Film is one of the main cultural innovations of the 20th century and a major art form of
the last hundred years. Those who study it characteristically bring with them a high
degree of enthusiasm and excitement for what is a powerful and culturally significant
medium, inspiring a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective. Film
Studies consequently makes an important contribution to the curriculum, offering the
opportunity to investigate how film works both as a medium of representation and as
an aesthetic medium.
The WJEC Eduqas specification is designed to introduce A level learners to a wide
variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range of responses films can generate. This specification therefore offers
opportunities to study mainstream American films from the past and the present as well as a range of recent and contemporary British films, American independent films and global films, both non-English language and English language. The historical range of film represented in those films is extended by the study of silent film and significant film movements so that learners can gain a sense of the development of
film from its early years to its still emerging digital future. Studies in documentary,
experimental and short films add to the breadth of the learning experience.
Production work is a crucial 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
enable learners to create high quality film and screenplay work as well as provide an
informed filmmaker’s perspective on their own study of film.
The WJEC Eduqas A level in Film Studies aims to enable learners to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:
• a diverse range of film, including documentary, film from the silent era,
experimental film and short film
• the significance of film and film practice in national, global and historical contexts
• film and its key contexts (including social, cultural, political, historical and
technological contexts)
• how films generate meanings and responses
• film as an aesthetic medium
• the different ways in which spectators respond to film.
It also aims to enable learners to:
• apply critical approaches to film and
• apply knowledge and understanding of film through either filmmaking or
screenwriting.
Curriculum Intent
Component 1: Varieties of film and filmmaking Written examination: 2½ hours 35% of qualification This component assesses knowledge and understanding of six feature-length films.
Section A: Hollywood 1930-1990 (comparative study) One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two Hollywood films, one from the Classical Hollywood period (1930-1960) and the other from the New Hollywood period (1961-1990).
Section B: American film since 2005 (two-film study) One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two American films, one mainstream film and one contemporary independent film.
Section C: British film since 1995 (two-film study) One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two British films.
Component 2: Global filmmaking perspectives Written examination: 2½ hours 35% of qualification This component assesses knowledge and understanding of five feature-length films (or their equivalent).
Section A: Global film (two-film study) One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to two global films: one European and one produced outside Europe.
Section B: Documentary film One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one documentary film.
Section C: Film movements – Silent cinema One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one silent film or group of films.
Section D: Film movements – Experimental film (1960-2000) One question from a choice of two, requiring reference to one film option.
Component 3: Production Non-exam assessment 30% of qualification This component assesses one production and its evaluative analysis. Learners produce:
– Either a short film (4-5 minutes) or a screenplay for a short film (1600-1800 words) plus a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the screenplay
– An evaluative analysis (1600 – 1800 words).
Specification
A Level Film Studies Specification
