GCSE Film Studies
GCSE Film Studies is designed to draw on learners’ enthusiasm for film and introduce them to a wide variety of cinematic experiences through films which have been important in the development of film and film technology. Learners will develop their knowledge of US mainstream film by studying one film from the 1950s and one film from the later 70s and 80s, thus looking at two stages in Hollywood’s development. In addition, they will be studying more recent films – a US independent film as well as films from Europe, including the UK, South Africa and Australia.
Production is an important part of this specification and is integral to learners’ study of film. Studying a diverse range of films from several different contexts is designed to give learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own filmmaking and screenwriting. This is intended to support learners in producing creative films and screenplays as well as enable their production work to provide an informed filmmaker’s perspective on their own study of film.
This specification is designed to provide a foundation for subsequent study by encouraging learners to explore, through formal study and their own productions, how films are constructed as well as the role the screenplay takes in the film production process.
What will I learn?
GCSE Film Studies is divided into three different components: Component one, which consists of 35% of the grade; Component two, that consists of another 35%; and component three which is the remaining 30%.
- All students will learn about the disciplines of cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing in order to analyse the different sections of the course.
- Students learn about Global Film as students will study how narrative, representation and film style is portrayed in an English language film, non-English language film and a contemporary UK film.
- Students will then be able to become filmmakers themselves as they create their own projects based on a brief set by the exam board.
- Finally, students will study both movies and the history of US Film as they compare two films from two different time periods.
- In addition to this, students will discover how technology in film has advanced, whilst also studying about an independent US movie.
Which examination board?
We follow the Eduqas syllabus – a link to the specification can be found here.
Co Curricular Activities
London allows our students to explore and visit various museums and organisations. With the BFI and London Film Museum in close proximity, students are able to explore areas of the Film Industry, whilst being able to have talks with professionals from the industry and onward destinations. Students are also able to experience the InterFilm Festival that involves Q&A workshops and careers advice. Students who take Film Studies are also apart of our Film & Media Academic Society in which they’re able to learn new practical skills and discuss issues that would be covered at University level. Finally, should any students require extra support, a Homework Club is available in which students are able to get extra help.
