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    • Film Studies

    “CINEMA IS A MIRROR BY WHICH WE OFTEN SEE OURSELVES.”

    - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

    A-Level Film Studies is an opportunity to develop a cultural, analytical and critical appreciation of the world of film. Throughout the course, students will acquire an understanding of the global film industry, including Hollywood and British cinema. Furthermore, 35% of the course is creative, with the prospect to create a short-film or write a screenplay. The course challenges students to consider the different contexts, ideologies and identities that inform a piece of cinema.

    The course consists of three components:

    Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking

    • Written examination: 2½ hours

    • 35% of qualification

    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 /2012 (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 (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 (1960-2001)

    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).

    We follow the WJEC specification:

    https://www.wjec.co.uk/umbraco/surface/blobstorage/download?nodeId=5348,

    A GCSE G6 in either English Literature or English Language is an essential requirement for this course.

    For further information please contact Catrin Beattie bt@pershore.worcs.sch.uk or Matt Lambourne mlb@pershore.worcs.sch.uk

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