Film Studies

Level 3 Pathway - In order to enrol onto our Level 3 courses, students must have achieved a minimum of 5 grade 4s at GCSE Level across 4 different subject areas; this should ideally include a Grade 4 for English Language and Mathematics.

It is important that students also pay attention to any individual subject entry requirements.

It may be that a small number of students are recommended to sit AS qualifications at the end of Year 12 in order to inform decisions about progression into Year 13, however these AS examinations are standalone and do not contribute to the overall A Level qualification.

Why?

Film Studies offers students the opportunity to engage with a wide range of different film texts including British, Hollywood and World Cinema; challenging and enriching their appreciation of film. This course provides a pathway to related university studies and a future career in the creative industries like film, journalism, broadcasting and creative writing.

Course Structure

Students will be required to study elements that will contribute to the final two written exams worth 70% of the overall A Level in Film Studies:

• The core structures of classical cinema (camerawork, editing, sound, narrative and mise-en-scene)
• Film analysis of key film texts from classical Hollywood to modern day independent American cinema
• British and European film investigation developing wider understanding of social, historical and political contexts
• Introducing wider critical approaches to film such as the importance of auteur
• World Film and influential film movements such as Soviet Montage and German Expressionism

Students will also be required to complete the Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) which is worth 30% of the overall A Level in Film Studies:

• Creation of a 1600-1800 word fiction film script and accompanying digital storyboards

or

• The production of a professional short film appropriate for purpose between 4-5 minutes in length with an evaluative analysis

The subject will develop students’ approaches to: class discussion, research, critical analysis, creative writing and film production. Students will investigate and research key auteurs, enjoying a greater level of independence to discover texts they can apply the core structures to.

Extended Learning

Students will be set regular investigative and analytical tasks to complete outside of lessons. Students are also expected to keep themselves up to date with contemporary film issues, wider watching and debates.

Level 3 Sixth Form entry requirements