Film Studies

What is Film Studies?

Film Studies mixes the analytical study of modern British and American film with the study of classical Hollywood and foreign cinema in context. It also focusses on the practical aspects of film making and developing scripting, storyboarding and film making skills.

What will I study?

You will study a range of popular British and American cinema, learning about film language, such as sound, lighting, editing, performance and cinematography, as well as theoretical elements such as representation, narrative, ideology and auteur theory. Films studied include Inception, Trainspotting, This is England, Vertigo, City of God and Pans Labyrinth. You are encouraged to keep a portfolio workbook of practical work, planning and film ideas. Coursework involves planning, developing, and evaluating a short film project.

Assessments

Film Studies students have two, 2.5 hour exams which are 70% of the A level.

Paper one:

Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study)

Section B: American film since 2005 (two-film study)

Section C: British film since 1995 (two-film study)

Paper two:

Section A: Global film (two-film study)

Section B: Documentary film

Section C: Film movements – Silent cinema

Section D: Film movements – Experimental film (1960-2000)

Coursework:

This component assesses one production and its evaluative analysis. Learners produce:

• either a short film (4-5 minutes) or a screenplay for a short film (1600-1800 words) plus a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the screenplay

• an evaluative analysis (1600 – 1800 words).

Trips, visits and enrichments:

• An annual trip is organised to London for film and media studies students to visit various film studios, museums and get practical experience of making film.
• An annual taster experience from the University of Worcester to experience film studies at undergraduate level.
• Trips to the cinema for national schools film week.
• Visiting speakers from the film industry, such as Nathan Wilkes Blue Zoo/ Disney and Lucy Stevens from Channel 4.

What can it lead to?

Student can choose to pursue film academically and undertake degree level courses which are theoretical or practical. Many students then take on a career in industry and work within film and television. Some of our ex-students work for Disney, ITV, animation studios and other areas in the film and television industry. Other students opt for the apprenticeship route of which there are many in the current tv landscape, organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4 offer particularly attractive opportunities for work in television and film. Other students use their film studies experience to pursue careers in the media and also teaching.