IB FILM YEAR 1 – SUMMER WORK GOOGLE CLASSROOM ID: irwyqzy

Welcome to the summer work for this coming year. I’m thrilled you’ve signed up for this course. The goal of summer work is to broaden the range of media you consume. So the films you choose to watch should be something new to you.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a Cincinnati Public Library card; They have thousands of films in all genres and styles; many are available online through canopy, libby, or hoopla. Learn how to use these - they’re gonna have more choices than Netflix.

Responses should be typed in 12pt, standard font, double spaced. This can be shared with me in a GoogleDoc, emailed to me (mfielder@vikingmail.org) or handwritten turned in on the first day of school - feel free to share with me before school starts (once I had a student finished in June).

A couple of things about how to watch a movie with intent not entertainment. In IB you need to learn to watch film as literature, you need to learn (and learn quickly Seniors) that when you’re watching a movie you are there to learn from the filmmaker both from a humanities standpoint and a technique standpoint.

Put your phone in another room. I MEAN IT! You think you can multitask but think about it - what if there’s a flash frame (2 frames/ 1/12th of a second) that the editor has added giving you a clue to the murderer and you’re paying attention to your instagram or tiktok. You’ve missed the moment and it’s gone. Yes, you can rewatch but you’ve lost the momentum and you’ve interfered with the filmmaker’s intention.
Watch it all at once. A film was designed to be taken as a whole. Don’t stop and start it (Bathroom and snack breaks are fine, of course, but try and take care of that prior).
Note any standout moments. They may include moments of high tension, beautiful shots, standout performances, or memorable writing (lines).
You may (of course) watch more than the required amount - just makes you a better student of film - ALL THE FILMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CLASSROOM.

For each film you watch, answer the following questions. (100-150 words per film)

List any standout moments due to: performance, tension, shots, etc.
Impressions you’re left with about the time period, audiences/audience expectations, filmmaker’s intentions.
Other films or media it made you think of - this might be specific shots, situations, or “looks”

A. Choose and watch at least ONE of the following films from 1934-1959.

Sunset Boulevard (1950 Melodrama) A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.
Some Like it Hot (1959 Comedy) After two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.
Stagecoach (1939 Western) A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.
Double Indemnity (1944 Melodrama) An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator.
It Happened One Night (1934 Comedy) A renegade reporter and a crazy young heiress meet on a bus heading for New York, and end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops.
The Maltese Falcon (1941 Mystery) A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.
Cabin in the Sky (1943 Musical) A compulsive gambler dies during a shooting, but he'll receive a second chance to reform himself and to make up with his worried wife.
The Woman (1939 Comedy) A study of the lives and romantic entanglements of various interconnected women, one whose husband is having an affair. She doesn’t know, all her friends do.

B. Choose and watch at least TWO of the following films from 1967-1980

Jaws (1975 Monster/Horror) When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. (PG)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977 SciFi/Western) Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader. (Note: this version is the original theatrical release, not the director’s cut - Han shot first!) (PG)
Taxi Driver (1976 Crime/Drama) A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action by attempting to liberate a presidential campaign worker and an underage prostitute. (R)
The Shining (1980 Horror/Drama) A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future. (R)
Alien (1979 SciFi/Action) After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. (R)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975 Drama/Comedy) A criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rebels against the oppressive nurse and rallies up the scared patients. (R)
Cabaret (1973 Musical/Drama) A female girlie club entertainer in Weimar Republic era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them. (PG)
The Godfather (1972 Crime/Drama) An organized crime dynasty's aging patriarch transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. (R)
What’s Up, Doc? (1972/Comedy) The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations. (PG)

