Why study AS Film Studies?

Film is arguably the art form of the 20th century. AS Film Studies is ideal for students who want to explore how and why films are made.

Across the course you will explore and creatively engage with a wide range of different aspects of filmmaking. You will analyse a variety of texts, including American, British, and European cinema. These will be examined via different frameworks, including form, context, narrative, meaning and response, spectatorship, ideology. You will explore the creative and technical choices that impact on how a film produces meaning, discuss with peers, and develop a sophisticated contextual understanding of the world at the time these films were created. 

Entry requirements

Grade 7 GCSE English Literature

Special features of the course

Watching films from a range of different eras, genres, and countries. The opportunity to create an extract from a film highlighting narrative construction.

Costs

There are no expected costs.

Students will be required to have their own or have access to smartphone that enables high quality films and photographs to be taken. 

Where can I find out more?

See Mrs Hughes rhughes@ahs.bucks.sch.uk or Mr Elgin melgin@ahs.bucks.sch.uk

How is the course organised?

The AS will run over 1 year with final examinations in at the end of Year 12.

Component 1: American film

Students study three American films: two Hollywood films, and one contemporary American independent film 

Component 2: European film

Students study three European films: two recent British films, and one non-English language European film. 

Coursework

Students will either create an extract from a film highlighting narrative construction or a screenplay (between 1200 – 1400 words) for an extract from a film highlighting narrative construction and a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the screenplay. An evaluative analysis (1000-1250 words) of the production in comparison with other professionally produced films or screenplays is also required. 

Assessment

Paper 1 1hr 30min 35%

Paper 2 1hr 30mins 35%

Coursework 30%

Time commitment

4 taught hours per week in addition to private study time