FILM STUDIES
Qualification: A-Level
Exam Board: WJEC
YEAR ONE COURSE CONTENT
Component One: American Film
Students will complete a comparative study of two mainstream Hollywood films produced between 1930 and 1990 and one single American independent film. The comparative study will be focused on the core areas of film foregrounding a comparison of contexts - how contexts are reflected in film, how knowledge of contexts increases understanding and how films generate meanings and responses. In the single independent American film section, students will explore the film’s non-mainstream cinema subject matter and the stylistic features associated with lower budget production.
Component Two: European Film
Students will examine two British Films and one European Film focussing again on the core study areas of film and the specialist study areas of narrative, spectatorship and genre. As with Component One, students will also identify clear points of comparison suggested by the institutional and production contexts of the films, the era, countries and cultures in which they were made.
Component Three: Film Production
Film Production is a crucial and synoptic part of the A-Level course, giving students the opportunity to put into practice the filmmaking ideas they develop throughout their academic study. Knowledge of film form in particular is intended to enable students to produce high quality film and screenplay work as well as provide them with a filmmaker’s perspective on the films they study. Students must also provide a written evaluative analysis of the production. A production brief for students to follow is set by the exam board.
YEAR TWO COURSE CONTENT
Component One: Varieties of Film and Filmmaking
Students build on the knowledge gained in Year One of the course and study additional films from the mainstream American and British film industries. Whilst the emphasis of the comparative study will be on contexts, all core study areas will be relevant to this component so that students can compare in detail the way contexts are reflected in the films studied. In addition, students are required to explore the specialist study areas of auteur, spectatorship, ideology and narrative.
Component Two: Global Filmmaking Perspectives
For this component, students will examine a wider range of films from outside Europe and America and also study documentary, experimental and silent films. This further extends the student’s range and diversity of narrative film, each representing a distinct geographical, social, cultural world and a particular expressive use of film form. In addition, students are required to explore the specialist study areas of auteur, critical debate, film theory and narrative.
Component Three: Film Production
This component has the same requirement as Year One but students are expected to write a larger and more detailed written evaluative analysis of the production.
WHAT DOES THIS COURSE PREPARE ME FOR?
Students who successfully complete this course can expect to gain entry onto university degree programmes in film, television or media studies, or direct entry into the film production industry at junior level.
ASSESSMENT
Component One: Varieties of Film and Filmmaking
• Written Exam - 2 hrs 30 mins
• 35% of Qualification
Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 : Comparative Study
Section B: American Film Post-2005 (two films) Section C: British Film Post-1995 (two films)
Component Two: Global Filmmaking Perspectives
• Written Exam - 2 hrs 30 mins
• 35% of Qualification
Section A: Global Film (two films) Section B: Documentary Film (one film) Section C: Silent Cinema (one film) Section D: Experimental Film (one film)
Component Three: Film Production
• Non-Exam Assessment
• 30% of Qualification
• Production (20%) *Either a short film or screenplay.
• Evaluative Analysis (10%)
• A written evaluative analysis (1,700-2,000 words) of the production in comparison with other professionally produced films or screenplays.
