Film Studies - A Level

"I’ve really enjoyed learning about films and their impact on society.”

Entry Requirements

Three GCSEs at grade 4 plus a grade 5 in English Language

Subject Intent

The film and television industry is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries, and a popular subject area for university study. Students who study Film Studies will be reflecting on the reasons why film is a continually popular medium, how film functions as an aesthetic medium and how representations are created in films. This involves the close textual study of film, which complements other analytical subjects, and a wider knowledge of the context and industrial background of the creation of films.

Students are also given the opportunity to produce their own piece of work in either filmmaking or screenwriting, which allows them to develop and apply their own creative skills and provides valuable hands-on experience of the skills and knowledge needed in the industry. Film Studies is a course that helps students to see the world from other peoples’ points of view, to communicate at a high level and to understand and appreciate the creativity, skill and talent needed to develop film as an art form.

Course Introduction

The A Level in Film Studies helps you to take your passion for film and develop skills of observation, critical analysis and personal reflection, as well as progressing your creativity and practical skills. Over the two years you will study eleven film case studies including screenings and more in-depth scene analysis and deconstruction. You will explore and consider the deeper social, political and economic contexts of the films both individually and in group debates.

The course examines films from America, Britain and Europe and considers how knowledge of contexts increases understanding and how films generate meanings and responses.

You will complete a practical filmmaking or screenwriting project to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of film whilst extending your evaluative skills in relation to your coursework productions, drawing comparisons between your own product and professionally produced films.

The combination of theoretical and practical skills will prepare you well for a career in film and media and are also valued by universities and employers in other areas including journalism and advertising.

Course Modules

There will be coverage of twelve film case studies across the two years of the course, involving screenings and more in-depth scene analysis. Modules include:

Year 1

Component One: American Film

Students will complete a comparative study of two mainstream Hollywood films produced between 1930 and 1990 and one single American independent film. We will explore how contexts are reflected in film, how knowledge of contexts increases understanding and how films generate meanings and responses.

Component Two: European Film

Students will examine two British Films and one European Film focusing again on the core study areas of film and the specialist study areas of narrative, spectatorship and genre.

Component Three: Film Production

Production is a crucial and synoptic part of the A-Level course, giving learners the opportunity to put into practice the filmmaking ideas they develop throughout their academic study. Knowledge of film form in particular is intended to enable students to produce high quality film and screenplay work as well as provide them with a filmmaker’s perspective on the films they study. Students must also provide a written evaluative analysis of the production. A production brief for students to follow is set by the exam board.

Year 2

Component One: Varieties of Film and Filmmaking

Students build on the knowledge gained in year one of the course and study additional films from the mainstream American and British film industries. Whilst the emphasis of the comparative study will be on contexts, all core study areas will be relevant to this component so that students can compare in detail the way contexts are reflected in the films studied.

Component Two: Global Filmmaking Perspectives

For this component, students will examine a wider range of films from outside Europe and America and also study documentary, experimental and silent film. This further extends students range and diversity of narrative film, each representing a distinct geographical, social, cultural world and a particular expressive use of film form.

Component Three: Film Production

This component has the same requirement as Year One but students are expected to write a larger and more detailed written evaluative analysis of the production.

Assessment

The assessment is made up of:

• 30% coursework (practical film-making)
• 70% exam (on such topics as British, European and Hollywood cinema)

Course Fact

You will learn the practical skills required to create storyboards, short films and screen plays.

Example Career Opportunities

Film Producer | Journalist | TV Presenter | Narrative Copywriter | Film Director | Researcher | Public Relations
Marketing Manager | Media Production | Digital Media