How to harvard reference a film
Referencing sources is an essential part of academic writing, ensuring that you give credit to the original authors and demonstrate the breadth of your research. When it comes to referencing a film in the Harvard style, there are specific guidelines to follow.
Firstly, when including a film in your reference list, you should provide the author’s last name and initials, the year the film was released, the title of the film in italics, and the format in square brackets.
For example: Johnson, J. (2019). The Art of Filmmaking [Film].
Additionally, if you are referencing a specific scene or segment of a film, you can include a timestamp or a description of the scene in plain text.
For instance: (Johnson, 2019, 01:23:45) or (Johnson, 2019, Scene: “Cliffhanger”).
It is also important to mention the name of the director after the author’s name, preceded by the word “directed by”. If there are multiple directors, separate their names using a forward slash (/).
In conclusion, referencing a film in the Harvard style involves providing the author’s name, the year of release, the film title, and the format. Additional information like scene timestamps or director names should also be included when relevant. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you accurately reference a film in your academic writing.
How to Harvard reference a film
Referencing a film in the Harvard style is a fairly straightforward process. In order to do it correctly, follow the steps below:
1. Title: Start by providing the name of the film in italics.
Example: The Shawshank Redemption
2. Year: Include the year the film was released in parentheses.
Example: (1994)
3. Director: State the name(s) of the director(s), starting with the last name.
Example: Directed by Frank Darabont
4. Country: Specify the country where the film was produced.
Example: [United States]
5. Production Company: Mention the production company responsible for creating the film.
Example: Castle Rock Entertainment
6. Format: Indicate the format of the film, such as DVD or Blu-ray.
Example: [DVD]
7. Distribution Company: Include the name of the company that distributes the film.
Example: Warner Bros.
8. URL: If the film is available online, provide the URL where it can be accessed.
Example: Available at: www.examplewebsite.com
9. Access Date: Lastly, include the date when you accessed the film online (in square brackets).
Example: [Accessed 15th June 2022]
By following these steps, you will be able to accurately reference a film using the Harvard referencing style. Remember to always check your university’s specific guidelines for formatting references.
Basics of Harvard reference
Harvard referencing is a system used to acknowledge the sources of information that you include in your academic writing. It allows readers to easily access these sources and verify the information you have cited. When referencing a film using Harvard style, certain elements need to be included for proper identification and citation.
When referencing a film using Harvard referencing, you should include the following elements:
- Title: Include the full title of the film, either in italics or enclosed in quotation marks.
- Year of release: Include the year the film was released in brackets.
- Director: Include the name of the director, surname first followed by initials.
- Country of origin: Include the country where the film was produced.
- Production company: Include the production company responsible for producing the film.
When referencing a film using Harvard style, the basic format is as follows:
[Title] ([Year]). Directed by [Director]. [Country of origin]: [Production company].
For example:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Directed by Frank Darabont. USA: Castle Rock Entertainment.
When using Harvard referencing, it’s important to include all the necessary information for accurately identifying and locating the film.
Citing a film in your reference list
When referencing a film in your reference list, you need to include the following information:
Title: Include the full title of the film in italics.
Year of release: Provide the year the film was released in parenthesis.
Director: Include the name of the director.
Production company: Specify the production company that released the film.
Format: Indicate the format of the film (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, streaming service).
Available at: Include the name of the streaming service or the distributor (if applicable).
Here is an example of how a film reference should be formatted in your reference list:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Directed by Frank Darabont [Film]. Available through Amazon Prime.
Remember to alphabetize your reference list by the first letter of the title.
In-text citations for films
When referencing a film within the text of your work, you will need to include the name of the film and the year it was released.
There are different ways to incorporate the film details into your sentence, depending on whether you are mentioning it as part of narrative or citing it directly.
Here are a couple of examples:
- If you are mentioning the film as part of a narrative:
The film Gravity (2013) portrays the experience of an astronaut lost in space. - If you are directly citing a specific scene or dialogue:
In Casablanca (1942), Rick famously says, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
When there are multiple sources within parentheses, you should order them alphabetically by the first significant word of the title.
Example:
(Smith, 2008; Warner Bros., 2010)
Remember to include an in-text citation each time you reference a film in order to provide clear and accurate documentation of your sources.
Providing additional information for films
When referencing a film in Harvard style, it is important to provide additional information to ensure accurate and comprehensive citations. Below are some guidelines on the additional information that you should include:
Film Title:
Include the full title of the film in italics.
Director and Producer:
Include the name of the director and producer(s) of the film, stating their roles in parentheses e.g., (Director), (Producer).
Year of Release:
Include the year the film was released in parentheses immediately following the names of the director and producer(s).
Distributor:
Include the name of the distributor of the film, who is responsible for making it available to the public.
Medium:
Indicate the medium of the film, such as DVD, Blu-ray, or online streaming.
URL or Format:
If referencing an online version of the film, include the URL link or specify the format (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime Video).
Accessed Date:
If referencing an online version of the film, include the accessed date in the format Day Month Year (e.g., 10 May 2022).
Example of a film reference with additional information:
- The Shawshank Redemption. (Director F. Darabont), (Producer N. King with TWE Productions). (1994). [Film]. Darabont, F. (Director), Columbia Pictures (Distributor).
- The Social Network. (Director D. Fincher), (Producer S. Rudin, D. Fincher, C. Mara, S. Sorkin). (2010). [Film]. Scott Rudin Productions (Distributor). Available on Netflix. Accessed on 15 July 2022.
By following these guidelines and providing all relevant information, your Harvard referencing of films will be accurate and informative.