What is the Film Studies Course at A level about?
The year 12 pages are currently being updated for the new A Level Specification
The full exam board A-Level Specification for 2017 onwards can be found here
Basically, the A level is designed to enable you to deepen your understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of film. By the end of the AS year, you should be able to understand how we as an audience ‘read’ a film, often without realising that we are doing so.
The course will also look at film as a medium, an art form and as a social and ideological construct. You will be engaging with a variety of different kinds of film and, with the intention of developing your skills of critical analysis.
A Level Film Studies will cover the following areas
|
Component 1 – Varieties of film and filmmaking |
Exam assessmentSection A: Hollywood 1930 – 1990 (comparative study)40 marks
Section B: American film since 2005 (two film study)
40 marks
|
Component 2 – Global filmmaking perspectives |
Exam assessmentSection A: Global Film (two film study)40 marksSection B: Documentary Film20 marks
|
Component 3 – ProductionCoursework assessment
Option 1: Short Film OR Option 2: Screenplay (& 20 frame digital storyboard)40 marksEvaluative Analysis (1600-1800 words)20 marks |
Introduction: Film Aesthetics
Click on the head-spinning wood spirits to go to the Film Aesthetics page
Component 1 – Varieties of film and filmmaking
Section A: Hollywood 1930 – 1990
Click on the right eye to go to the Vertigo page Click on the left eye to go to the Blade Runner page
Section B: American film since 2005
Click on the woman for the La La Land page Click on the girl for the Beasts of the Southern Wild page
Component 2 – Global filmmaking perspectives
Section A: Global Film
Click on the fantasy god for the Pan's Labyrinth page Click on the murderous child for the City of God page
Section B: Documentary Film
Click on the driving pop stars for the 20,000 Days on Earth page
Component 3 – Production
Click on the doorkey dinnertime for the short film page
Click on the biplane attack to go to the Creative Project page
Please be aware that the information below is archive resources for the old specification ending June 2017
Exam: British and American Film
Three questions, one from each section:
Section A: Response to stimulus material set by the exam
board on the topic of producers and audiences of film
Click on the Lego Avengers to go to the Producers and Audiences page
Section B: Topics in British Film
Click on the snoozing general to go to the British Cultural Studies page
Section C: US Film - Comparative study of two films
Click on the shadowy femme fatale to go to the US Film - Comparative study page