Overview
This is just an annotated bibliography assignment, not a research paper.
Please choose one of the films listed in the PDF document and write an annotated bibliography in Chicago citation style.
BIBLIOGRAPHY GUIDELINES:
Bibliographies should be in a standard 12-point font with 1" margins.
contents of the source and its relevance to your film.
your chosen film. We suggest that you find at least twelve, so you still have enough
if some prove to be inadequate.
and five years of release for international films.
Research and Bibliography Instructions:
Research: You need to find written sources about your film from the time in which it was produced and released. These may include film reviews, interviews with the filmmakers, advertisements, or articles about the production, premiere, theatrical exploitation, or box office performance in industry trades.
a. The best way to find these sources is through the Media History Digital Library. You can access the search engine through: Lantern.mediahist.org.
b. Enter your film title in the Search box (in “quotes” may help if the title includes common words), then narrow the years (on the left side) to two years before and after the release year of your film (or five years after for international films).
c. Look through the results (do not just use the first eight that come up!). You need to find a variety of sources. Eight advertisements or eight box office reports is not good research. You should find a mix of ads, articles, interviews, industry reports, and reviews.
d. When you find one that looks interesting, click “Read in Context.” This will open the magazine, though the page may be wrong. You often have to flip back a page or two to find the right one.
e. If you are not finding enough quality sources:
i. Try searching the star or director of your film.
ii. Focus on one of the ‘Collections’ such as ‘Fan Magazines’ or ‘Technical Journals.’
iii. For international films, you will need to search up to five years after the release year since they often take time to be released in the U.S. They may also have been released under alternate titles.
Annotation:
In your bibliography, you will then annotate each citation. This will show that you have read your sources and know what they will add to your paper.
a. In order to annotate properly, you need to know what publication you are using. On the search listing, you can click on the periodical title, such as “Motion Picture Daily.” This will take you to a page with “Book/Volume Details.” At the bottom should be a “Description” that tells you about the publication and its intended audience.
b. Annotation Example: “This is a review of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari from a major American trade paper aimed at exhibitors. It shows how American critics liked but did not understand the film or its potential to connect with audiences.”