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Film, TV, Video and Performance

Contents

Films

Films, videos and broadcasts are the co-operative product of teams of people. No author or creator is therefore included in the reference. In the references, you may decide to include films as a separate list. Please be guided by your Assessment Brief.

  • Title
  • [feature film]
  • Directed by Director.
  • Production Company,
  • Country of Production,
  • Year.
  • Duration.

Example:

Bram Stoker's Dracula [feature film] Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Columbia Tristar/American Zoetrope/Osiris, USA, 1992. 120 mins.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire chronicles [feature film] Directed by Neil Jordan. Geffen Pictures/Warner Bros., USA, 1994. 123 mins.

For a documentary or extra feature from a DVD of a feature film:

'Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly', The Good, The Bad and The Ugly [documentary extra, Blu-ray] Contributor Jon Burlingame. PEA/Arturo Gonzalez Producciones/Constantin Film Produktion, Italy/Spain/Germany, 1966. 8 mins. [20th Century Fox, 1581307000, 2009].

'The Music of The Hours', The Hours [documentary extra, DVD] Directed by Stephen Daldry. Paramount/Miramax/Scott Rudin, USA/UK, 2002. 6 mins. [Walt Disney Studios, B000087JHY, 2003].

In-text, in academic papers, the year is often included in the citation when first used but not thereafter. Titles of films are always in italics, for example:

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Television programmes

Television programmes are the co-operative product of teams of people. No author or creator is therefore included in the reference. In the text of your work television programmes are always in italics. In the references, you may decide to include programmes in a separate list. Please be guided by your Assessment Brief.

1. Television programmes

  • Title
  • [television programme]
  • Production credit.
  • Production Company,
  • Country of Production,
  • Transmission (time and) date,
  • Television station,
  • Duration.

Example:

Exposure: The other side of Jimmy Savile [television programme] ITV, UK, 23:10, 3 October 2012, ITV, 60 mins.

In the text of your document the names of television programmes are always in italics:

2. Individual episodes

  • 'Episode title',
  • Series Title
  • [television programme]
  • Production credit.
  • Production Company,
  • Country of Production,
  • Transmission (time and) date,
  • Television station,
  • Duration.

Example:

‘The Suffolk Strangler’, Killers Behind Bars: The untold story [television programme] Produced and directed by Rory Wheeler. Popkorn Production, UK, 20:00, 6 February 2013, Channel 5, 60 mins.

To cite what has been said in the programme use the surname of the speaker:

In your reference list::

Wilson, D. (2013) ‘The Suffolk Strangler’, Killers Behind Bars: The untold story [television programme] Produced and directed by Rory Wheeler. Popkorn Production, UK, 20:00, 6 February 2013, Channel 5, 60 mins.

3. Television programmes available online or on demand

  • Title
  • [television programme]
  • Production credit.
  • Production Company,
  • Country of Production,
  • Transmission (time and) date,
  • Television station,
  • Duration.
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

Is Cricket Racist? [television programme] Presented by Adil Ray. Filmed, produced and directed by Masood Khan. Cornered Tiger for Channel 4, UK, 23:05, 18 July 2023, Channel 4, 65 mins. Available at: https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/3C12FB2D?bcast=139356421 [Accessed: 25 July 2024]. 

In the text of your document the names of television programmes are always in italics:

4. Clip of a television series available online

  • 'Extract title',
  • Programme Title
  • [television programme]
  • Production credit.
  • Production company,
  • Country of production,
  • Transmission (time and) date,
  • Television station,
  • Duration.
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

‘Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize Winner 2021 Claire Barnett Jones performs 'We'll Gather Lilacs' by Ivor Novello’, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021 [television programme extract] BBC, UK, 20 June 2021. 4 mins. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09m0q0y [Accessed 27 August 2021].

'Emergency provisions', The War Game [television programme extract] Directed by Peter Watkins. BBC, UK, 31 July 1985, BBC2, 3 mins 31 secs. Available at: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/438638/index.html [Accessed 28 July 2016].

'Birmingham students recreate WW1 trenches in paper', BBC Midlands Today [television programme extract] BBC, UK, 17 February 2014, BBC1, 2 mins 3 secs. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-26228052 [Accessed 31 July 2015].

In the text of your document the names of television programmes are always in italics:

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Videos from Streaming Services

Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Now TV, Paramount+, Disney+, Hulu and others who have recently joined the Streaming Innovation Alliance, provide video on demand to subscribers. You may wish to refer to content in their films or documentaries to support your arguments.

Streamed video is also available to you through subscription services paid for by the university. Kanopy, available to you via the A-Z of Databases, gives you access to over 20,000 films including documentaries, television series and award-winning foreign films.

For streamed videos through YouTube or other online video platforms, see the section on videos from online video platforms.