C. Watch at least ONE of the following foreign language films from 2000-2020.

In the Mood for Love (2000 Hong Kong - Drama/ Romance) Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs. (PG)
House of Flying Daggers (2004 China - Action/ Adventure/ Romance)A romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem. (PG-13)
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006 Mexico - Fairy Tale/Drama) In the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world. (R)
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008 South Korea - Western/ Comedy) The story of two outlaws and a bounty hunter in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army and Chinese bandits. (R)
Train to Busan (2016 South Korea Sci-Fi/ Horror) While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan. (NR)
One Cut of the Dead (2017 Japan- Horror) Things go badly for a hack director and film crew shooting a low budget zombie movie in an abandoned WWII Japanese facility, when they are attacked by real zombies. (NR)
The Guardians (2017 Russia - Action/Adventure) During the Cold War, an organization called "Patriot" created a super-hero squad, which includes members of multiple Soviet republics. For years, the heroes had to hide their identities, but in hard times they must show themselves again. (PG)
Past Lives (2023 USA/South Korea - Drama/Romance) Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. (PG13)

D. Read a chapter: “How Films are Made” from The Film Book by Ronald Bergen. The pages of the text are on the classroom and there is a Googleform for each aspect of film creation.

E. Watch Licorice Pizza (2021/Anderson) - Comedy Drama Romance - The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. (R)

Write 100-150 words answering the question: What’s the point? Why make this film? Who is it for? Is it a successful film? List 5 interesting and specific observations about the film, cinematography, direction, production design/art direction, editing, sound design, and/or writing.

This assignment will allow for us all to have watched the same film, form a common language, and allow us all to discuss important aspects of film.

IB FILM YEAR 2 – SUMMER WORK GOOGLE CLASSROOM ID: irwyqzy

Everything I’m assigning has an eye on next year, as well you know. The following assignments are designed to keep your mind engaged with the idea that cinema and media are constructed in an effort to tell effective stories,

ASSIGNMENT #1: WRITE A SCREENPLAY THAT MIGHT BE USED

Read the chapters from The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

Watch “How to write subtext” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrR8ggeD4h4)

Write a 10-12 page screenplay with some structure to the story.
It must show some originality to it - find your own take on genre.
It may be an adaptation of a literary work BUT it must show your own spin and understanding of storytelling; it might be inspired by other works of art.
Use proper screenplay formatting; online tools are fine/great
Write a paragraph (at the beginning) about your mood/tone, your inspiration, or specific shots or directors/writers that you’re trying to emulate.
This might be used for your collaborative film project so it needs to be practical or possible for production on a low budget. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be magical or have fantasy elements, they just need to be achievable.
Keep in mind that our school hallways and classrooms aren’t the most cinemagraphic - which might be a lovely challenge to overcome.

ASSIGNMENT #2: CULTURAL CONTEXT & GREAT MOVIES OF THE 1990’s

Watch TWO of the following films from the 1990’s which some scholars deem as the last huzzah for smaller budget studio films ($15M -$50M). Please choose wisely and something that is NEW TO YOU.

I recommend that you put your phone in another room. I MEAN IT! You think you can multitask but think about it - what if there’s a flash frame (2 frames/ 1/12th of a second) that the editor has added giving you a clue to the murderer and you’re paying attention to your instagram or tiktok. You’ve missed the moment and it’s gone. Yes, you can rewatch but you’ve lost the momentum and you’ve interfered with the filmmaker’s intention.

Watch it all at once. A film was designed to be taken as a whole. Don’t stop and start it (Bathroom and snack breaks are fine, of course, but try and take care of that prior).

Note any standout moments. They may include moments of high tension, beautiful shots, standout performances, or memorable writing (lines).

You may (of course) watch more than the required amount - just makes you a better student of film - ALL THE FILMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CLASSROOM.

For each film you watch, answer the following questions. (100-150 words/film)

List any standout moments due to: performance, tension, shots, etc.
Impressions you’re left with about the time period, audiences/audience expectations, filmmaker’s intentions.
Other films or media it made you think of - this might be specific shots, situations, or “looks”
What is this film saying about America in the 1990’s? Why might it be considered “significant” or “relevant”either critically, artistically, socially, or financially?
What cultural context COULD you research or write about if this were handed to you as a sample tested film? What scene would you select to analyze? Provide a justification for your selection.

