Film Studies

Course content and components

Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking

Written examination: 2½ hours
35% of qualification
Across all components you will study 11 films in preparation for the final exams
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
35% of qualification
This component assesses knowledge and understanding of five feature-length films.

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: Production

Non-exam assessment
30% of qualification

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).

What have students who have taken this course in the past progressed to?

This is a course newly taught at the school, but studies in Media and Film can lead to further studies in Media and result in employment across numerous media and non-media sectors. The industry is a rapidly changing one, so the aim would be to achieve the very best grade possible, move on to University study or work placement and then specialise in specific fields. The course offers a mix of both academic and practical study, allowing for experiences to create and analyse, so options are open from this point for further choices.
It can also be studied at A-Level as a pathway to study Humanities subjects at University.

How much time should I be expected to spend on assignments, projects, field trips etc?

There would be an expectation to engage with films across different genres, times and ‘areas’, whilst also studying academic theories and specialist study areas;

Core Study Areas: Key elements of Film Form, Meaning and Response and The contexts of Film
Specialist Study Areas: Spectatorship, Narrative, Ideology, Auteur, Critical Debates and Film Maker’s Theories.

An estimated minimum of 5hrs per week in addition to class time would be expected to complete work set.

Expected prior knowledge

While previous knowledge, study and awareness of Media and Film Studies is not required, it is necessary to have a secure GCSE Grade in English in order to be able to tackle the essay writing questions in the two exams, and the writing analysis style required for 70% of the qualification.

Please be aware that while this course is called Film Studies, it is an academic subject that requires extensive reading and writing in order to succeed. It echoes English Literature in that the course requires close written analysis of our texts/films.

A passion for Film, from across a range of times and places would also be beneficial.
A baseline understanding and experience of Film, Television and media production would be beneficial.

Awarding Body WJEC EDUQAS