Film Studies is an extremely enjoyable and worthwhile subject to study, but expect to be constantly challenged and excited by the course. Not only will it change the way you watch film, but more importantly it will challenge you to think in new ways and question or change your perspective on a whole host of issues, for example, representation of race or gender.
There is so much more to Film Studies than simply watching films. When watching a film, we might regard it as relaxation or escapism. However, the in-depth study of film involves coming from a very different starting point. As well as gaining an appreciation of film as an art form in terms of its visual storytelling, studying film can enhance your understanding of the world, for example by exploring competing values, attitudes and beliefs. Our course also incorporates a creative production element where you will be able to put what you have learnt into practice by making a short film or writing a screenplay. The development of deeper critical and creative thinking gained by studying film can enhance many different career paths and is a much sought after transferable skill in both employment and further study.
You will study the following areas:
US Film 1930-1960
US Film 1961-1990
US Independent film
Global Film
Contemporary UK Film
You will study the following concepts:
Film Technology
Narrative & Genre
Representation
Film Style
Film Criticism
There are two exams at GCSE, each worth 35% of the qualification with the remaining 30% assessed by Production work. Each exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of three different sections:
Component 1: Key Developments in US Film
Section A: US Film Comparative Study
Section B: Key Developments in Film & Film Technology
Section C: US Independent Film
Component 2: Global Film – Narrative, Representation & Film Style
Section A: Global English language film
Section B: Global non-English language film
Section C: Contemporary UK film
Component 3: Practical production
There is a creative production element which allows you to showcase the screenwriting skills you have developed during
the course by producing a:
Film Extract Screenplay (with storyboard)
Evaluative Analysis
Studying film allows you to understand important issues and developments within history, society and culture as well as using film as the medium with which to gain a greater insight into these areas. From Hollywood Cinema to Contemporary UK Film, the films on our specification have great critical reputations. They are films of depth and substance which have been purposefully chosen to offer rich and interesting analysis. They represent different time periods and different moments in history showing alternative representations of culture and people.
Studying Film enables you to see the world in a completely different light and develop a wide range of transferable skills for further education, work and life:
Creative Thinking
Critical Thinking
Emotional Intelligence
Film Analysis
Textual Analysis
Communication
Research skills
Literacy
Technical competencies (i.e. film editing)