Film Studies
Film is widely acknowledged as the major art form of the 20th Century and today film continues to be an important part of most people’s cultural experience.
Film Studies is designed to build upon students’ own experience of film – as consumers and creators – and to encourage a recognition of the complexity of this experience within an increasingly globalised, interconnected environment.
“Film is life, with the dull bits cut out”
(Alfred Hitchcock, Film Director)
Film Studies on Instagram
Examination Board: EDUQAS
Course Description
Film is an enigma. Most people in the world have seen a film. A great many would say that they enjoy films. Many would call themselves film fans. However, people rarely agree on what it is about film that they love. A Level Film Studies is as rich and varied as literature, music, theatre or fine art and combines approaches, theories and practices from humanities, the social sciences, and the arts in a deep examination of how and why films work.
In A Level Film Studies, you will broaden your knowledge and understanding of film. You will consider mainstream American films past and present (such as Casablanca, Bonnie and Clyde, La La Land and Beasts of the Southern Wild) as well as recent and contemporary British films (such as Trainspotting and Saint Maud), documentary films (such as Stories We Tell), experimental films (such as Fallen Angels) and non-English language global films (such as Mustang and Taxi Tehran) and examine the dominance of Hollywood alongside its alternatives.
You will study silent film (such as the work of Buster Keaton) and significant movements to gain a sense of the development of film from its early years to its still emerging digital future.
You will have the opportunity to remove and examine the building blocks of film before applying them to your own productions, designed from your own filmmaker’s perspective.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for this subject will be committing to a two-year course, with all units examined at the end of Year 13.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Film Studies is helpful but not a requirement. Where students have completed the GCSE course, a Grade 5 or higher is required.
Where might it lead?
A Level Film Studies can help open doors to careers as:
- Advertising
- Arts & Community Arts
- Broadcast Presenter
- Concept Artist
- Film Director
- Film/Video Editor
- Location Manager
- Marketing
- Production Designer – theatre/television/film
- Programme Researcher – broadcasting/film/video
- Public Relations
- Runner, broadcasting/film/video
- Special Effects Technician
- Talent Agent
- Television Camera Operator
- Television/Film/Video Producer
- Television Production Coordinator
- VFX artist
Student Destinations
Oscar Heelan
2024 Offers from:
- Arts University Bournemouth – Film Production
- BIMM University – Filmmaking
- Bristol, University of the West of England – Filmmaking
- University of Portsmouth – Film Production
- University of Salford – Film Production
