• TITLE THIS BLOG POST: IB Text Analysis: NAME OF FILM
• DELETE ALL OF MR. LE DUC’s ALL UPPERCASE INSTRUCTIONS

Guidance for Your Work

“The TA is an exam. Failure to turn in the work within the 4 weeks, unless the teacher requests extenuating circumstances directly from the IB, should be considered a fail.” – IB Film

Summary

A guide to planning, researching, and creating your IB Film Text Analysis

• Follow the directions for each step below
• Include for your notes, where required

(Pick ONLY One for your TA)

Past Sample Student Work

Pan’s Labyrinth

• Neil’s Post
• Dexter’s Post
• Sam’s Post (She completed the work a little differently)

13.5 Hours To Complete

• Please track how long it took you for each stage

Step 1 – Preparation: Spend 2 Hours

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

• Thoroughly read the TA requirements in IB Film Guide PDF (including rubrics) (15 minutes)
• Review the TA Task Details
  • Clear cover page with the Title of the Film & Timecode (5-minute film extract)
  • Sans serif 12 point font
  • In-text citations
  • List of all sources
  • The textual analysis (1,750 words maximum) is intended to be a formalist exercise rather than a thesis-driven
    essay.
  • The focus of the work should be on how meaning is conveyed through the use of film elements in
    the chosen film text, with consideration of the cultural context of the film and communicated through the
    use of relevant and accurate film vocabulary common to the study of film and appropriate for film analysis.
  • In this task, the examiner is looking for evidence of the extent to which the student is able to demonstrate an
    understanding of:
    1. The cultural context of the chosen film text
    2. The use of film elements to construct meaning in the selected extract, using appropriate film vocabulary
    3. How the identified film elements in the selected extract relate to the cultural context of the film, to the film text as a whole, and, where appropriate, to other films, as identified by the student
  • At the start of the textual analysis, students should clearly state which film elements they are going to
    discuss.
  • The list of all sources used is excluded from the textual analysis word limit
• Read Examples and Scoring Guides (45 minutes)
  • Textual Analysis Example 1 (scoring)
    
  • Textual Analysis Example 2 (scoring)
    
  • Textual Analysis Example 3 (scoring)
    
  • Textual Analysis Example 4 (scoring)
• Review the Big List of Film Terms (15 minutes)
• Review the Text Analysis Worksheet (PDF) (5 minutes) – Used in Peer Review, too
• Explore the CHS Library: capital.osd.wednet.edu/academics/library (5 minutes)
• Explore The Moving Image Source Research Guide: www.movingimagesource.us (5 minutes)
  • The Moving Image Source Research Guide is a gateway to the best online resources related to film, television, and digital media
• Explore Mr. Le Duc’s Film Resources Page (5 minutes)
• Examine the TA Poster 1 (PDF) (5 minutes)
• 
• Examine the TA Poster 2 (PDF) (5 minutes)
• 

Step 2 – Pick a Film, Watch It, and Write Notes: Spend 4.5 Hours

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

The goal of IB Film is to expose students to films from all over the world and to increase their critical and practical understanding of film as a creative art form and reflection of its time period, society, and political and cultural environment. As a result, this class requires the viewing of a wide variety of films. In some cases, these films may carry an R rating, or, in the case of films made before 1968 and some foreign films, will have no rating at all. Please be assured that all the films selected for this course have a high degree of artistic merit and that many have won numerous awards and are considered part of the film canon. However, if you object to any film shown that does carry an “R” rating, you will always have the opportunity to request that an alternative film be assigned, and/or be excused from class and not view the film.