A film from a streaming service

  • Title of Film [Feature Film]
  • Directed by Director
  • Production Company
  • Country of Production
  • Year
  • Available through Name of Streaming Service
  • [Accessed date].

Examples:

Moana [feature film] Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker and Don Hall. Hurwitz Creative/Walt Disney Animation Studios, USA, 2016. Available through Disney+ [Accessed 25 July 2024].

When I Stutter: A documentary film [feature film] Directed by John Gomez. Keen Eye Productions, USA, 2017. Available through Kanopy [Accessed 24 July 2024].

A television series from a streaming service

  • Series Title [television series]
  • Production Credit
  • Production Company
  • Country of Production
  • Year(s)
  • Available through Name of Streaming Service
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

House of Cards [television series] Media Rights Capital, USA, 2013-2018. Available through Netflix [Accessed 24 July 2024].

An episode from a series from a streaming service

  • 'Title of Episode'
  • Series Title
  • series number
  • episode number [television programme]
  • Production Credit
  • Production Company
  • Country of Production
  • Year(s)
  • Available through Name of Streaming Service
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

'Cooper's Dreams', Twin Peaks, Season 1, episode 6 [television programme] Propaganda Films, USA, 1990. Available through Prime Video [Accessed: 25 July 2024].

In-text, in academic papers, the year is often included in the citation when first used but not thereafter. Titles of films are always in italics, for example:

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Vodcasts

A vodcast is a video recording uploaded to the internet on a website rather than on an online video platform. Cite the author/composer/creator of the comments/ideas.

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [vodcast]
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

Pierce, K. (2018) Security Council Media Stakeout (5 April 2018) on the Letter Dated 13 March 2018 on the Attack in Salisbury on 4 March 2018. [vodcast] Available at: http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/security-council/europe/watch/karen-pierce-uk-on-the-letter-dated-13-march-2018-on-the-attack-in-salisbury-on-4-march-2018-security-council-media-stakeout-5-april-2018/5764650838001/?term= [Accessed 8 August 2019].

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Educational videos

Educational videos are often made available to you upon subscription and are therefore only available through the subscription site which you should acknowledge. For recordings of Teams meetings made available to you as videos via Moodle, please see Virtual Learning Environments.

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [video]
  • Available through: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

Bates’ Visual Guide to Physical Examination (2015) Low Back Pain (OSCE9). [video] Available through: http://www.batesvisualguide.com [Accessed 3 August 2017].

Older training material may be in different formats and not available online. Use these elements:

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [format]
  • Place of publication:
  • Publisher.

Examples:

Strong, G. and Dyer, P. (2007) Received Pronunciation: An accent training resource for actors. [CD] London: Methuen Drama.

The Macular Disease Society and Optima Low Vision Services Ltd. (2011) Re:vision. Keep Your Skills. [DVD] Andover: Macular Disease Society.

Digital Theatre Plus contains videos of live performances of productions, interviews with the cast and creators as well as filmed lectures and study guides. The way you cite these will depend upon the content of the video. Follow these examples:

Carnicke, S. M. (2016) Active Analysis for Twenty-first Century Actors. [video] Available through: https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/ [Accessed 3 August 2017].

Hunter, K. (2016) Shakespeare for Inclusive Audiences. [video] Interviewed by Michael Dobson. Available through: https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/ [Accessed 3 August 2017].

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Videos from Online Video Platforms

You will find academic papers citing videos posted on streamed video sites such as YouTube or citing videos posted on educational sites such as the TED Talks series on https://www.ted.com. However, sites such as YouTube do not facilitate or record whether a video has undergone a peer review process. Assuming that the material you have found has academic credibility, you need to find the name of the contributor or the name of the person/organization posting the video and the year the video was posted. It is important to check whether the video you are referencing is the official one.

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [video]
  • Place presented (optional).
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Examples:

Institute of Medicine (2012) Health Literacy: A prescription to end confusion, extended video. [video] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBy3I7YKCQQ [Accessed 21 July 2014].

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (2021) RBC Piano: Vaughan Williams, Delius, Beethoven, Chopin. [video] Performed by Yung-Li Chen, Irina Chagunava and Daisuke Yoshida, 27 September. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Om6wAc9Im8 [Accessed 14 December 2022].

Singh, J. (2019) Why I Love Wearing My Dastaar and My Kirpan. [video] Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/jaspreet_singh_why_i_love_wearing_my_dastaar_and_my_kirpan [Accessed 7 August 2024].

Webber, N. and Vaughan, S. (2015) Archivist vs. Game Designers? [video] Research Libraries UK Discovering Collections Discovering Communities Conference. The Lowry, Salford Quays, 12-14 October 2015. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOPFuz7-L8 [Accessed 31 May 2016].

Yuzna, B. (2015) ScratchTVBCU Brian Yuzna Interview. [video] Interviewed by Chrissy Hall, 4 November. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhUWxkGEdNg&list=PLpQuPYCyuS5pgNidr4yx-CZ2hY5i8PqDn&index=12 [Accessed 31 May 2016].

