film and media
AS/A2 Media Studies AS/A2 Film Studies
Welcome to the Film and Media Department at Carmel College We are a thriving department with approximately 200 students and three dedicated, experienced and talented teachers overseeing the delivery of the courses, two of whom are examiners of Media Studies for AQA. We boast some of the best facilities in the area for the study of Film and Media comprising of a classroom and viewing room, both with multi-media projection facilities, and a dedicated computer room with Apple Mac computers which are installed with media appropriate software. The department also owns and has access to numerous digital and still cameras that are available for your use as a Film/Media student. As a member of the department you will be expected to be interested in Film and Media and you will be encouraged to develop your skills in Film/Media theory and practice.
AS/A2 Media Studies EXAM BOARD: AQA
meet the students LAURA MCGOWAN
WHY CHOOSE MEDIA STUDIES AT CARMEL? The Media plays such an important role in our society today and this is reflected in the popularity of Media Studies at Advanced Level. At Carmel we aim to give you more of an idea of the power of the Media in your life, the impact it has on you in social, political and economic contexts. We aim to deliver an interesting, challenging and above all enjoyable course, which will inform, enthuse and illuminate.
• Who owns and controls our media and how much power do they really have on national and global levels? • Can we actually be manipulated into changing our behaviour through the medium of advertising? • The role and importance of New Media Technologies in society today. It is hoped that through studying the media you will become more informed regarding its power and possible effects it has on society and you as an individual.
Knowsley Hey
Studying: Media Studies, Business Studies, Psychology, English Combined I really enjoy the practical aspects of Media Studies. Learning to use all the equipment is great and you get the chance to make your own film trailer which is lots of fun. You are given more independence at Carmel as there is a more adult atmosphere and you need to take more responsibility for your own learning.
WHAT WILL THE COURSE INVOLVE? The course investigates the ways in which different media such as, newspapers, documentaries, advertising, film and internet influence the way we see and think about the world we live in. You are bombarded by different media texts on a daily basis and, without knowing, you are highly skilled in interpreting and decoding the messages they include. It could be said that society and the way we live has, to a certain extent, been determined by the media which operates in our world. In response to this you will study the numerous debates and issues surrounding media production in our society today: • Do sex and violence in the mediums of film and television affect us? • Does the news really tell us the truth?
meet the staff KATH HOPKINS Head of Media Studies and Senior Moderator for AQA
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED? The AS and A2 assessment involves 50% coursework and 50% examination. Both these modules will be taken in the June examination series.
WHERE DOES THIS COURSE LEAD? Because Media Studies develops so many skills, you are attractive to employers in a wide range of people-orientated careers. A Media Studies qualification will enable you to study Media Studies in Higher Education at HND or degree level or contribute towards the points needed for entry to a range of other degrees in other subjects. Students who have gained Media at Advanced Level have gone onto careers/courses in IT, Media Production, Journalism, Public Relations, Business and Management to name a few!
What support will I receive? Every student will have access to extra tutorials run by the experienced staff; these may be to enhance existing knowledge or just to give extra support to you if you have been absent or if you are finding a topic difficult to access. In the build up to examinations regular revision sessions are offered to you to ensure you are fully prepared. All students have access to the dedicated computer suite when it is not being used for classes.
PAUL MORROW Head of Film Studies
Tutors are approachable and friendly, lessons are dynamic and engaging and the department regularly receives positive feedback reports from students and inspectors. All students are encouraged to develop their skills of independent learning. Technical support is available from our dedicated Media Technician.
AS/A2 Film Studies
EXAM BOARD: WJEC
WHY CHOOSE FILM STUDIES AT CARMEL? Film Studies will appeal to people who are not only interested in watching films, but also in analysing them, learning more about the film industry, and even developing their own film–related practical skills. Studying Film at Carmel will require a willingness to be challenged and stretched academically. It is wide ranging in content, and draws on many different contexts relating to films themselves, the industry, and those who consume film-related products. The course is demanding, but enjoyable. Prospective Film Studies students should be keen consumers of film, and be prepared to use the familiar ground of Hollywood as a foundation to explore other aspects of film production and consumption. The A2 course diversifies further, when students will, for example, study ‘International Film Styles’ as an assessed part of the course.
