Course Rationale

Through studying Film and Media at UWC, students will ‘learn to work both independently and collaboratively to construct meanings, produce works, and respond to and value others’ contributions. They will learn to use imagination to engage with unexpected outcomes and to explore multiple solutions to creative problems.

The filmmaking process also allows students to practise critical thinking, creative risk-taking and collaboration. Not only are students able to articulate themselves creatively, they also have ownership over their learning through constructing their own creative output. 

By working on real-life, practical projects, student engagement is heightened and learning outcomes are improved. One could say that successful learners in film not only have the essential skills in literacy and numeracy, but are also creative and productive users of technology, and develop their critical thinking and communication skills.

Perhaps most importantly, an understanding of moving image media is an essential skill in the 21st century. Students are in a world which surrounds them with moving images, they are often participants in the creation of media based communications, but they may regard this as purely entertainment based. “We live in a world of moving images. To participate fully in our society and its culture means to be as confident in the use and understanding of moving images as of the printed word. Both are essential aspects of literacy in the twenty-first century” (Chairs: BFI, Film Club, Film Education, First Light Movies, UK Film Council and Skillset)

Finally, film-making provides students with a platform upon which to feel connected with and contribute to the world, thus allowing them to assume the role of active and informed citizens. Their choices as filmmakers are intentional, and shaped by a wide variety of personal and interpersonal contexts. This allows students to interpret, record and challenge social and cultural discourse. And, of course, to tell their own stories, real or imagined.

Course Aims

Film & Media in Grade 9 & 10 aims to prepare students for navigating a media saturated world with an increased level of critical understanding and literacy, whilst connecting to the UWC mission and the school's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Whilst some students may decide to continue with Film in the IB, there are connections to many areas of knowledge within film and media studies. Studying film trains students in critical, formal, theoretical, and historical thinking and analysis. This program aims to develop an ability to understand forms of cultural production in relation to wider global contexts, as well as to foster discussion and writing skills. Students will gain the tools to approach today's media environment from a historical and international perspective, and will thus be able to work within a changing mediascape.

The primary course aims are to:

• Encourage students to work both independently and collaboratively to construct meanings, produce works, and respond to and value others’ contributions

• Empower students to use their imagination & creativity to engage with unexpected outcomes and to explore multiple solutions to creative problems

• Enable students to understand the relationship between film media and it’s context

• Develop the skills necessary to create and articulate stories on film, which are linked to their own stories and ideologies

• Develop student understanding that film maker choices are intentional, and shaped by social, historical, economic, institutional and cultural contexts

• Appreciate that film and media as art forms are able to create understanding, empathy and action

• Promote engagement with culture by connecting with their own communities and constructing their own creative output

Year 1 Course Content: The Art and Craft of Storytelling in Film & Media

1. The Power of the Image

2. Storytelling with Moving Image

3. Voices and Perspective in Film

4. Finding your Creative Identity - YEAR 1CAPSTONE PROJECT: Students will create a 7 minute short film in the fiction form and a written process portfolio (can be recorded/ audio)

Year 2 Course Content: Film as Social Impact: Documentary Film & Media

1. The Power of the Documentary

2. Truth & Film

3. Filmmaking and Social Activism

4. Finding Your Creative Identity - Year 2 CAPSTONE PROJECT: Students will create a 7 minute short documentary film in one of the documentary modes studied and a written process portfolio (can be recorded/ audio)

(Optional) Year 2 Personal Project

Once a proposed project is accepted, students will follow the Year 2 group with mentorship from a film staff member.

1. Preproduction Period

2. Preproduction/Production Period

3. Production/Postproduction Period

4. CAPSTONE: Outcome of the finished Project and Project diary.

Successful completion of this course awards students the UWCSEA The Universal Film Maker certificate.

Internal assessment

Internal assessment of student attainment in UWCSEA Courses is reflected on students' UWCSEA High School Transcript and contributes to the UWCSEA High School Diploma. 

UWCSEA is accredited by both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

• Attainment is reported using the UWCSEA 7-1 attainment grading scale.

• Approaches to learning are reported using the UWCSEA ATLs (Self management, Communication and Collaboration)

Assessment at UWCSEA is holistic and so the attainment grade and ATLs will be based on a range of formative (ongoing) and summative assessment tools. The common summative assessments allow for standardisation.

More information on UWCSEA Assessment Principles can be found here.