IB Film Studies HL 1

Mariana Balestreri
mbalestreri@sandi.net, 619-525-7464 ext. 1104
Office Hours in Room 1104: Every day before school, at lunch and
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday after school until 3:30
www.msbalestreri.weebly.com

Course Texts
Films will serve as the primary “text” for the course. Students may also be given supplemental
articles.

Course Description
IB Film Studies is a unique course by almost all measures. This second-year course continues
the work the students started previously with a stronger focus around the IB assessment. The
course content will again cover film theory, film history, and film production. Throughout the
year, students will continue to build upon their understanding of film language. There is a
stronger focus on international film this year as students prepare for the IB exam (students will
see films from over a dozen countries and be expected to compare films from different
countries). Finally, as students begin to master these concepts, they will be expected to become
filmmakers themselves as they plan, shoot, and edit their own movies.

“This Film Sucks” Clause

Please be aware that the purpose of this course is ​not​ to entertain. While the course is designed
to provide an enjoyable learning experience, students will see many films that may be quite
foreign to them and may not seem that interesting. It will not matter if a student “likes” or
“dislikes” a film—what will matter is learning to “read” a film, determining if the film “works” or
“fails,” and being able to offer evidence to support that view.

Standards and ESLRs

The standards for the course are prescribed by the IB program. The course is broken down into
three components: film theory, film history, and film production. Students are expected to
demonstrate their understanding of film concepts through both written/oral formats as well as
through video productions. The course follows the guidelines set forth in the California State
Standards for Visual Arts. Students will meet and exceed the expectations of for standards 1-5
while completing their IB level work.

By making films, students will complete the guidelines set forth by the ESLRs. For example,
students will become Effective Citizens in making a documentary film on an issue they feel
strongly about. Through using technology and problem solving skills, students will develop the
skills found in the ESLRs through IB Film Studies.

Finally, the course is meant to prepare students for the formal assessment prescribed by IB
when the student has completed the second year of the course. That said, students are
expected to become proficient in film theory, history, and production as they apply to both
domestic and international movies during their time in Film Studies.

e3​ ​: ​ed
​ ucate, e
​ n
​ gage and ​e​mpower all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community
Grades
Category Grading
Film Projects 100 – 300 points per project
Class Presentations / Essays / Scripts 50 – 200 points per project
Other Work (Classwork, homework, class 10 – 50 points per item
participation)

The letter grade will depend on the following scale:

A = 86-100% B = 76-85.9% C = 66-75.9% F = 0-65.9%

** Please note that there are relatively few assignments in IB Film HL2.
One assignment has the power to move your grade up or down significantly—missing an
assignment, therefore, is cause for great alarm. **

Project Dates
This list includes only certain projects that require more involved set-up. ​Please be aware that
these dates are subject to change and are only approximate.

Project Due
Cinema Timeline September 2018
3 Angles Project September/October 2018
Screenplay October 2018
Scene Recreation November 2018
Trailer Project November/December 2018
Foley Project December 2018
Practice Textual Analysis February 2019
Practice Collaborative Film Project April/May 2019
Textual Analysis Draft June 2019

Class Behavior
The students are expected to:
1. actively watch films in class (including taking notes/answering questions)
2. be silent during films (no communication with others)
3. not tell others the ending to a film
4. have cell phones on silent and​ ​out of sight during film screening
5. follow all directions and behavior policies of International Studies

Academic Support
● Office Hours:
o Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 7:25 AM
o Monday - Friday during lunch
o Monday, Wednesday, Thursday after school until 3:30 PM
● E-mail: E-mail me at mbalestreri@sandi.net with questions or concerns. I will try to reply
within 24 hours.
● Remind: You can sign up for Remind in class if you would like the ability to send and
receive text messages with me.

e3​ ​: e
​ d
​ ucate, e
​ n
​ gage and e
​ m
​ power all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community
 ● Class Website: Students can access assignments and extra credit opportunities as well
as other resources for students including information on current projects, links to
additional websites, and class photos. www.msbalestreri.weebly.com

Class Materials
● All supplies a student must have to perform class assignments, homework, or
projects are provided by the school at no cost to the students. There are some items,
however, that are recommended but not required.
● A “film journal” is recommended (composition book or spiral notebook or digital
journal).
● Students are expected to create, shoot, and edit films for this class. While they will
have access to equipment needed to complete these film projects, students are
encouraged to use their own video cameras and computers.

Class Expectations
● Homework:​ There is little “nightly” homework for IB Film Studies. That said, there are
many projects the students will need to complete outside of standard class time. These
projects consist of both oral presentations to the class, written essays/scripts, and film
productions. While it may be true that a student does “not have homework, tonight” that
does not mean they do not have work they could and should do for IB Film Studies.
Successful students will work a little bit each night on their Film Studies work rather than
procrastinate until the night before an assignment is due.

