MLA Citation Guide: Videos & Digital Media

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. To clarify what role the person has in the production, precede each name (or each group of names, if more than one person performed the same function) with a description of the role. Common contributor roles that can be included in the citation include:

• directed by
• performance by
• created by 
• narrated by
• edited by

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 it. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, use their username.

Time stamps in audio and video recordings

As there are no page numbers in audio and video recordings, include a timestamp instead. Time stamps are given in the following format: 

(Author's Last Name hours:min:seconds-hours:min:seconds) 

If you are citing something that is less than an hour long, you can start minutes. 

Examples: 

(Smith 01:15-02:20)

(Jones 01:20:15-01:22:22) 

Remember: For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

An access date for an online work should generally be provided if the work lacks a publication date or if you suspect that the work has been altered or removed.

Here is an example where the website no longer exists:

"Rosemary K.: A Woman of Substance." Irish Americans On the Loose, Elfie Publishing, rosemaryk.net/book.aspx?id=10&eng. Accessed 18 June 2018.

For more information, see the Handbook's section 5.111, p. 211, and Figures 5.42 & 5.43, p. 144. 

Last Name, First Name of video creator or Username of Creator. "Title of Video." Title of the Hosting Website, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year of Publication, URL of video. For more information, see the Handbook's sections 5.41, pp. 148-149 and 6.80, p. 285.

For more information on citing videos found online, check out the MLA website. 

Title of Video. Contributor(s), Publisher/Production Company, Date. Title of Library Database.

Note: Typically, films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

For more information of video titles, see the Handbook's section 2.109, p. 70.

Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release. 

Note: Typically, films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release. Name of Streaming Service.

Note: Typically, films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, Contributors Name(s), season, episode,  Production Company, Year of Release. 

Note: Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Note: Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available.

For more information, see the Handbook's sections 5.31-5.77, pp. 134-185.

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, Contributors Name(s), season, episode,  Production Company, Year of Release, Name of Streaming Service. 

Note: Typically, films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Note: Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available.