Film Studies
You will study the key elements of film form including cinematography, mise en scène, editing and sound. You will also study the historical contexts in films. What can it tell us about history and society at that time? You will study representation and engage in the study of Ideology, the Auteur and Critical Debates surrounding Film.
Topic Areas
- Hollywood 1930-1990
- American Independent Film
- British Film
- European and Global Film
- Documentary
- Silient Film
- Experimental Film
- Short Film
Which films could I study?
- City of God
- Trainspotting
- This is England
- Vertigo; Selma
- Winter’s Bone
- Do the Right Thing
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Amy
- Pulp Fiction
- Sunrise
And a selection of short films too!
Have you seen or heard of any of them?
Assessment will comprise of a mixture of examined and non-examined assessment.
Component 1
A Level: Written examination: 2 hours 30 mins, 35% of qualification
Component 2
A Level: Written examination: 2 hours 30 mins, 35% of qualification
The exams consist of answering 3 extended response questions on Component 1 and 4 extended response questions on Component 2.
Component 3
A Level: Non-exam assessment: Creative Production, 30% of qualification
The creative production element allows you to showcase either film-making or screenwriting skills you have developed during the course: Short Film (video)
Short Film Screenplay (with storyboard) and Evaluative Analysis
Start building your lifelong relationship wtih film today by choosing A Level Film Studies!
Studying Film enables you to see the world in a different light and develop a wide range of transferable skills such as:
- Creative and Critical Thinking
- Film and Textual Analysis
- Communication and Research skills
- Technical competencies (i.e. film editing and scriptwriting)
Students of Film Studies are the students of the future, gaining the skills needed to develop successful careers and great academic minds. Film is one of the most relevant subjects today. Did you know that every seven days, as much moving image is uploaded to YouTube as the BBC has broadcast in its entire history? Employment in the screen industries has grown by over 25% since 2009 and will substantially outpace the economy wide increase of 3% if the skills shortages in this area are fulfilled. Career paths for students of Film may, of course, include practical avenues such as Film-Making, Directing, Producing and Editing but a qualification in Film Studies also allows you to move into more theoretical pathways such as Film Criticism, Journalism and Education.
The study of film is highly regarded. Film Studies has been an academic discipline within universities for over 50 years and is regarded as an academic subject in its own right. Oxford and Cambridge are now offering Masters and PHD courses in Film Studies and Screen Arts.
