Film lines, TV moments, and radio quotes show up in essays all the time. Cite them clearly. Keep your in-text citation tight and your reference list consistent.
In Harvard Referencing Style, match the format to how you accessed the source: cinema, DVD/Blu-ray, streaming, broadcast, or transcript.
For a research paper or dissertation, note the route you used. Add timestamps for quotes so readers can find the exact second.
What to Capture for Screen and Audio
- Title
- Year of release or transmission
- Medium or format: film, DVD, Blu-ray, streaming, television series, radio programme
- Responsible names: director, producer, executive producer, presenter, radio host
- Publisher/studio or broadcaster
- Place (for physical releases)
- Programme title and network for TV/radio
- URL and Accessed date for electronic sources
- Timestamp for quotes: HH:MM:SS
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Movies (Cinema / Streaming / Disc)
In-text
(Title Year, HH:MM:SS) for a quoted line
or (Title Year) for a general point.
Reference list — film (cinema/streaming)
*Title*. Year, film. Studio/Distributor, Place if shown.
Add [online] Available at: URL [Accessed Day Mon. Year] for a platform page.
Reference list — disc
*Title*. Year, DVD/Blu-ray. Studio/Distributor, Place.
Harvard citation examples
- In-text: (Wall Street 1987, 20:04:09)
- Reference (disc): Wall Street. 1987, DVD. Twentieth Century Fox Films, Beverly Hills, CA. P. Weir (Director).
- In-text: (Parasite 2019, 01:42:33)
- Reference (streaming): Parasite. 2019, film. CJ Entertainment. [online] Available at: https://example.com/parasite [Accessed 12 Feb. 2024]. B. Joon-ho (Director).
Keep the director or producer in the entry when your local guide asks for it. Match one approach across your reference list.
Television Programmes
In-text
(Series Title Year, HH:MM:SS)
For an episode, add the episode title in the reference line.
Reference list
*Series Title*. Year, television series. Production company, City if shown. Name (Executive Producer/Director/Presenter).
For a single episode:
Presenter/Director Surname, Initial(s). Year. *Episode title*. *Series Title*. Broadcaster, Day Month.
Harvard citation examples
- In-text: (Australian Idol 2005, 09:10:04)
- Reference: Australian Idol. 2005, television series. Grundy Television, Sydney. G. Beness (Executive Producer).
- In-text: (Planet Earth II 2016, 00:12:51)
- Reference (episode): Fothergill, A. 2016. Islands. Planet Earth II. BBC One, 6 Nov.
Radio Programmes
In-text
(Programme Title Year) or add a timestamp for a clip.
Reference list
*Programme Title*. Year, radio programme. Broadcaster, City if shown, Day Month.
Add URL and Accessed date for online audio.
Harvard citation examples
- In-text: (The Search for Meaning 1998)
- Reference: The Search for Meaning. 1998, radio programme. ABC Radio, Sydney, 24 March.
- In-text: (Science Friday 2021, 00:07:10)
- Reference: Science Friday. 2021, radio programme. NPR, New York, 3 Sept. [online] Available at: https://example.org/sci-fri [Accessed 6 Sept. 2021].
YouTube Video Versions of Films or Speeches
If a studio or broadcaster posts the content on an official channel, you can use a film/TV/radio pattern with a link, or your local YouTube Video pattern if your guide separates it. Stay consistent across the paper.
In-text: (Title Year, 00:36:39)
Reference (film with link): *Title*. Year, film. Studio. [online] Available at: URL [Accessed Day Mon. Year].
DVDs or Education Videos (Publisher First)
Some teaching videos list the producing company as the key author.
In-text: (Taylor 2009)
Reference: Taylor, B. 2009. The Four P’s Marketing Strategies. DVD. Video Education Australasia, Bendigo, VIC.
Quick Review
| Source | In-text | Reference list essentials |
|---|---|---|
| Film in cinema/streaming | (Title Year, HH:MM:SS) | Title. Year, film. Studio; place if shown. URL + Accessed if online |
| DVD/Blu-ray | (Title Year) | Title. Year, DVD/Blu-ray. Studio, place |
| TV series (whole) | (Series Title Year) | Series Title. Year, television series. Company; city; key role |
| TV episode | (Series Title Year, time) | Director/Presenter; Year; Episode title; Series; Broadcaster; date |
| Radio programme | (Programme Title Year, time) | Programme Title. Year, radio programme. Broadcaster; city; date; URL + Accessed if online |
Frequently Asked Questions
To cite a video in-text using Harvard referencing: Include the author’s name or the name of the video creator, year of publication, and timestamp for direct quotes (Author, Year, Timestamp) or paraphrased content (Author, Year).
Use the key credit your guide prefers. Many list the director for films and the executive producer or presenter for TV/radio.
Use a timestamp for quotes or precise scenes. Omit it for general references.
Prefer the official source. If you must use a fan upload, cite what you used and note the Accessed date.
Yes, if your department separates YouTube Video entries. Keep one pattern across the paper.
Use n.d. and add as much context as the source provides.
