Subject Intent: Why Film Studies?
The creative digital industry of one if the UKs fastest growing industries. Students who study Film Studies will be reflecting on the reasons behind why film is such an important 20th century cultural innovation and why it has become a major art form over the last hundred years. The course provides students with the opportunity to explore how film functions as an aesthetic medium and as a medium of representation. Students are also given the opportunity to develop and apply their own creative skills by producing their own piece of work in either filmmaking or screenwriting. This provides students with real life experiences and skills that will support their next steps into this industry. Overall, Film Studies is a course that helps students to appreciate viewpoints beyond just their own, communicate at a high level and work in a range of different contexts to show their appreciation of film as an art form and as a shared cultural experience.
What will I study?
In Year 12 and 13, you will study a range of films from a variety of backgrounds including:
- Classical Hollywood and New Hollywood.
- Contemporary American mainstream cinema and indie cinema.
- British cinema.
- Spanish cinema.
- Brazilian cinema.
- Documentary.
- Silent cinema.
- Experimental films.
- Screenwriting.
- Storyboarding.
- Cinematography.
- Set dressing.
- Digital editing.
- Post-production editing techniques.
Film Studies
Please note: Subject videos have been filmed from colleges across our Trust.
What are lessons like in this subject?
Film Studies is the subject for you if you are fascinated by both the analysis of ‘texts’ and the world of cinematography. You will be introduced to a wide range of styles and given the skills you need to investigate film in a whole new way.
In lessons, students can expect to take part in thoughtful discussions, develop a critical approach to film and learn how to craft personal responses.
Another key component of the course is the requirement to create a short film: a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their practical skills and demonstrate subject knowledge they have learnt. We are able to offer students access to industry standard equipment in the completion of this task. Students are also encouraged to attend film club to further develop their knowledge, as well as a yearly film festival, which always proves to be a thoroughly enriching experience!
What our
students
If you’re a person who is passionate about the art of filmmaking or even if you’re curious about the film industry as a future career, I’d suggest taking A-level Film Studies. Scene analysis is a key area of the course, which allows you to build you analytic skills as well as form a deeper understanding on films as a whole. Overall, it is a course that is appealing for both creative and academic students.
Leah-Rose Fox, Airedale Academy
