Film Studies A2 WJEC 08/09

Course Outline

Ms Bostock
Sept 09
 Key Components
A2 FILM STUDIES
• FM3 Making Meaning 2 : CW Component
•
• Small-scale research project (50%)
• an annotated catalogue
• a presentation script and an evaluation.

• Practical Application of Learning – creative work (50%)

• Aims and context of the creative product
• A Creative Product (Film/video production/Screenplay or Documentary step outline)
• A Reflective Evaluation .(presented digitally)

• FM4 Varieties of Film Experience- Issues and Debates

• World Cinema
• Specialist study: Urban Stories –power, poverty and conflict (optional additional unit)
• Experimental Film
• Popular film and emotional response
• Single film Critical study
 A2 FILM STUDIES Key Components
• FM3 Making Meaning 2 : CW Component 25%

• Practical Application of Learning – creative work (25%)

• Film Extract (max group of 4)
• aims and context
• a creative product (3-5 mins in length) or a complete short film of between three
and five minutes in length.
• a reflective evaluation.(1000 words) (45 mk)

• Screenwriting
The candidate will produce either:
• A synopsis (approximately 200 words) for a feature length film together with the
. A screenplay for a section (approximately 1800 words) of the film
» or
. A complete screenplay (approximately 1800 words) for a short film
. A reflective analysis (1000 words)
• Extended Step Outline for a documentary (approx 1800 words) for a 30 minute
piece
• Idea will come from Small Scale Research Project

• Reflective Analysis can be produced in the form of;

– A continuous piece of writing
– Digital form i.e. blog
– A focussed DVD extra (i.e. directors commentary)
 Key Components
A2 FILM STUDIES
FM4 Varieties of Film Experience: Issues and Debates 2 ¾ hr Exam25%

• Section A:
• Aspects of National Cinema (35 mks)
– Mexican Cinema 1990- present

• Approach to unit:
• Students will study:-
– 2 principle films and 1-2 additional films
– The work of directors such as Del Toro, Bayona, Inarritu
– Genres to be considered inc:
» Fantasy
» Horror
» Drama

• Principle films
• El laberinto del fauno (del Toro 2006)
• El Orfanato (Bayona 2007_

• Additional Films
• Amores Perros (Inarritu 2000)
• Babel (Inarritu 2006)

– You will answer 1 question from a choice of two within your specialist world
cinema study (35 mks)
 Key Components
A2 FILM STUDIES
FM4 Varieties of Film Experience: Issues and Debates 2 ¾ hr Exam25%

Section B
• Spectatorship Topics (1 question)
• Here you will study the way the spectator interacts with the film form

• Approach to unit:
• Students will study two separate units:

• Unit 1: Spectatorship: Popular Film and Emotional Response

– This will focus on the way ‘films’ can provoke a powerful' sensory and emotional
response in the spectator
» In this unit we will focus on
» Genre, Spectacle
» Star, Film form
» Content ,Ideologies

• Unit 2: Spectatorship and Experimental Film Form

– This involved the study of ‘radical ‘ alternatives to mainstream Hollywood
» This involves exploring alternative film form
» Focusing on content and form

• You will answer 1 question from a choice of 4 possible question , 2 in each area
• (35 marks)
 Key Components
A2 FILM STUDIES
FM4 Varieties of Film Experience: Issues and Debates 2 ¾ hr Exam 25%

Section C
• Single Film – Critical Study (1 question)
• Here you will study ‘one’ named specific film

• Approach to unit:
• This unit is a synoptic unit and therefore is designed to bring all of your learning together
under one film

– We will be focussing on ‘Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassssss Song (Van Peebles US 71)

• This film will test your understanding of broader critical approaches in film inc:

• Social and political

• Institutional ideas
• Concept of Star
• Macro and micro feature analysis and maybe contrasted with an additional film within this
genre

– You will answer 1 question from a choice of two questions on your specialist film
• (30 mks)
 Time Lines
FM4: World Cinema FM4 Popular film and Emotional Reponse

Sept 09 Oct Nov Dec Jan

•Draft version of ‘Catalogue’ to be •Begin draft work on creative project

submitted by Oct half term •Catalogue to be completed and presented by
Xmas hols

FM4: Experimental Film FM4:Single Film Critical Study

Key Dates

• Oct half-term submit draft Feb Mar

Mar May Jun 09
versions of ‘annotated catalogue’ Apr
• Xmas hols submit finished
annotated catalogue inc: class
presentation
•Continue work on creative project EXAM
• Easter : ‘Submit finalised version •Coursework
of ‘creative coursework’ deadline •Revision sessions

• May ‘Revision Sessions

• May/June Exams