Curriculum Intent
Through a practical and theoretical approach, students are empowered to interpret, deconstruct, evaluate and create film.
Film Studies is offered as a:
- GCSE option for a 2 year As Level Course Years 10 & 11
- A Level Years 12 & 13
Through a practical and theoretical approach, students are empowered to interpret, deconstruct, evaluate and create film.
Film Studies is offered as a:
Film Studies at AS Level focuses on embedding a knowledge of Film History, subject terminology and giving learners the critical skills they need to study Film at KS5 and beyond. There is also some focus on creative and practical skills.
Learners will study the films: E.T The Extra Terrestrial (1982) Moonrise Kingdom,(2012) Ida, (2013) Room (2015) and Vertigo (1958) and complete NEA coursework – a screenplay and a storyboard for a British film sequence; or a short film sequence.
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | Introduction to Film – case study | Introduction to NEA – learning to make a film | Moonrise Kingdom – theme Family and Home | Room – theme Family and Home | E.T. The Extra Terrestrial | Vertigo and learning how to compare
|
| Year 11 | The Lives of Others and Ida film study | NEA evaluation and submission | Revision | Revision |
Students receive two lessons a week and thinking skills are embedded into all lessons. The purpose of year 10 film is to provide students with the literacy skills of film – terminology, analysis and some historical film knowledge. Key concepts such as industry, spectatorship and auteurship are covered as well as an intro to their coursework and exam texts
Students receive two lessons a week and thinking skills are embedded into all lessons. In year 11 we start the process of revision and building comparative writing skills. Analysis is made deeper through much more learning of social, historical and political contexts. Coursework is completed for hand-in this year.
Elements of Film
This component is worth 105 marks and represents 70% of the marks for the AS Level. This is an externally assessed written paper. Learners will be required to complete an examination paper lasting two hours.
The examination paper will consist of three sections.
• Section A: Film Form in US Cinema from 1930 to 1990 (35 marks)
• Section B: Comparative Contextual Study (35 marks)
• Section C: Close study: European film (35 marks).
Understanding British Film
This non-examined assessment is worth 45 marks and represents 30% of the marks for the AS Level. This component is internally assessed by teachers and externally moderated by OCR assessors. Learners will be required to produce an individual key sequence from a new British film or a screenplay for a key sequence from a new British film (30 marks) and to carry out an evaluation of their production (15 marks)
OCR As Level Specification – https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/316668-specification-accredited-as-level-gce-film-studies-h010.pdf
We are fortunate that film is one of the UK’s leading and highest earning industries. Some links to get students started on further opportunities and skills for this course can be found here:
Component 1
Learners will develop knowledge of film form through the study of at least three US set films from:
Component 2
Learners will further develop knowledge and understanding of key critical approaches to film and of narrative, genre, representations and spectatorship.
Learners must study at least one set film from each of the categories below:
Component 3 (NEA)
Learners must study one compilation of short British fiction films. Learners have the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills through:
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | Term 5 | Term 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 12 | Intro to Film | Film History and German Expressionism / French New Wave | British Film and NEA | Critical Approaches to film | Contemporary US and European Cinema | Documentary |
| Year 13 | Coursework Final edit | Experimental Film and European Cinema | Coursework submission and Revision | Revision | Revision | Exams |
2 Exams (70%) and NEA (coursework -70%)
| English Literature | Art | Sociology | Politics |
Democracy: In both Media and Film Studies– teaching of past political history – USSR/rise of Nazism and ideology of certain texts such as Ida compared to current ideas about democracy; using London riots as an example of how democracy was ‘turned off’ ; social media and net privacy/freedoms e.g. Cambridge Analytica etc
Rule of law: As above and discussions about identity politics in relation to recent protests/BLM and historical examples of protest from first wave feminism to Stonewall riots
Individual Liberty: Links to the narrative of Moonrise Kingdom and Room– debate over choice and freedoms. Erosion of privacy laws; Hong Kong protests over civil liberties…
Mutual respect: Taught throughout Film and Media – debates, discussions and interpretations of morality; as well as valuing everyone’s contributions in class etc.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: Teaching of internet laws, e.g. Tim Berners-Lee proposed a Human Rights Act for the Web; discussions about the rights of individuals using platforms for hate speech/free speech – new app Parler for example or Tommy Robinson and Facebook ban.
