Independent+Study

This page adapted from ontheroad29

= Assessment Overview = Worth 25% of your IB Film grade...

Students at HL must make reference to a minimum of four films (two at SL). The chosen films must originate from more than one country. At HL some comparisons should be drawn between the films chosen. The independent study must be presented in the form of a written dossier composed of the following three items.
 * **Rationale** - must offer a brief, reasoned explanation of what the concerns of the topic are in no more than 100 words.
 * **Script**
 * **Annotated List of Sources** - Note the word ANNOTATED. This should not just be a list, but you should explain and analyse each source.

The script must clearly indicate the relationship between the audio and visual elements of the documentary, employing an established documentary format such as “side-by-side” columns for video and audio components (go to 'Documentary Format' document below and use this as your base). All descriptions of video and audio elements must be both detailed and specific. Scripts must be 12–15 pages long at HL, using an accepted size of paper (for example, A4 or US letter) and must use 12-point Courier font (not in block capitals) and single spacing. It is important that the student treats a topic of film history/film theory in cinematic rather than literary terms.

**Formatting and Presentation **


=Grading= How can you achieve a top grade in this project? Read and fulfill the criteria below. 

Types of Resources to be Used
Some suggestions that are worth consulting in the planning and creation of your independent study
 * Text Resources **
 * Examples of research by previous students
 * Abstracts of university theses
 * Key textbooks
 * A range of magazines
 * Glossaries of key terms
 * Quotes by theorists


 * Image resources **
 * Contrasting film posters ([|Rosemary's Baby])
 * Movie stills and DVD covers
 * Film magazine covers
 * Moving image resources


 * IT resources **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recommended websites
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Online academic film journals

=** Brainstorm Topics and Ideas **=

==== **Choose a topic that is of interest to you!** Film history and theory is a HUGE topic and there are endless areas to choose from - when there are very few limitations on what you can study, it can be very daunting to select your topic. To narrow this down, ask the following questions: ====
 * Why did you become a film students in the first place?
 * What interests you most about film?
 * Which types of films do you enjoy watching most?
 * What topics or areas of study have you enjoyed most in this course? How to turn them into an appropriate topic?
 * Who is your favourite director? Why? Which other directors have a similar style?
 * Which genre do you enjoy watching most?
 * Which genre do you enjoy studying most? (This may be the same as the previous question, but it may well be different too)
 * Are there are countries that have a particularly rich film history that interest you?

Having brainstormed your favourite ideas about all things film, zoom in on one or maybe two ideas and think about how you could possibility mould that topic into a suitable Independent Study. Is there an interesting question that jumps out at you? Remember that you will be living with this topic for the next 3 to 6 months, so it had better be something that you are really interested in! Write out your chosen topic in just one sentence.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Problem choosing a topic? See me. Once you have your broad topic, research can begin. Do change direction if you find the topic too problematic - but only after consultation with me!

=__** Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation into Documentaries **__=

Watch a documentary that you have heard is very good. At the end answer the following questions:


 * How did the film catch your attention?
 * How did the film maintain your attention?
 * What was the target audience of the film? How did it reach out to that audience?
 * What was the film's relationship between audio and video? Did you always see what you heard and hear what you saw?
 * What was the documentary's attitude towards interviews? Were there many? How were they engaging?
 * What was the most successful thing about the documentary?
 * What was the least successful thing about the documentary?
 * Is there anything that inspired you that you might like to include/reference in your documentary script?

Watch more documentaries and repeat the questions above.

Consider Cousins' The Story of Film episodes

=__** Stage 2: Research **__=

** Online sources **
Try to find about 15 quality, useable articles. Use...
 * Google search
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This search engine that only looks through specialised film websites. Useful!: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]
 * <span style="color: #050000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20.0200004577637px;">Resources

If your research is not too successful think about how can you improve your search results?
 * Use more specific search terms to get fewer but more relevant records
 * Use fewer search terms to get more records
 * Try changing the words (use synonyms) to see what else pops up
 * Use parentheses e.g. “Burt Reynolds”
 * Choose search engines that allow you to refine your search e.g. Google, BBCi
 * Use Boolean operators to refine your search e.g. “AND” or & or +

Online Secondary Research (someone else has already done the investigation/research for you) comes with some disadvantages

Disadvantages:
 * Not all the sites listed will be relevant
 * Initial searches will often generate too many sites to look at
 * You cannot expect them to answer your questions
 * It will only provide initial information

Evaluate your sources
 * Web pages require the same (or more) caution as any other source
 * Anyone with access to a server can put material on the web
 * Do not assume statements are true, verify them.

