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Overview

A-Level Film Studies

Film is one of the main cultural innovations of the 20th century and a major art form of the last hundred years. Those who study it characteristically bring with them a high degree of enthusiasm and excitement for what is a powerful and culturally significant medium, inspiring a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective. Film Studies consequently makes an important contribution to the curriculum, offering the opportunity to investigate how film works both as a medium of representation and as an aesthetic medium.

 

A-Level in Film Studies aims to enable learners to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: 

  • a diverse range of film, including documentary, film from the silent era experimental film and short film
  • the significance of film and film practice in national, global and historical contexts
  • film and its key contexts (including social, cultural, political, historical and technological contexts)
  • how films generate meanings and responses
  • film as an aesthetic medium
  • the different ways in which spectators respond to film.

It also aims to enable learners to:

  • apply critical approaches to film and apply knowledge and understanding of film through either filmmaking or screenwriting.
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Course Content

Component 1

This component assesses knowledge and understanding of six feature-length films.

Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study)
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two Hollywood films, one from the Classical Hollywood period (1930-1960) and the other from the New Hollywood period (1961-1990).

Section B: American film since 2005 (two-film study)
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two American films, one mainstream film and one contemporary independent film.

Section C: British film since 1995 (two-film study)
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two British films.

Component 2: Global filmmaking perspectives

Written examination: 2½ hours

 

Component 2

This component assesses knowledge and understanding of five feature-length films (or their equivalent).

Section A: Global film (two-film study)
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two global films: one European and one produced outside Europe.

Section B: Documentary film
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one documentary film.

Section C: Film movements – Silent cinema
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one silent film or group of films.

Section D: Film movements – Experimental film (1960-2000)
One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one film option.

 

Component 3

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).

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Requirements

Requirements

5 GCSEs Grade 9-5, including maths and English Language at Grade 6 and English Language at Grade 6.

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Careers

Career Pathways:-

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