● Class Participation:​ Much of this course is based on students’ interaction with the
course material and concepts. One way this interaction occurs is through the thoughtful
discussions between students. Students are, then, expected to actively contribute their
thoughts to the class. These interactions may be formal student presentations as well as
informal discussion. Additionally, students are expected to be on time and ready at the
beginning of each class. Student participation in class discussions will be monitored.

● Film Projects:​ Students will need to plan ahead in order to complete tasks in a timely
manner. For many assignments, students will be working in groups and it is the students’
responsibility to work equitably in groups and complete all assignments appropriately. A
student who does little but relies on group members to complete work will not be eligible
to earn an “A” or a “B.”

● Absences/Tardies​: Any student who has an excused absence from IB Film Studies can
make up the day’s work, but must do so at a time that is convenient for the instructor.
Given the variety of assignments, an absent student may miss a film viewing, class
discussion/lecture, or a production assignment. Absent students will need to make up
these assignments promptly upon their return and may end up with a modified
assignment depending on the nature of the missed work. The “Student Participation”
portion of the grade may be negatively affected even with an excused absence, so
please consider the importance of being in class every day. Students with an unexcused
absence will earn zero credit for an assignment.

● Academic Integrity​: Academic dishonesty is not acceptable student behavior.

Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, copying another’s work to be presented as
one’s own, and relying on group members to do projects while contributing nothing.

e3​ ​: e
​ d
​ ucate, e
​ n
​ gage and ​e​mpower all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community
 During the course of the year, students will work in groups for class assignments.
Students need to maintain the highest academic standards. Any student who commits or
facilitates academic dishonesty will be subjected to the school’s “Academic Honesty”
policy. ​This includes receiving a “0” on the assignment, a “U” in citizenship for the
semester, and possibly receiving an “F” in the class.​ If a student cheats on any
component of the IB Film Studies exam, the student will not be allowed to take the exam.
There are no exceptions.

IB Film Studies Assessment Outline

The following seeks to explain how students are assessed by the IB Film Studies exam
components. Most components will be completed in the second year of the course.

External Assessment (40% of the total IB exam score)

● Textual Analysis​ (20% of IB exam score) - t​ o be completed Year 1

o A written textual analysis (1,750 words) and a list of all sources used. This is a
detailed critical analysis of cultural context, film elements, and film theory. Films
allowed for this portion of the exam will be revealed to you one month before the
due date.
● Comparative Study​ (20% of IB exam score) - to be practiced in year 1, completed in
year 2
o A 10 minute recorded multimedia presentation of a comparative study and a list
of all sources used.
o Students will choose an area of film focus and choose two movies from different
cultural contexts (economic, geographical, historical, institutional, political, social,
or technological) to compare in their presentation. Foci to choose from include
film theory, genre studies, or movements.

Internal Assessment (50% of IB exam score)

● Film Portfolio - ​we will start creating films to choose from for this in year 1, to be
completed in year 2.
o A film reel (9 minutes long) consisting of 3 student films in which the student has
to be in different roles. For example, the student in the reel was a director for film
1, sound editor for film 2, and cinematographer for film 3.
o Portfolio Pages (9 pages maximum), 3 pages per film role going over the process
for pre-production, production, and post-production and a list of all sources used.
● Collaborative Film Project​ - to be completed in year 2
o A completed film (7 minutes long) to be done in a group of 2-4.
o A project report (2,000 words maximum) and a list of all sources used.

e3​ ​: e
​ d
​ ucate, ​e​ngage and ​e​mpower all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community
FOR PARENTS: Viewing & Filming Release Information

Some of the films we will be studying this year will either have earned an “R” rating by the
MPAA or, as in the case with some classic and foreign films, will have no rating at all. ​Be aware
that students may not see a film in its entirety as some films are selected only for relevant
scenes.​ Also, please be assured that the films selected for this course have a high degree of
artistic merit and are deemed worthy of study by the IB program and well-known film critics and
scholars.

Please take a look at the list below before filling out the attached Policies & Permission form. If
some of the films are objectionable please indicate which ones and an equivalent alternative will
be found for your student. Be advised, however, that students who see films independently from
the rest of the class may not benefit from the class discussions, a key component of developing
analytical skills.

Additionally, IB Film Studies is both a theory and a production course on film. Therefore,
students will be working with video cameras and other equipment that may involve them being
filmed, photographed, or sketched. Student work will be used in class for both presentation
purposes, possible school-wide events, or on school websites.

Please be aware that due to the nature of this course, your student will not be able to complete
all of the work without being filmed. Also, given the nature of the work being done both in and
out of school time, teacher supervision cannot be guaranteed throughout the filming process. If
you do not want your student filmed, photographed, or sketched in any manner, the student will
need to take another elective class.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me (jbrown4@sandi.net).

e3​ ​: e
​ d
​ ucate, ​e​ngage and ​e​mpower all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community
 IB Film HL2 Policies and Permission Form
Please print clearly!

e3​ :​ e
​ d
​ ucate, ​e​ngage and ​em
​ power all students to live ethically in an internationally-minded community