International Baccalaureate Film Syllabus Mr. Doug Smith, Instructor [email protected] Edmodo for IB Film Year One: hzhe42 Edmodo for IB Film Year Two: 7za6h2
Film Aims and Objectives:
The film course at the standard and higher level aims to develop in students the skills necessary to achieve creative and critical independence in their knowledge, experience and enjoyment of film.
The aims are to promote:
· an appreciation and understanding of film as a complex art form
· an ability to formulate stories and ideas in film terms
· the practical and technical skills of production
· critical evaluation of film productions by the student and by others
· a knowledge of film-making traditions in more than one country.
Having followed the film course at SL or HL, students are expected to demonstrate:
· an understanding of the variety of ways in which film creates meaning
· an understanding and effective use of appropriate film language
· originality and creativity in developing an idea through the various stages of film-making, from conception to finished production
· technical skills and an appropriate use of available technology
· the ability to draw together knowledge, skills, research and experience, and apply them analytically to evaluate film texts
· a critical understanding of the historical, theoretical, sociocultural, economic and institutional contexts of film in more than one country
· the ability to research, plan and organize working processes
· the ability to reflect upon and evaluate film production processes and completed film texts.
Syllabus Components:
The IB Film course is broken into three study areas:
Part 1: Textual Analysis- The detailed study of film sequences
Part 2: Film Theory and History- The study of films and film-making traditions from more than one country.
Part 3: Creative Process- Techniques and organization of production, the development of creative, analytical and production skills within film-making
Assessment Outline:
1) External Assessments (50%):
a) Independent Study (25%) Rationale, script and list of sources for a short documentary production of 8-10 pages (12-15 for HL) on an aspect of film theory and/or film history, based on a study of a minimum of two films (4 films for HL)
b) Presentation (25%) An oral presentation of a detailed critical analysis of a continuous extract from a prescribed film. The extract must not be longer than 5 minutes. Presentations are 10 minutes (15 minutes for HL)
2) Internal Assessment (50%):
a) Production Portfolio. One complete film project with accompanying written documentation: no more than 1,200 words (1,750 words for HL) (50 marks) Length of film project: 4-5 minutes including titles (6-7 minutes for HL). HL students also do a trailer of 40-60 seconds. Length of individual rationale for the film: no more than 100 words (HL length of trailer rationale: no more than 100 words. Students will be assessed on only one role (must be one of these roles: director, writer, cinematographer, editor)
**Group work: The film project may be undertaken as a group project (up to four students who will be assessed with an unlimited number of performers or assistants who aren’t assessed), but all accompanying documentation must be individually produced.
HL and SL students cannot present the same film for assessment.
Tentative Timeline
Independent Study (Assessed Year One)- Rough Drafts due at the end of the first week of March, Final Drafts due in the first week of April.
Presentation (Assessed Year Two)- Films assigned in September, presentations due in October.
Production (Assessed Year Two)- September: Introduce Production and Portfolio. October: Approved ideas and groups. November: Scripts and storyboards due. December: All filming due. January: Editing. February: Editing Finished and portfolio due.