Film Studies A Level

The Film Studies A-Level is a course for those with a passion for film and want to look at broader cultural and historical perspectives on the subject. Students will study films from a variety of periods and genres, film movements or stylistic developments, as well as investigating its different forms.

Students also have the opportunity to produce their own short film or screenplay, allowing them to apply their knowledge and go on to analyse and evaluate it.

Key Areas of Study:

• Film Form & Language:

  Understanding how meaning is created through cinematography, editing, sound, and mise-en-scène.

  
  

• Contexts of Film:

  Exploration of historical, social, political, and cultural contexts that influence film.

  
  

• Critical Analysis:

  Studying films as complex texts through critical and theoretical perspectives, including auteur theory, spectatorship, and ideology.

  
  

• Global & Independent Cinema:

  Analysis of non-Hollywood and world cinema, with a focus on diversity and representation.

  
  

• Creative Production (NEA – Non-Exam Assessment):

Students create a short film or screenplay with a reflective analysis, applying what they've learned about film form and storytelling.

Format

Independent reading, watching films and film/screenplay production.

Key Skills Acquired

Written and communication skills, film production, creative thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, analysing.

Complimentary A-Levels

English Language & Literature, Drama & Theatre, History, Classics, Politics, Digital Media & Design, Art, Sociology, Psychology.

Typical Assessment

Written paper examinations and coursework.

Exam Boards

England, Wales and Northern Ireland Exam Boards: Eduquas (WJCE)

International Exam Boards: Cambridge International Education (CIE) offers Media Studies International A-Level which encompasses many aspects of film analysis and production, making it a suitable alternative for students interested in film.

Career Options

Film/media editor, film/media director, producer, location manager, cinematographer, camera operator, script writer, film critic, animation, film crew, film/media researcher, casting director, television production coordinator, social media manager, content creator, public relations.