Film Studies
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A LEVEL FILM STUDIES?
Over the last century, film has become a global art form as well as a major vehicle for popular culture. Most of us have ‘grown up’ with film and can readily identify (and identify with) its defining images, stars and genres. But is there more to film than Hollywood? This exciting and deeply satisfying course will help you find out. If you enjoy cinema, then you are already, to a significant extent, ‘film literate’. The A Level course aims to build on the knowledge and experiences you already have to increase your understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of film and develop your critical, analytical and research skills. Film Studies is both demanding and richly rewarding – it is by no means an easy option, but its challenges can be highly enjoyable!
WHAT DOES THE COURSE INVOLVE?
The modules you will study in Year 12 cover film narrative and film genre; the art or ‘aesthetics’ of cinema and how a film is put together; how we respond to film and create meaning from it as spectators; British Cinema and the ways in which it reflects British society; Hollywood Cinema and US Independent Cinema; European Cinema. Additional modules in Year 13 involve: in-depth studies of ‘auteur’ directors and social and political contexts of film; World Cinema; a range of topics which include Early Cinema, Documentary, Short film, Experimental film and a variety of critical approaches to film interpretation.
HOW WILL I LEARN?
The earlier stages of the course focus on your experiences of film to date. This, for many students, probably means the most popular mainstream movies and genres from Hollywood. You will be encouraged to reflect on what you already know and then to assess critically and confidently an ever-widening range of films. In class you will be presented with a combination of extracts as well as whole films for discussion, but viewing outside of the classroom is essential. Throughout the course, the emphasis is on the student’s personal response. It is important to remember that you will be taught how to think rather than what to think.
WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP?
A creative arts subject like Film Studies can develop a wide range of transferable skills including analysis, visual communication, problem solving, as well as communication, presentation and organizational skills. You will develop the ability to analyse film using critical theory and learn to make your own critical judgements about film and to evaluate judgements made by others. The onus is on you to engage with the films you will be warching and formulate your own opinions and interpretations. Furthermore, you will be expected to communicate these ideas effectively, not just in essays and exams, but also during verbal discussions, which tend to make up a large part of the teaching structure.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
30% coursework, 70% written exam. Coursework involves creating and commenting on a practical project ie making your own 4-5 min short film. You will study 11 films in total and a collection of short films to help you in the creation of your own. The two written exam cover a range of topics in US, UK and World Cinema.
WHAT CAN A QUALIFICATION IN FILM STUDIES LEAD TO?
A level Film Studies students can go onto study Film, TV or Media at University. This can lead to a very broad range of professions with many students able to develop skills that will enable them to apply for production roles within the Film, TV and Media industries. Some students opt for careers within Journalism and photojournalism.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Grade 5 in GCSE English