1. Watch the trailers and pick ONE of these films  (10 minutes)
2. Review Drew’s TA Guide Sheet (he scored very high!) (10 minutes)
3. First Viewing: Watch the film and record your reactions (2 hours)
   • Take notes (below in this post)
     • How does the film (various scenes) affect you?
     • Remember every scene is like a mini-movie
     • Pay attention to which scene best represents the film, for you
4. Second Viewing: Notice the cinematography, mise en scene, actor movement, wardrobe, sound (diegetic, non-diegetic, music, etc.) choices (2 hours)
   • Review the Big List of Film Terms for cinematic elements, mise en scene (what’s represented on screen), and sound
   • Write notes (below in this post)

Step 3 – Choose Your Extract, Watch It, Write Notes, and Research: 2.5 hours

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

1. Open your TA Bibliography Google Doc (In Your IB Google Drive Folder – Mr. Le Duc created)
   • You will add your MLA sources as you research
2. Choose your 5-minute extract (scene)
3. Re-watch this scene numerous times and write notes in the Task Analysis Guide (below) (15 minutes)
   • Narrative (Le Duc will fix this link)
   • Camerawork: Angles, and Movements
   • Composition
   • Lens: Depth of Field (Le Duc will fix this link)
   • Mise-en-scene
   • Blocking / Position of characters
   • Acting/body language
   • Acting style / method
   • Lighting / Cinema Lighting
   • Color scheme
   • Set/location/props
   • Set design
   • Costume, hair, makeup, class, gender fabric, color
   • Sound Design
   • Soundtrack/Score
   • Editing
4. Research to support your notes (1 hour)
   • Re-read Criterion A (Cultural Context) Rubric
   1. • Cultural context Evidence: Textual analysis and sources
        • Answer these questions:
          • To what extent do you demonstrate an understanding of the cultural context of the film text?
          • To what extent do you support your understanding of the cultural context with research from appropriate and relevant sources?
   • Add to your notes in the Task Analysis Guide
5. Re-watch your scene numerous times and add to your notes (15 minutes)
6. Research to support your notes (1 hour)
   • Re-read Criterion B Film Elements Rubric
     • Evidence: Textual analysis and sources
       • To what extent do you evaluate how the extract makes use of film elements to convey meaning in the chosen film?
       • To what extent do you support your observations with the appropriate use of relevant film vocabulary?
   • Write notes (below in this post)

Step 4 – Compose A Rough Draft within the Text Analysis Guide below: 2 hours

Total Time:

Due June 9 before class (Mr. Le Duc will look over your progress in class)

Date Complete: 

1. Watch Mr. Le Duc’s Convert a Table into Text with Editpad.org tutorial and do the following: (5 minutes)
   1. Copy and paste the two columns of your Text Analysis Guide notes (below) into editpad.org
      • This will convert your two-column table layout into a regular text document
   2. Copy and paste from editpad.org into your Google Docs TA Paper Template
2. Thoroughly re-read and examine your work with the Text Analysis Rubric (PDF) (10 minutes)
3. Compose your rough draft (1.75 hours)
   • Weave in your research the following
   • WHAT: Your observation about a film element in the 5-minute scene
   • WHY: Relate the film element to the shot or scene’s emotional or narrative importance
   • HOW: Explain how the film element works in the context of this scene
   • SO WHAT: Justify it with the cultural context, as needed

Text Analysis Guide (For your 5 Minute Scene)

Step 5 – Get Draft Peer Reviewed: 30 Minutes

Total Time:

Due June 12 before class (we will be peer reviewing in class)

Date Complete: 

1. Get it peer-reviewed with the TA Worksheet (PDF) (30 minutes)
   • Peer Reviewer: Look for evidence of each section of the document
   • Look for WHAT, WHY, and HOW for each statement in the paper
     • There should be at least one WHY or HOW or every WHAT statement
   • Look for cited research to support statements, where it makes sense
   • Write comments to help the author
     • Add them as “Add Comments” on the side, so you do not add to the word count of the document

Step 6 – Revise: 1 Hour

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

1. Revise your draft (1 hour)

Step 7 – Get Feedback from Mr. Le Duc and Revise: 30 Minutes

Total Time:

Due June 13 before class (Mr. Le Duc will have feedback by June 16)

Date Complete: 

1. Get feedback from Mr. Le Duc
2. Make final revisions and check format (30 Minutes)

Step 8 – Finalize Paper: 15 Minutes

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

1. Clear Title of the Film & Timecode (5-minute film extract)
2. Sans serif 12 point font
3. In-text citations
4. Less than 1,750 words maximum

