1. AS Film Studies

2. What is Film Studies?
 Film Studies is about the study of:
 the art of filmmaking
 the history of film production
 the contemporary film industry
 Production
 Distribution
 Exhibition
 Technological developments in film production
and reception

3. What is Film Studies?
 Film Studies at A-Level is not simply about
watching films
 Being a Film Studies student requires a different
approach to films – in film studies, we talk about
reading films not watching them
 Reading films is about considering why we
see what we see, about considering why a
certain actor is in a film, about what type of
company has produced the film, about who
the potential audience is for the film

4. What is Film Studies?
 AS Film Studies
 2 units – 1 coursework (50%), 1 exam (50%)
 F631 Film Text and Context
 Section A – Contemporary English-language Cinema
 The focus is on films as texts and the various ways in
which those texts seek to communicate something to
us
 Section B – Cinema in context
 The focus is on the issues which have influenced how the film
industry has developed at different points in time – we will focus
on Early Cinema (1895-1915) and Developments in 21st Century
Cinema and Film (2000 – present)

5.  F632– Foundation Portfolio in Film
 1 analytical essay comparing 2 films, which
then feeds into a creative project – paper
based individual project / group oriented
practical project
 A2 Film Studies – 2 more units – coursework and
exam, but harder still…

6. Binary oppositions
 Man walks up street to buy a newspaper
 Introduce 1st element of conflict
 Introduce 2nd element of conflict
 Who is the hero?
 Who is the villain?
 How are they different?