FILM STUDIES

AS and A-LEVEL

September 2010
SUBJECT: FILM STUDIES
AS and A-LEVEL
COURSE NAME FILM STUDIES
Specification currently being taught
Examination level AS and A-level
Examination board WJEC
Examination specification name Film Studies
Examination specification number
Length of course AS = one year course
A2 = two year course
Costs (if any) involved in the course: Small costs for materials related to
the course
Who is this course aimed at?
Film Studies is attractive to students who:
• have a genuine interest in Film;
• are interested in how the film industry works in relation to how films
are made and marketed;
• are interested in analysing films in relation to their messages and
values;
• would like to generate ideas for their own film, and produce scripts,
storyboards and short films;
• would like to develop an understanding of Hollywood, British and
World Cinema.

Entry requirements:
For this course, we would prefer you to have achieved grade C in GCSE English and
have an interest in film and cinema.
How will the learning take place?
Throughout the progress of the course, we aim to develop learners who exhibit initiative,
ideas, independence of mind, an ability to examine problems, and investigative skills.
These aims are met through:
• developing skills of critical analysis;
• taking part in discussion and debate;
• learning how to apply knowledge in different creative formats, such as the
production of screenplays, storyboards and short films;
• using varied forms of independent study, such as use of the internet;
• developing mature working relationships with staff and students;
• evaluating your own experience of films, and encouraging personal opinions and
ideas.

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What will you learn?
AS course: 1st Year
Unit 1 Exploring Film Form (coursework):
A written analysis of how micro aspects of film (mise-en-scene,
camerawork, editing, sound) produce meanings in a scene from a
film chosen by the student.
One creative storyboard for a sequence from a film produced with
digital photography.
Unit 2 British and American Film:
This unit focuses firstly on producers (both American and British) and
audiences. Secondly on the relationship between these and the role
of macro features of film (narrative and genre) in constructing
meanings.
Section A: Producers and Audiences
Section B: Analyse two British Film
Section C: Compare two US films
A2 course: 2nd Year
Unit 3 Film Research and Creative Projects (coursework):
One small-scale research project based on one focus film
and two others. The project could be based on the work
of a director, institution, star, genre or other aspects of film.
One creative project (short film or film extract, screenplay
or extended step outline)
Unit 4 Varieties of Film experience: Issues and Debates:
This unit focuses on studying films from different contexts,
spectatorship issues in relation to a particular type of film and a close
film study. Three questions, one from each section:
Section A: World Cinema topics
Section B: Spectatorship topics
Section C: Single Film Critical Study
How will you be assessed?
AS A-level
AS course: 1st Year weighting weighting
Unit 1 Internally assessed and externally moderated. 40% 20%
Unit 2 2½-hour written exam. 60% 30%

A-level
A2 course: 2nd Year weighting
Unit 3 Internally assessed and externally moderated. 25%
Unit 4 23/4-hour written exam. 25%

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Enrichment

Among the various Enrichment activities which you will find both interesting and
beneficial are Creative Writing, Computer Graphics and Digital Recording.

What next?

Like all A-levels, Film Studies will provide you with skills which are of use in employment
and as preparation for Higher Education. Although it is not possible to study both Film
Studies and Media Studies at A-level because this would result in specialisation at too
young an age, Film Studies A-level would give access to the full range of Film/Media
courses available in Universities/Colleges of Higher Education.

Careers in Film are highly competitive, but A-level and higher education courses in Film
will prove very useful to those who are interested in the theory and practice of film-
making.

If you wish to find out more information about each course at the College,
please visit our Website:

www.leggott.ac.uk
To obtain course information, go to “our courses”. You will be able to find
each subject leaflet, examination results and other data. In “Student Life”
you will find information about students who have come to John Leggott
College, their achievements and destinations.

Information correct at time of printing in July 2009

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