Step 9 – Finalize Bibliography and Check Format: 15 Minutes

Total Time:

Date Complete: 

1. Update your TA Bibliography Google Doc (In Your IB Google Drive Folder)
   • Finish and check the format of your MLA sources as you research

Step 10 – Upload to Turnitin.com: 10 Minutes

Total Time:

Due June 20 before midnight

Date Complete: 

1. Upload your TA paper (from Your IB Google Drive Folder)
2. Upload your TA Bibliography Google Doc (from Your IB Google Drive Folder)

External Assessment Criteria SL and HL

• Thoroughly re-read and examine your work with the Text Analysis Rubric (PDF)

Peer Review Checklist

• Use the TA Worksheet (PDF) for review of core elements for the peer review
• Use the TA Marksheet (PDF) for the inclusion of all needed elements in peer review

• TITLE THIS BLOG POST: Film Analysis: NAME OF FILM
• IF YOU WANT, PLACE A CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGE RELATED TO THE FILM FROM SEARCH.CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG AT THE TOP OF THE POST
  • WATCH MR. LE DUC IMAGE PLACEMENT TUTORIAL
• REVIEW THESE ANALYSIS POST EXAMPLES:
  • Josie’s analysis of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Lindsay’s analysis of 6 Underground
  • Stuart’s analysis of Ford vs. Ferrari and Greenland
  • Naomi’s analysis of 13 Going on 30
  • Robbie’s analysis of Gojira (Orginal Godzilla) and Space Battleship Yamato 2199
  • Malachi’s analysis of Ratatouille
  • Giovanni’s analysis of Iron Monkey
  • Avery’s analysis of Just Mercy and Terminator 2: Judgement Day
  • Meredith’s analysis of Mother
  • Jaden’s analysis of Baby Driver
  • Reese’s analysis of Paul Blart: Mall Cop
  • Cooper’s analysis of Die Hard, Bird Box, Forrest Gump, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 3, Wonder, and The Blind Side
  • Katherin’s analysis of Bedtime Stories
  • Jack’s analysis of Clone Wars
  • Francis’ analysis of The Sound of Music
  • Eli’s analysis of Green Book
  • Avian’s analysis of Knives Out and Notes on a Scene of Memento
  • Jakob’s analysis of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Isaac’s analysis of Ratatouille
  • Aidan’s analysis of Jaws
  • Nick’s analysis of Marvel Movies
  • Dylan’s analysis of Toy Story 4, Avengers Endgame, The Adventures of Sharkboy And Lavagirl, and Spiderman Far From Home, Despicable Me, and Black Panther
  • Jacob’s analysis of Death Race: Beyond Anarchy
  • Nolan’s analysis of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
  • Coletrane’s analysis of American Psycho
  • Will’s analysis of The Conjuring and 2022 Batman
  • Kyle’s analysis of Breaking Bad
  • Adia’s analysis of Leon the Professional
• DELETE ALL OF MR. LE DUC’s ALL UPPERCASE INSTRUCTIONS DETAILED ABOVE

Summary

• IN ONE TO TWO SENTENCES, DESCRIBE WHAT FILM YOU ANALYZED FOR THIS PROJECT AND WHY YOU CHOSE IT
• DELETE ALL OF MR. LE DUC’s ALL UPPERCASE INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE

Film Analysis

Film information can be found at imdb.com

As you view films, consider how the cuts, camera angles, shots, and movement work to create particular meanings. Think about how they establish space, privilege certain characters, suggest relationships, and emphasize themes. In addition to shot distances, angles, editing, and camera movement, note details of the narrative, setting, characters, lighting, props, costume, tone, and sound.

Ask yourself the following questions:

This worksheet was developed with ideas from many IB Film teachers, thus should remain in the Creative Commons

Mr. Le Duc’s Film Analysis Resources

• Diigo.com Film Analysis Links
• YouTube Film Analysis Playlist