Curriculum

Film is an important part of many people’s lives. Those who choose to study it characteristically bring with them a huge enthusiasm and excitement for film which constantly motivates them in their studies. They experience a powerful medium which inspires a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective as they are drawn into characters, their narratives and the issues films raise. The root of that power is the immersive audio-visual experience film offers – one which can exploit striking cinematography, composition and locations as well as powerful music and sound. It is not surprising that many consider film to be the major art form of the last hundred years and that many feel it important to study a medium which has such a significant influence on the way people think and feel.

Film Studies is also a cross-curricular subject that draws upon the contexts of films’ production to explore social, historical, cultural, political and institutional issues from across the globe. In addition to analytically and evaluatively critiquing films as texts (from both contextual and narrative perspectives), production is also an integral part to learners’ study of film. Students are afforded the opportunity to apply their knowledge of how movies are constructed to produce creative films and screenplays to provide an informed filmmaker’s perspective to their own study of film.

There are no prior learning requirements for the specification, however, good skills in English Literature and Language and ICT will provide a good basis for progression in this qualification. Students must understand that they will be expected to produce regular analytical and comparative essays on cinematography, contexts, and the aesthetics and representation of film.