Welcome Thank you for choosing to study AS Film Studies – you have made the right decision! Film Studies is available at GCSE level, however very few schools offer it. This means that for nearly all of you this is your first time studying film within an academic environment. Hopefully the course will broaden your knowledge and appreciation of film and the filmmaking process. The way the course is taught at the Sixth Form Centre, City College Norwich enables you to get your hands on lots of industry standard cameras and postproduction software. Film Studies is all about practical application of learning – you research film-makers and film styles and then you practise their production techniques to gain a better understanding of the topic. The course leader is Guy Parkinson. Guy studied Media Studies at Sussex University (2:1); trained to be a teacher at Middlesex University and is currently studying for an MA in Creative and Media Education at Bournemouth University. Guy has been teaching media and Film since 1999 and is also an A level examiner. Before joining City College Norwich Guy taught in Sydney, London and Ipswich. A Level Film Studies students progress onto a wide range of University courses. Past students are now at Ravensbourne University, Bournemouth University, NUCA and UEA. If you are applying for University this year, please see Guy about your portfolio of work for University interviews. Also see Guy for the best Media and Film degree options. The examining board for the A Level Film Studies course is WJEC. Scan the QR Code below to access the full PDF of the WJEC Film Studies specification:
(or Google “WJEC Film Studies” and follow the links)
Reading List:
AS Film Studies
Sight & Sound Magazine
by Sarah Casey Benyahia, Freddie Gaffney, John White & Pete Wall
Total Film Magazine
Mark Kermode Film Blog
The course is also supported by an online blog. The blog is set up and managed by Guy and will have lots of resources and information about the course. Scan the QR Code to access the Film Studies blog:
(or go to
www.ccnfilm.blogspot.co.uk)
Film and Media Production work is showcased on our You Tube channel. Scan the QR Code to access the channel and leave feedback and student work:
(or type in citycollegevideos into You Tube)
Week Commencing 17th September 24th September 1st October
8th October
15th October
Topics covered and Key Dates Introduction to Film Studies and Creative Skills Development Introduction to MICRO terminology and Film Language Analysis of the opening sequence from ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Directed Writing Task: ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ MICRO Exposition: ‘American Beauty’ : representing entrapment and insecurity on film MICRO Exposition: ‘The Social Realist Film’: Ken Loach: Sweet Sixteen and Looking for Eric MICRO Exposition: ‘The Lives of Others’ – mise-en-scene and characterisation MICRO Exposition: ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ – kinetic editing techniques MICRO Essay Workshops (bring film sequences that you want to analyse for your MICRO essay to class) Deadline for Draft MICRO Essay Friday 19th October 2012 (5pm)
22nd October Students receive Draft MICRO essays back from Guy with suggested ways to improve MICRO Essay Workshops: putting the final touches to your 1,500 word essay. 29th October 5th November
OCTOBER HALF TERM Start Creative Project: Aims and Outcomes Practical Production Workshop: Filming a Dialogue Scene (camera and sound) Practical Post-Production Workshop: Editing to convey meaning DEADLINE FOR FINAL MICRO ESSAY: Friday 9th November 2012 (5pm)
12th November
Creative Project: Pre-production Planning Deadline for Written Proposal for Creative Project: Friday 16 th November 2012 (5pm)
19th November
Creative Project: Filming/production
26th November
Creative Project: Filming/production
3rd December
Creative Project: Editing/post-production
10th December
Creative Project: Editing/post-production
17th December
PROGRESS REVIEW WEEK Deadline for Creative Project: Friday 21st December 2012 (5pm)
24th December 31st December
Christmas Holidays Christmas Holidays
7th January
Producers and Audiences (FM2) Unit The UK and US Film Industries Tent Pole Movies and Ultra High Budget – economic logic of film fanchises
14th January
Government and Lottery Funding of UK Film Film and national identity – Does National Cinema really matter? The role of the BFI The role of the BBFC
21st January
British Film Mash-Up (Production Task) British Film styles and genres Stars and fandom: impacts and economic logic Impacts of media technology on film industry and audience FM2 Assessment Task (Producers and Audiences)
28th January
FM2: British Film Topics – “Borders and Belonging” Screening of Ghosts by Nick Broomfield Screening of Last Resort by Pawel Pawlikowski.
4th February
FM2: British Film Topics – “Borders and Belonging” Screening of Somers Town by Shane Meadows
11th February
FM2: British Film Topics – “Borders and Belonging” Main themes and issues, character arch and narrative development FM2 Assessment Task (British Film Topics)
18th February
FEBRUARY HALF TERM
25th February
FM2: British Film Topics – “Borders and Belonging”
4th March
FM2: Comparative American Cinema Screening: Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Don Siegel Screening: The Invasion by Oliver Hirschbiegel
11th March
FM2: Comparative American Cinema: Issues and Debates: 1950s Red Scare and the fear of Communism
18th March
FM2: Comparative American Cinema: Issues and Debates: The Invasion and fears of global pandemics and the inter-connected nature of 21st Century global economy
25th March
FM2: Comparative American Cinema: Issues and Debates – drawing it all together FM2 Assessment Task (Comparative American Cinema)
1st April 8th April 15th April 22nd April 29th April 6th May 13th May 20th May 27th May 3rd June 10th June 17th June 24th June
EASTER BREAK EASTER BREAK REVISION AND EXAM PREP REVISION AND EXAM PREP REVISION AND EXAM PREP REVISION AND EXAM PREP FM2 Exam Wednesday 15th May 2013 (PM) No classes – concentrate on your other AS exam topics AS Study Leave AS Study Leave Transition to A Level Film Studies: Creative Projects and SSRP Transition to A Level Film Studies: Creative Projects and SSRP Transition to A Level Film Studies: Creative Projects and SSRP
For example assessment materials scan the QR Code:
(or type in “WJEC example assessment materials� into Google and follow the links)
Past student film work:
Mark Stoneham
Charlotte Manning
Ellen Worsley
Saul Richardson/Joe Torbati