 1:03:42)

Rules:

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known, start the Reference citation with the title.

For In-Text citations, also start the citation with the title using italics, followed by the year of production.  If quoting, also include the time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Television Series Episode

Reference page citation: 

Writer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given (Writer), & Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Director) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired, Month Day if known). Title of episode (Season Number, Episode Number) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer), Television series name. Production Company.

Barris, K. (Writer & Director). (2017, January 11). Lemons (Season 3, Episode 12). [TV series episode]. In K. Barris, J. Groff, A. Anderson, E. B. Dobbins, L. Fishburne, & H. Sugland (Executive Producers), Black-ish.  Wilmore Films; Artists First; Cinema Gypsy Productions; ABC Studios.

Oakley, B. (Writer), Weinstein, J. (Writer), & Lynch, J. (Director). (1995, May 21). Who shot Mr. Burns? (Part one) (Season 6, Episode 25) [TV series episode]. In D. Mirkin, J. L. Brooks, M. Groening, & S. Simon (Executive Producers), The Simpsons. Gracie Films; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Barris, 2017)

Quote:            (Oakley et al. 1995, 20:33)

Rules:

Include the writer and director for the episode and put their job title in round brackets after their name. If one person did both jobs use (Writer & Director).

URLs: It is not necessary to specify how you watched a film (e.g. in a theater, on DVD, streaming online).  [APA 7 10.12.84]

For In-Text citations, when quoting Television Episodes, include the time stamp.

DVDs

Reference page citation: 

Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Director). (Year DVD was produced). Title of DVD [Film; optional descriptive information if DVD is a unique version]. Production Company.

Jackson, P. (Director). (2001). Lord of the rings: The fellowship of the ring [Film; four-disc special extended ed on DVD]. WingNut Films; The Saul Zaentz Company.

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Jackson, 2001)

Quote:            (Jackson, 2001, 1:43:45)

Rules:

In general, you don't need to cite the format of a movie.  However, include it if the information you are citing can only be found in a particular format or edition (e.g. special features or commentary).

If there are more than one production company, separate their names with a semi-colon (;).

For In-Text citations, DVDs typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings.  If quoting, also include the time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

Reference page citation:

 Title of movie or video [Film; optional descriptive information if DVD is a unique version]. (Year Movie or Film was produced). Production Company.

Era of viruses [Film; unedited version DVD]. (2012). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

In-Text:

Paraphrase:  (Era of Viruses, 2012)

Quote:           (Era of Viruses, 2012, 2:15:05)

Rules:

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known, start the Reference citation with the title.

For In-Text citations, also start the citation with the title using italics, followed by the year of production.  If quoting, also include the time stamp for the beginning of the quotation.

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