Ask yourself the following questions:
 * Who is responsible for the site?
 * What are the author’s credentials?
 * What is the rationale for the site - is it endorsing a particular viewpoint to the exclusion of others?
 * Is there a date when the site was last updated- how long ago did this happen?
 * Does the site seem to be permanent or part of a permanent organisation?
 * Is the page connected to a reputable institution?

** Print/Databases/Podcast sources **
Try to find about 15 quality, useable articles. Use...
 * Film Dept books
 * Library books
 * Library Research Databases (See Ms. Bond)
 * The digital library I gave you
 * BBC Podcasts: The Film Programme ( [] )
 * Other film podcasts
 * DVD commentaries
 * DVD extra features/behind the scenes/commentaries
 * Interviews with relevant actors/directors

** Film Data Research **
Watch your chosen films, making notes for good clips/moments in the film to use to make your point.

1. Watch each of your key 4 films through once. As you watch each film note down the following:


 * Which clips are most relevant to your topic. Briefly write down the scene, for example, "Foot Madagascar chase sequence" and how it will help, eg, "Depicts Bond's tenacity and brute force"


 * Make sure you write down the time code for each clip (you will thank yourself later). Timeclips go hours:minutes:seconds. ALWAYS write down 6 digits, even if some are 0s. eg 00:11:23 is 11 minutes and 23 seconds into the film.

2. Once you have watched through all 4 key films once and made your preliminary investigation notes compare your notes for all films to see what key filmic similarities and differences there are. These will go on to form a large part of your argument.

3. Watch and make notes for up to 8 extra films that could be used, not as main films, but as films worthy of a passing comment (or paragraph at most). Get relevant screenshots now (and note down the timecode) as it will save you from having to pore through the films again later when you are much more rushed for time as the deadline is looming!

4. Watch each of your main films through again. This time making more detailed analytical notes of ckips that are relevant to your argument.

=__** Stage 3: Planning Your Script **__=


 * Take the key similarities/differences that you found in Stage 2 and play around with their order and sequencing to try and come up with a solid logical argument. Your argument must have all key ideas linked together (not just haphazardly thrown down.


 * The target audience for your Independent Study screenplay is 17/18 year old teens with an interest in film. Think of an inventive and creative way to hook your audience's attention with an engaging opening. Avoid the quotidian and grab their attention at the outset.


 * Share both the plan and the opening idea with me to get the project green-lit before beginning writing in earnest.

=__** Stage 4: Writing the Script **__=


 * Review the grading criteria. Keep these criteria in the back of your minds throughout the entire writing process. There is no point in spending hours writing it and then being told to do it all again as it doesn't fit the grading criteria. Highlight and rephrase into your own words the top band of the grading criteria.


 * Write your script! Show me drafts along the way to make sure you are on target. Make sure that as you write you include the screenshots from your films for your annotated Bibliography.


 * Hand in your first draft.

=__** Stage 5: Redrafting **__=

I can comment on one draft only, so make it count by handing in something that you are proud of and that really demonstrates your best work. I will give you feedback and then you need to rewrite.

Please include all of the following aspects in your Independent Study Make sure you refer to the **countries** in question and talk about influence. This does not have to be in great depth, but it should be addressed.
 * A cover page
 * Your name and candidate number as a header on every page
 * The correct font type and size
 * Screenshots are all the same size
 * Page numbers as a footer on every page
 * Link your images in the appendix to the body of the documentary
 * Filmography of all films studied or referenced
 * Your rationale
 * Include a table like the one below at the bottom of the page underneath your rationale
 * ** Film ** || ** Director ** || ** Country ** || ** Year ** ||
 * Pulp Fiction || Tarantino || USA || 1994 ||
 * Boyz N the Hood || Singleton || USA || 1991 ||
 * La Haine (Hate) || Kassovitz || France || 1995 ||
 * Cidade de Deus (City of God) || Meirelles || Brazil || 2002 ||
 * Why did these films come about?
 * What socio-political or socio-cultural influences are there behind them?
 * Did they set a trend or make an impact?
 * If yes, why?