Drama

Being John Malcovich (1999/Jones) A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994/Darabont) Over the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.
Boyz in da Hood (1991/Singleton) Follows the lives of three young males living in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles, dissecting questions of race, relationships, violence, and future prospects.
American Beauty (1999/Mendes) A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.
Philadelphia (1993/ Demme) When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Thelma & Louise (1999/Scott) Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two girls escape for the crimes they committed.
Fargo (1997/Cohen Brothers) Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.
Malcom X (1994/Lee) Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.

Comedy/Rom-Com

Clueless (1995/ Heckerling) Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other.
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996/Barclay) A parody of several U.S. films about being in the 'Hood', for instance Boyz n the Hood (1991), South Central (1992), Menace II Society (1993), Higher Learning (1995) and Juice (1992).
Sleepless in Seattle (1993/Ephron) A recently widowed man's son calls a radio talk-show in an attempt to find his father a partner.
Shakespeare in Love (1998/Madden) The world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

Sci/Fi/Horror

The Sixth Sense (1999/Shyamalan) A frightened, withdrawn Philadelphia boy who communicates with spirits seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.
Edward Scissorhands (1990/Burton) The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.
12 Monkeys (1995/Gilliam) In a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.
Scream (1996/ Craven) A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
The Fifth Element (1997/Besson) In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr. Zorg at bay.

Films I don’t have copies of but I HIGHLY recommend:

Pulp Fiction (1994/Tarantino) The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

ASSIGNMENT #3: LICORICE PIZZA (2021/Anderson)

Comedy Drama Romance - The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. (R)

Write 100-150 words answering the question: What’s the point? Why make this film? Who is it for? Is it a successful film? List 5 interesting and specific observations about the film, cinematography, direction, production design/art direction, editing, sound design, and/or writing.

This assignment will allow for us all to have watched the same film, form a common language, and allow us all to discuss important aspects of film.

ASSIGNMENT #4: CINEMATOGRAPHY

Watch “Shoot Like a Cinematographer, Not a Videographer”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKzdP8cupH4

There are 4 lessons the video is imparting. What I want you to do is take each lesson and apply it to three different clips that YOU produce. This might be about one subject or completely different.

Each clip should be about 7- 10 seconds long.
String them together into one video, labeling each lesson (not the clip)
- Lighting: Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 3
- etc.

Watch “The Art of Natural Lighting”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr4Q6eeAHFM

There are 8 lessons in the video. Similarly I want you to take each and apply the lesson in at least 5 different clips that YOU produce. This might be about one subject or completely different.

Each clip should be about 7- 10 seconds long.
String them together into one video, labeling each lesson (not the clip)
- Lighting: Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 3
- etc.

If you follow one subject

I’d suggest you edit it all together into a documentary of sorts, like Samsara(2011/Fricke) so that you have another film for your portfolio.

Final Comment

I’m aware you might not have sophisticated lighting but taking a little bit of time to think through the principals and what you do have available to you and/or making the best use of the situations you find yourself in this summer.
Ultimately the goal is to make you start thinking about your phone as a legitimate camera and notice the cinematic possibilities in your world.

ASSIGNMENT #5: COMPARATIVE RECORDING

You need to record and upload your audio for your comparative. The first three weeks of school, you will edit your comparative clips and stills. This will also give you an idea of how long your comparative is.

Summer Assignments

2024-2025 English Honors 10 Summer Assignment

IB FILM YEAR 1 – SUMMER WORK

English Honors 9 Summer Assignment

IB English HL 1, 2024-2025 Summer Reading Assignment

AP Literature and Composition

IB English Senior Year

AP Calculus Summer 2024-2025

AP Language and Composition Summer Reading Assignment

AP and IB Chemistry