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Social media videos

For videos and reels, use the account name as the creator that sponsored or generated the content. Include the medium - photograph or video, for example, in the reference.

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Post title.
  • [Medium]
  • Social Networking Site,
  • Day and Month.
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Examples:

ElenaHowardPhotography (2017) Flowers at Bermondsey Square. [photograph] Instagram, 30 June. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/BV-uNjeFnry/ [Accessed 23 November 2022].

myBCU (2022) Green spaces in Birmingham. [video] Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkY28Q6jmvk/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= [Accessed 23 November 2022].

Birmingham City University (2022) The glow up of @Steamhouse. [video] TikTok. Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@birminghamcityuni/video/7150662437493067013?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7169243202619344389 [Accessed 23 November 2022].

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Webinars

You may need to refer to presentations, workshops, or lectures delivered as webinars (web seminars), online events hosted by an organization/company/training provider usually by webinar software, where the speaker(s) broadcast(s) live to a large audience of those who have registered to attend the event. These may be made available at a later date on an online video platform or only available to members on the websites of professional organizations. Include the organization that hosted the event as the author, include webinar as the medium and add the date if this is clearly shown.

  • Host organisation
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [Webinar] date.
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Examples:

Health Education England (2021) A Multi Professional Credential in Learning Disability and Autism at an Advanced Practice Level. [webinar] 27 April. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4y-N61q5yQ [Accessed 30 January 2023].

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2020) You and the External Environment - Navigating volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity - Learn and grow for the future. [webinar] 23 November. Available at: https://www.rcsed.ac.uk/professional-support-development-resources/learning-resources/webinars/coping-and-leading-during-a-covid-pandemic/you-and-the-external-environment-navigating-volatility-uncertainty-complexity-and-ambiguity-learn-and-grow-for-the-future [Accessed 9 February 2023].

For a segment of the webinar, follow the advice on extracts from television and radio programmes online in the second edition of Audiovisual Citation: Learning On Screen guidelines for referencing moving image and sound. These include the timing of the presentation within the recorded programme.

  • Presenter
  • (Year)
  • 'Presentation title'.
  • In: Host organisation.
  • Title.
  • [Webinar] date, duration.
  • Recording timings.
  • Available at: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Example:

Hewitt, N. (2021) ‘Case Studies: Advanced Practitioner, Speech and Language Therapist’. In: Health Education England. A Multi Professional Credential in Learning Disability and Autism at an Advanced Practice Level. [webinar] 27 April, 56 mins. 24:48 to 34:33. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4y-N61q5yQ [Accessed 30 January 2023].

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Live performances (musical)

1. Performances

Reference performances you attended.

  • Artist(s)
  • (Year)
  • Concert name,
  • location and date (optional).

Example:

O'Connor, S. (1992) Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert. Madison Square Garden, New York, 16 October.

2. Programme notes

These are often written by academics who should be identified in the programme. If the author of a note is not identified it is likely to be a more generic note and so less useful. In those cases, you would use the title in place of the author’s name.

The date is the year of the concert and the title is the title of the piece unless the programme note has its own title.

Concert programmes tend not to have any publication information. Where possible, give the concert name or series title, and otherwise give the venue and place (town or city) and date of the concert.

  • Composer
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • [programme note]
  • Concert name,
  • location and date (optional).

Example:

Lewis, A. (2006) Penmon Point. [programme note] Soundings Festival, Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh, 3 February.

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Live performances (non-musical)

1. Performances

For non-musical performances, the name of the play is always in italics. Include details of the director and the venue and date that you saw the production.

  • Title
  • by Artist
  • (Year)
  • Directed by Director.
  • Location,
  • Date(s).

Example:

Whipping It Up by Steve Thompson (2006) Directed by Terry Johnson. Bush Theatre, London, 18 November – 16 December.

Digital Theatre Plus contains videos of live performances of productions, interviews with the cast and creators as well as filmed lectures and study guides. The way you cite these will depend upon the content of the video.

  • Title
  • by Artist
  • (Year)
  • [video]
  • Directed by Director.
  • Location,
  • Date(s).
  • Available through: URL
  • [Accessed date].

Examples:

Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen (2015) [video] Directed by Rachel O’Riordan. North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford. Available through: https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/ [Accessed 3 August 2017].

2. Programme notes

It may be helpful to advise your reader where you have viewed the programme. You may have attended the performance, but the programme could also be held in a physical or online archive/special collection.

  • Authorship
  • (Year)
  • Title.
  • Title of production
  • by Artist
  • [format]
  • Directed by Director.
  • Location,
  • Date(s),
  • pp. pages.

Example:

Hall, P. (2008) From the artistic director. Love's Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare [theatre programme] Directed by Peter Hall. Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, 30 October – 15 November, p. 2.

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