Year 13 – Film Studies

Head of Subject: Mr G Houillon

Intended Outcomes

“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.”
― Audrey Hepburn 

In year 13, students continue to explore a wide variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range of responses films can generate. They learn about more advanced specialist study areas, such as Narrative, Ideology, Spectatorship theories and Experimental filmmaking. They investigate how film works both as a medium of representation and as an aesthetic medium, and apply their skills onto American films since 2005, British films since 1995 and an experimental film. By Easter, students have completed their production work, where they have applied their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own film making or screenwriting. 

  • Course Implementation

    Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking  Section B: American film since 2005 (two-film study) 

    For this two-film study, learners study one contemporary American mainstream film (“La La Land”) and one contemporary American independent film (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) in relation to the core study areas. Students also explore the specialist study areas of spectatorship and ideology, and learn to apply a range of theories onto the 2 films studied. Students will be assessed on their ability to write two 1200-words essays about spectatorship and ideology, in relation to the two films studied in this section. 

    Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking  Section C: British film since 1995 (two-film study) 

    For this two-film study, learners study two British films from 1995 (“trainspotting” and “Sightseers”) in relation to the core study areas. Students also explore the specialist study areas of Narrative and Ideology. As part of their end of section assessment, students answer one 40 mark question from a choice of two, requiring reference to the two films studies in this section. They have to write approximately 1200 words in one hour. 

    Component 2: Global filmmaking perspectives Section D: Film movements – Experimental film (1960-2000) 

    For this single-film study, learners study one experimental film  (“Pulp Fiction”), in relation to the core study areas, with emphasis on the cult status of the film studied. Alongside the core areas, students need to apply the specialist study area of “Auteur” and “Narrative”. As part of their end of section assessment, students answer one  20-mark questions, requiring references to the film studied in this section. They have to write approximately 600 words in 30 minutes. 

    Component 3: Production Section A: Documentary film 

    In this section, students apply what they have studied (especially the short films studied in y12) onto a creative project. The production may take the form of either a short film or a screenplay for a short film. The screenplay must be accompanied by a digitally photographed storyboard of a key sequence from the screenplay in order to demonstrate how the screenplay will be realised. As this section is a coursework, students must produce their final project by the end of February. This represents 40/60 marks for component 3. 

    Component 3: Production Section B: Evaluative analysis 

    In this section, students must provide a 1600-1800-words evaluative analysis of the production, which analyses and evaluates the production in relation to other professionally produced films or screenplays, including all the short films studied in y12. As this section is a coursework, students must produce their final evaluative analysis by the end of March. This represents 20/60 marks for component 3. 

Learning Impact

In each assessment and trial examination, students develop their ability to cope with A Level-type questions. Once completed, assessments results are shared with students and recorded by teachers. Students are responsible for sharing their results and assessment papers with parents/carers. Assessments results are also shared with parents/carers in termly reports.  

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