GCSE Film Studies

Rationale

Build on Student experienceRecognition of relationship with filmAttitudes, ideas and Cultural beliefs

Three inter-related study areas:Language Organisations Audiences

Course Overview

50%

Exploring & Creating

20%

Non-Hollywood Cinema

Exam: 1 Hour

30%

Exploring Film

Exam: 1.5 Hour

Coursework

Exploring Film

Develop film analysis skillsStudy of film Language

Study one set genre Set genre for first examination in Summer 2009 and last examination in 2012 will be Disaster films. Gain an awareness of the contemporary film industry (mainly Hollywood) and of the audiences for film.

Assessment

4 Compulsory Questions: Respond to an unseen moving image stimulus.

One Question on Film LanguageOne Question on Genre

Respond to a still image stimulus.One question on marketing/promotion

Creative TaskSeries of small tasks in relation to Film

Language, Genre, Marketing and Promotion

Genre Study

This will involve three main areas ,film language, audience and film industry

Students will use the knowledge and understanding built up in the first ‘film language’ stage of the course.

Through this close study of a specific genre they will increase their understanding of genre as a key concept exploring the benefits and problems encountered when trying to categorise films.

They will also investigate the relationship between genre and audience, genre and industry.

Conventions Exploration of the ‘typical ingredients’ of specific

genres – what we have come to like and expect. Focus upon; setting, themes, characters, props,

narrative and plot, style Consider expectations, introduce need for

variations to keep the genre ‘fresh’ – encourage students to look for patterns of variation as well as repetition.

Begin to build a to more complex definition of genre as something that is dynamic and open to change.

Focus on the ways in which films mix genres.

Non-Hollywood Cinema

Candidates study one non-Hollywood film from a prescribed list in terms of:

• Characters • Narrative• Representation • Issues raised by the film• Film language

Assessment

3 Compulsory Questions: Questions will relate to a non-Hollywood film chosen by the centre from a list of recommended texts.

One Question on Representation in close study film : people, places, events

One Question on Issues in close study film One Creative Task

Centred around personal response – reviews, forum posting

Exploring & Creating

Five components:

Exploration Written exploration of ‘micro’ features in an extract of candidates choice (350 -750 words)

Pitching Pitch for an imaginary film. This should form the basis of the following tasks

Pre-production From a set of 4 options

Production From a set of 5 options

Reflection Brief reflection on learning in the key areas (language, audience and organisations)

Film Exploration

The film exploration consists of 2 elements Industry research – students complete brief

research on film of their own choice addressing the following areas:

Production – Who made it and how? Distribution – Who sold it and how?Exhibition- Why have audiences chosen to see ?

Who saw it? Why? Where?o Micro Analysis of 5 minute sequence from film

chosen by student. (350-750 words)

Pre-production

Script a short opening scene for your film (max 500 words)

Create a storyboard of no more than 20 frames for a key sequence from your film

Produce digitally a design for a front page and contents page for a new film magazine, featuring your new film

Produce a marketing campaign for your film (at least 4 items)

ProductionCreate a short sequence of

approximately 2 minutes which creates tension and/or atmosphere. (This can be for any section of the film including the pre-credit sequence.)

Produce a home page and at least one linked page for a website promoting a new film (including at least two original images).

Produce a poster campaign for a new film (2-4 posters, using original images)

Produce a press pack for a new film (minimum 4 items, including at least two promotional still photographs, using original images)

Produce a feature based on the production of a new film (including star/director interviews, biographies and at least two appropriately captioned images from the production – original images must be used) for a film magazine or a school/college magazine.

Reflective Analysis

A reflective analysis of approximately 350-750 words for both preproduction and production work highlighting what students have learnt about the main study areas of film (language, organisations, audiences) from their practical work.

This may be presented in 2 parts and in any of the following forms:

Discursive essay (with or without illustration) Digital Presentation with slide notes e.g. Power Point Suitably edited blog. Group work – preproduction and production options apart from

film sequence options must be completed individually. Film sequence in groups of no more than four. Two may share camerawork and two may share editing providing responsibility is equally divided. Reflective analysis must clarify individual’s contribution.-

GCSE Film Studies

Questions?