WHAT WILL THE COURSE INVOLVE? Film is both an art form and a business and this is reflected in the content of the course. We hope to deepen your knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of film by studying film from three key perspectives: • Cinema as an art form • Cinema as a social institution • Cinema as an economic institution • Cinema and technology You will be involved in critical, analytical and creative work based on film history, theory and developments in film criticism. Film students should be adequately equipped with good essay writing skills, and an ability to think and write analytically. The AS
course develops and assesses students’ abilities to evaluate and analyse a range of different types of film-related material. Practical coursework also integrates an opportunity to work creatively and develop technical skills. This provides options to complete a range of outcomes, such as a short film. The course will increase your awareness of a wide range of cinema and independent/alternative cinema will form an integral part of the course. An appreciation of the history of cinema, its impact culturally, socially and economically will be a main aim of this course.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED? At AS Level the coursework module is worth 40% and the exam module 60%. At A2 Level the weighting is 50% for each. You will develop a range of skills and be assessed in a variety of different ways. The 2 ½ hour AS exam comprises three sections, which each require essay responses. Students sit this at the end of their first year. Coursework is completed in the first term of your AS year.
WHERE DOES THIS COURSE LEAD? Around a third of last year’s A2 Film students progressed to directly relevant HE courses, with another third progressing to HE courses in wider creative arts areas. Film students have a wide range of academic qualities, and studying the subject will arm you with valuable skills not only in preparation for film/TV productionbased courses, but also for other arts/humanities courses. One student from last year is now studying Archaeology at Cambridge University.
What other activities do Film and Media students get involved in? The department arranges a number of visits to local cinemas as well as Independent cinemas such as FACT and Cornerhouse. Courses, workshops and lectures at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford will also be offered throughout the course. Last year some students went to New York to study film and media at various locations across the city. As part of the Enrichment Programme, students can join the Media Skills Group to develop their practical skills using media software. The department also runs a Short Film Competition that students can enter by making their own films which are judged and awarded prizes at the end of the year.
meet the students ANDREW MCCLEMENTS De La Salle
Studying: Film Studies, Business Studies, English Combined, ICT Film Studies has allowed me to pursue and craft my own creative ideas and it’s a subject that really interests me. The most enjoyable aspect of Film Studies is how distinctive it is compared to my other subjects and how it adds variety to my studies. The facilities at Carmel are excellent and the support you receive from tutors and staff is more than helpful. When I leave I hope to continue my studies at university.
meet the staff LEANNE STANTON Film and Media Tutor, Examiner for AQA Media Studies
ROB SAUNDERS Technical Support
CHRIS RISLEY Technical Support
As many as 45% of our students each year leave to enter careers or further study in media or related areas. Past students have become journalists, camera operators for Sky, PR consultants/advertising executives and have entered a host of other such media related careers.
HOW SUCCESSFUL ARE CARMEL’S FILM & MEDIA STUDENTS? Film and Media Studies are very popular and indeed successful courses with consistently good results. In the last Ofsted Inspection the department was awarded a Grade 1.
Film and Media department trip to New York
MEDIA STUDIES
2007
2008
2009
Examination Results
AS
A2
AS
A2
AS
A2
2010 AS A2
Number of Entries
69
73
80
52
76
49
84
46
Pass Rates %
A* - B
29
48
59
33
38
63
68
61
%
A* - E
99
100
99
100
100
100
100
100
FILM STUDIES
2009
Examination Results
AS
A2
AS
A2
AS
A2
2010 AS A2
Number of Entries
15
10
22
12
19
13
28
16
2007
2008
Pass Rates
more information Detailed course specifications are available on the Exam Board websites: Media Studies:
www.aqa.org.uk Film Studies:
www.wjec.org.uk
%
A* - B
87
80
73
92
58
85
64
56
%
A* - E
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Frequently Asked Questions Do you need to have studied Film/Media at GCSE? Not necessarily, but you need an enthusiasm for Film and Media, good essay writing skills and a willingness to learn new skills. Students should also have a keen interest and aptitude in using IT and media technologies.
Are Film and Media Studies easier than other subjects at Advanced Level? No, grade A at Media Studies is only awarded to 12% of the candidates. In league tables for A Levels, Media Studies is the third hardest subject in which to gain an A grade.
Is a qualification in Film/Media Studies worth the paper it is written on – and will universities accept it? Universities will accept it in the same way they would History or any other Arts/Humanities subject. Obviously if you wanted to do a highly specialised course such as medicine it would not be suitable.