Course
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Learn more about A Levels at SGS College

Summary

The Film Studies AS and A2 courses are designed for students interested in learning about film, both creatively and from an academic point of view. Firstly, you will learn about ‘film form’ – that is everything film-makers take into consideration when making a film. You will then go on to study films from Hollywood, independent films, British films, documentaries, silent era films and experimental films, as well as films from Europe and Africa. You will be expected to be able to analyse and write in depth about these films, similar to how one might write an essay in English literature.

Students will also be expected to work creatively, firstly by planning and writing a screenplay in the AS year (along with providing a photographic storyboard), and then you will have the option to make a short film in the second year.

In this course you will study:

Year 1

Varieties of film and film-making

Six feature films are studied; these are possible choices:

Some Like it Hot

Blade Runner

La La Land

Frances Ha

Moon

Under the Skin

Year 2

Global film-making perspectives

There will be five feature-length films studied for this component.

Section A: Global film

Victoria

Timbuktu

Section B: Documentary

Amy

Section C: Silent cinema

One Week

Scarecrow

The High Sign

Cops

Section D

Pulp Fiction

Core study: Film form, meaning and response and the context of film

Specialist areas: Spectatorship, narrative, ideology, auteur, critical debates, film-makers' theories

This is a brand new specification looking at the study of film from a film-maker's perspective.

What do I need to join?

To study this course, you will need 5 GCSEs at grades 4–9, including English and Maths.

How will I know how I am doing?

Students will be assessed every six weeks with a formal assessment in the form of a written test, either as a homework task or in the lesson. If you are unable to commit to such supervision, this may not be the course for you.

The coursework task will be expected to be handed in on time – this will be December for the first year and April 1st for the second year.

In order to prepare yourself for the course, we recommend you watch Blade Runner (The Final Cut – Scott 2007) and Vertigo (Hitchcock). These will be the first two films we cover on the course. We also recommend that students purchase or borrow the WJEC Eduqas Film Studies coursebook, which can be made available in our library.

Work Experience

You will be required to do a minimum of 36 hours of work experience. This is usually completed in a week during your first year in term time, where you will have the opportunity to explore a career field which takes your interest. In the lead-up to this week, you will be asked to create an exciting CV during a group tutorial period. The aim of this activity is to give you an idea of what full-time employment is like and to help you think about which career you would like to follow.

What can I do next?

Film studies is an opening path for those who are interested in production or storytelling. Career options include: film director, film producer, film critic (magazine journalism) and film academic (BA, MA and PhD).

There are also a myriad of jobs within the film industry, from grip, to electrician, to focus puller and continuity. Check the credits of any film production. What these roles entail can be explained in more detail on the course, but it needs to be said that any career in the film industry will involve commitment and a high level of versatility and personal ambition.

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Course information last updated: Monday 20th January 2020 @ 8.30am (22 hours ago)