“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