Film Studies

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Entry Requirements

Normal BSFC entry requirements for an AS programme of study including at least a grade C in English Language GCSE. You will also need to be well organised, hard working and keen to succeed. 

About the Subject

Film Studies offers you the chance to discover why films are the way they are. By looking at films from a wide variety of genres, directors, countries and times you will gain a greater understanding and enjoyment of film as well as gaining an insight into the film industry and the importance of film in modern culture.

At AS level you will study modules on film analysis, the film business and specific British and American films. Assessment will be through a combination of coursework and examination.

Film is a modern and varied A level. Lessons will be delivered using different approaches but all will involve some element of discussion, individual and groupwork. You will be asked to undertake a wide variety of assignments, not just traditional essays (though these remain important), but also independent research, presentations (either PowerPoint or spoken), journalism (reviews and articles), and
scriptwriting. It is recommended, though not essential, that you have at least a C grade in English GCSE due to the nature of this course.

This is not a vocational course – although you will use cameras and editing software at times Film A level will not train you to be a filmmaker. It could give you the understanding and insight to start thinking about it, however, and you are able to borrow the department’s cameras to try making your own short films or videos. Many students who have taken this course have gone on to study Film, Media or Cultural Studies at University, and those going on to study English or journalism have found the variety of written tasks useful. Even for those of you planning to study a completely different topic area at HE, the emphasis this course places on independent research and analytical skills will prove very useful. 

General Information

AS FILM INVOLVES TWO MODULES, ONE OF WHICH IS ASSESSED BY EXAMINATION, THE OTHER THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COURSEWORK.

This module is designed to develop your skills of film analysis, and enable you to have a better understanding of how films are made and how audiences understand them.

This module is assessed through coursework, and there are 2 separate parts:

  • An essay analysing key features of a film extract.
  • The development of your own film script.

This part of the course is studied between September and November. Coursework will be developed during December.

This module involves the study of the film industry, and 4 specific films. It is divided into the following sections:

  • Producers and Audiences: we look at the Hollywood and British film industries: how films are financed, produced, marketed and shown.
  • Audiences: we look at how, where and why people watch films, what they get from them, how new technology is changing the way we watch films, and their cultural significance.
  • British genre: a comparative study of 2 UK horror films.
  • Hollywood genre: a comparative study of 2 US sci-fi films. 

What Next?

The second year of the course proceeds to look at world cinema and controversies surrounding censorship and other issues. There is also a short film-making project making up part of the coursework.