A Level Film Studies

Course summary

Year 12 Film Studies - Unit 1 American Film: You will learn how to analyse a range of American films in detail, looking at camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene to consider how films make meaning. Film Studies - Unit 2 European Film: You will learn about the film industry in Britain and Europe. You will study a variety of British Films and also at least one European film in a non-English language. Film Studies - Production Work (coursework) You will have the opportunity to create either a short extract from a film or a screenplay for an extract for a film. You will also learn to evaluate your production work in comparison with other professionally produced work. Year 13 Film Studies - Unit 3 American and British Film: This unit will develop the skills learnt during Year 12. You will study 6 feature length films in detail including Hollywood, contemporary American independent film and British film. This unit will be assessed by a 3 hour exam (35% of the qualification). Film Studies - Unit 4 Varieties of film experience: In this unit you will study 5 feature length films and 1 compilation of short films. You will have opportunities to study world cinema, documentary film, short films and a topic involving a close study of two films. This will be assessed by a 3 hour exam (35% of the qualification). Film Studies - Production Work (coursework) This will build on the production work completed in Year 12 to create either a short A LEVEL FILM STUDIES (WJEC) film or a screenplay for a short film with a storyboard. You will also complete an evaluation of your production work. This is a non-examination assessment (30% of the qualification) Why study... Film Studies is designed to enrich your appreciation and enjoyment of film. You will be able to develop skills of critical analysis, to examine the meanings and values contained in films, to understand and ‘read’ the language of films, and to understand cinema as an industry.