INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

FILM STUDIES

WHAT IS FILM STUDIES?

The IB Film Studies course is one which enables students to develop both practical film making skills as well as academic ones. Through learning ways in which to interpret films from a range of cultures and eras, the Film Studies student will widen their critical ability and apply this to film making.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY FILM STUDIES?

Film Studies provides an enjoyable forum from which to learn about other cultures as well as the ability to look at the more familiar aspects of our own experiences from different viewpoints. As well as the opportunity to express themselves creatively, it also offers students the chance to work with others on practical tasks and to produce a short film.

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS

An interest in film is helpful but you don’t have to be a ‘film buff’ to take this course. It is open to anyone who enjoys sharing ideas and learning about the experience of others and likes talking about any kind of media such as music, photography, TV and games. Any prior experience of photography, music and sound recording or filmmaking is useful but not a condition of entry to the course. What is required is the willingness to learn new skills, the openness to new ideas and the desire to apply these through the creative use of film.

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT

Through the discussion and analysis of a range of films, the course aims to equip the student with conceptual understanding and vocabulary with which to interpret various elements of film. From the onset, students will learn to identify discuss with one another and present significant elements of film clips. We will begin with film styles and movements and explore through discussion and practical tasks, such as storyboard and photography exercises how meaning is created.

Film style and filmmaking techniques will be studied along with genre or types of film, narrative and representation. Specific film genres studied will be Horror and Road Movies. The texts included when studying horror shall be, Nosferatu, The Ring, Let the Right One In, The Orphanage, Frankenstein, Scream, alongside ‘hybrid’ films such as Bladerunner, Dark Cities, and Underworld. The key road movie texts may include Easy Rider, The Motorcycle Diaries, Y Tu Mama Tambien and Little Miss Sunshine.

In terms of representation we will be looking specifically at the representation of youth and the youth movie. Texts will include, The Wild One, Rebel Without a Cause, Quadrophenia,  Boyz n da Hood, La Haine, This is England, Kidulthood, Sweet Sixteen, Somerstown, City of God and Slumdog Millionaire.

We will study documentary filmmaking techniques and practice researching and scripting documentary film. We will be looking closely at the films of Michael Moore and David Broomfield.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

There are three elements to be examined.

The Independent Study (25%)

Film Theory and History- Presented as Documentary Script (25 marks)

Rationale of no more than 100 words, script and list of sources for a short documentary production on an aspect of film theory and/or history, based on a study of films originated from more than one country.

Standard Level: length of script 8-10 pages and minimum of TWO films studied

Higher Level: length of script 12-15 pages and minimum of FOUR films studied

The Presentation (25%)

The Detailed study of Film Sequences

This will be a recorded oral presentation of a detailed critical analysis of a continuous extract from a prescribed film. The extract must be no longer than 5 minutes.

Standard Level: maximum length of presentation: 10 Minutes

Higher Level: maximum length of presentation: 15 minutes

Production Portfolio (50%)

Creative Process- Techniques and Organization of production

This is internally assessed by the teacher and moderated by the IB.

One completed film project with accompanying written documentation and rationale of no more than 100 words.

Students are examined on one aspect of the production which could be

Scriptwriting

Cinematography

Direction

Editing

Sound

Group Work: The film project may be undertaken as a group project, but all accompanying documentation must be individually produced. Students cannot present the same edit of their projects due to the different assessment requirements.

Standard Level: Length of film project: 4-5 minutes including titles

Length of written documentation: no more than 1,200 words

Higher Level: Length of film project 6-7 minutes (including titles)

Also includes associated TRAILER of 40-60 seconds.

Length of written documentation 1,700 words which should connect trailer and film.

COURSE COMMITMENT

Students will be expected to work independently, outside the classroom, for about 4 hours per week for the higher level and 3 hours per week for the standard level.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

You need to have met the standard college entry requirements of five GCSE grade C or above. Including a GCSE grade C or above in Mathematics and English.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact Barbara Tailby or Carol Childs on (01287) 280800.