Film Studies

Ethos and Aims

Film is one of the main cultural innovations of the 20th century and a major art form of the last hundred years. Those who study it characteristically bring with them a high degree of enthusiasm and excitement for what is a powerful and culturally significant medium, inspiring a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective. Film Studies consequently makes an important contribution to the curriculum, offering the opportunity to investigate how film works both as a medium of representation and as an aesthetic medium. 

The WJEC Eduqas specification is designed to introduce A level learners to a wide variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range of responses films can generate. This specification therefore offers opportunities to study mainstream American films from the past and the present as well as a range of recent and contemporary British films, American independent films and global films, both non-English language and English language. The historical range of film represented in those films is extended by the study of silent film and significant film movements so that learners can gain a sense of the development of film from its early years to its still emerging digital future. Studies in documentary, experimental and short films add to the breadth of the learning experience. Production work is a crucial part of this specification and is integral to learners’ study of film. Studying a diverse range of films from several different contexts is designed to give learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own filmmaking and screenwriting. This is intended to enable learners to create high quality film and screenplay work as well as provide an informed filmmaker’s perspective on their own study of film. The WJEC Eduqas A level in Film Studies aims to enable learners to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: 

• a diverse range of film, including documentary, film from the silent era, experimental film and short film 

• the significance of film and film practice in national, global and historical contexts
• film and its key contexts (including social, cultural, political, historical and technological contexts) 

• how films generate meanings and responses
• film as an aesthetic medium
• the different ways in which spectators respond to film.

It also aims to enable learners to: 

• apply critical approaches to film and
• apply knowledge and understanding of film through either filmmaking or screenwriting. 

Staffing

Mr G Houillon – Subject lead and Head of MFL Department

Mr P Baxter – Teacher of Film studies, English and Drama

Intention

The specification is additionally designed to reflect the diversity of film culture through both filmmakers and the films they make. The wide choice of films offered includes films by women and people of the global majority, and films which represent particular ethnic and cultural experiences. Over sixty films are offered from which eleven feature-length films will be chosen. In addition, a compilation of short films will be studied. 

WJEC’s Eduqas A level specification consequently provides a framework for the systematic study of a broad range of film as well as providing opportunities for creative work, an integral part of film study. Most of all, it offers the opportunity to explore a range of important ideas and emotions, reflect on art and technology and connect theory and creative practice in ways which are designed to provide an absorbing and motivating educational experience. 

Implementation

At the root of all film studies is a recognition that films are made: they are constructed using a range of elements – cinematography, mise-en-scène, sound, editing and performance (the key elements of film form) – which are organised structurally in terms of narrative and often genre (the structural elements of film form). How filmmakers use these elements, frequently in complex and highly artistic ways, is a large part of what constitutes the formal study of film. Equally important is how spectators respond to the work filmmakers create and how learners interpret the films with reference to spectator response, relevant contexts, critical approaches and debates. In turn, these formal studies have a direct impact on learners’ own work as filmmakers and screenwriters. 

For this specification, the elements underpinning the study of film are organised into: 

• Core study areas, which learners apply to all the films they explore
• Specialist study areas, which learners apply to specific films

Learners will study all of their chosen films (eleven films in total) in relation to the following core study areas. 

Area 1: The key elements of film form: cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing, sound and performance.

Area 2: Meaning and response: how film functions as both a medium of representation and as an aesthetic medium.

Area 3: The contexts of film: social, cultural, political, historical and institutional, including production. 

Impact

The study of Film at A-Level equips learners with a profound understanding of cinema as a powerful medium that shapes and reflects culture, society, and individual experiences. By engaging with a diverse range of films from various contexts, learners develop critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, and a deep appreciation for the art of filmmaking. The curriculum fosters an ability to analyse and interpret film from multiple perspectives, encouraging students to become more informed and thoughtful spectators, creators, and critics.

Through the exploration of both historical and contemporary films, learners gain insight into the evolution of cinema and its ongoing influence in the digital age. The curriculum’s emphasis on the practical application of film theory through filmmaking and screenwriting not only enhances students’ creative abilities but also empowers them to express their own ideas and narratives effectively.

Moreover, the exposure to films from different cultures, genders, and global backgrounds broadens students’ understanding of diverse viewpoints and experiences, promoting empathy and inclusivity. The Film Studies course ultimately prepares students to engage with the world of film in a nuanced and informed way, laying a strong foundation for future academic pursuits or careers in the creative industries, media, and beyond.