Film Studies

WJEC/Eduqas Film Studies course outline

Film is one of the main cultural innovations of the 20th century and a major art form of the last hundred years. 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.

A level Film Studies is designed to enable students to explore:

• 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

The Media Studies course is based on three main topics:

• Varieties of film and filmmaking
• Global filmmaking perspectives
• Creating media products

Skills required

A passing grade in English at GCSE is preferred. Those who choose Film Studies 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.

Assessment method

Coursework

Component 3: Production 

Non-exam assessment 

30% of qualification

This component assesses one production and its evaluative analysis. Learners produce: • either a short film (4-5 minutes) or a screenplay for a short film (1600-1800 words) plus a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the screenplay • an evaluative analysis (1600 - 1800 words).

Written examinations

Paper 1

Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking 

Written examination: 2½ hours 

35% of qualification

This component assesses knowledge and understanding of six feature-length films.

• Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study)
• Section B: American film since 2005 (two-film study)
• Section C: British film since 1995 (two-film study)

Paper 2

Global filmmaking perspectives 

Written examination: 2½ hours 

35% of qualification

This component assesses knowledge and understanding of five feature-length films (or their equivalent).

• Section A: Global film (two-film study)
• Section B: Documentary film
• Section C: Film movements – Silent cinema
• Section D: Film movements – Experimental film (1960-2000)

Post 16 opportunities and careers

Film Studies is a well-respected A level which is fully recognised by all universities for its analytical and communicative nature. It could be combined very successfully with Creative Digital Media Production BTEC, English, History, Drama and Psychology.