Film studies students at Sunderland College.

A-Level Film Studies

School Leaver

Start Date:	Duration:	Level:	Study mode:	Course Location:	Course Type:
September	2 Year	Level 3	Part-Time - Day	Bede Campus	A-Levels	Apply	Enquire

What’s it all about?

This course is for film enthusiasts interested in developing their understanding of how film, as an art form, creates meaning and how the film industry functions. It’s a fantastic starting point for a career in film or other media production, journalism/creative writing, marketing and advertising.

You will explore a range of British, American, world cinema releases, both independent and mainstream as well as documentary films, becoming extremely visually literate as you learn to analyse films in terms of their technical construction and storytelling methods.

You will learn to deconstruct film sequences, discovering the subtle strategies filmmakers use to create meaning and emotional response for audiences. You will have the opportunity to become skilled filmmakers, shooting and editing your own productions, or develop the craft of writing screenplays, creating characters and worlds scene by scene. Some of the films students currently enjoy studying come from a wide range of genres and time periods and include the work of acclaimed directors such as Ridley Scott, Alfred Hitchcock, Edgar Wright, Gulliermo Del Toro and Quentin Tarantino. You will also have an opportunity for your work to be recognized nationally, with the ability to enter your finished films into a number of competitions or film festivals.

What do you need to apply for the course?

You will need 5 GCSE's at grade 5-9 including Maths and English Language

*Course costs

Study level	Cost
16-18	Free

How will you be assessed?

This course uses a combination of theoretical and practical study, and uses a range of teaching methods generally within a classroom environment. You will experience a range of activities including: individual, paired and group work, creative interpretation and independent study skills. Your speaking and listening skills will be developed and encouraged due to a strong emphasis on interactive, student-centered learning. You might also take part in cinema and university visits as a way of developing understanding and appreciation of film. Practical elements will be handled in a workshop environment, offering the use of specialist editing software in a computer room, and access to TV studios/green screens. Resources such as cameras, lighting, microphones and associated equipment are available to learners to film creative projects.

There will be a formal assessment in the style of two written exams in the summer of your second year. Leading up to this you will be assessed in class using a series of methods ranging from Q&A, debate, individual/group tasks and assignments. In addition to this you will be assessed through coursework, which is the production of a creative fictional film or a written screenplay.

Maths & English

English and Maths are important life skills that will help you to achieve your best in your studies and progress to your dream career. If you have not already achieved grade 9-4 in GCSE Maths and/or English at school, we will support you to improve your skills.

Times for delivery

The Sixth Form day is 9am - 4.15pm, Monday-Friday.

You will study each of your subjects for 4hr 30min per week, across three separate lessons.
Your timetable will be determined by the combination of subjects that your study, which will be made available to you at the start of the academic year.

You are not required to be on campus when you do not have a timetabled lesson, although we would strongly recommend that you are. Making effective use of our learning facilities and resources during such study periods, will ensure that you keep on top of your work and make significant progress in your studies, not to mention developing important time-management, organisation and independent-study skills.

Modules

Initially you will study the American major studio system in the unit 'Hollywood 1930-1990', which looks at classic and modern mainstream cinema. You will follow this up by looking at our own national talents, with acclaimed films from home in the unit 'British Film Since 1995'.

'American Film Since 2005' will focus on smaller independent American cinema as a counterpoint to larger budget popular film making.

Once your analytical skill and confidence has developed, you will then transition into more challenging and unfamiliar material, taking in films from around the world in the 'Global Film' unit, before looking at different methods of film making in the 'Documentary Film' module.

Your final two units will focus on film movements with examples of early 'Silent Film' and also how 'Experimental Cinema' challenges traditional cinematic conventions.

In addition to studied film texts, you will also complete a coursework module that develops your practical skills, where you will either produce your own short film or write your own screenplay to film industry standards.

What’s next?

Studying film enhances skills in analysis, communication, and practical production, resulting in a range of transferable skills valued by universities and employers alike. It is a highly respected academic subject that provides a very strong foundation for degree level study in general and employers also appreciate the breadth of analytical, research, communication, organisational, technical and creative skills the subject gives you. The subject can lead you towards academic study of film, cultural studies, journalism, screenwriting, film production, the television industry, advertising, photography, games design, web content production, teaching and many other progression routes.

Past students have gone on to study a range of courses at top universities, including film studies, journalism, communication studieseds, film and television studies, creative film and moving image production, scriptwriting, broadcast journalism, magazine journalism and media production.