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Film Studies

Film studies website bannerGBHS Students Study Film Studies to… 

  • Film studies incorporates a creative production element where you will be able to put what you have learnt into practice by gaining an appreciation of film as an art form through analysis and practical production in terms of its visual storytelling, film studies will enhance your understanding of the world by exploring competing values, attitudes and beliefs. making a short film or writing a screenplay.  

  • You will develop deeper critical and creative thinking. 

  • It will challenge you to think in new ways and question or change your perspective on a whole host of issues, such as representation of race or gender. 

  • Studying film allows you to understand important issues and developments within history, society and culture, using film as the medium with which to gain a greater insight into these areas.  

  • From Hollywood Cinema to Contemporary UK Film, the films on our specification have great critical reputations. They are films of depth and substance which have been purposefully chosen to offer rich and interesting analysis. They represent different time periods and different moments in history showing alternative representations of culture and people. 

  • The deepening historical and cultural perspectives you will develop will inform your work in humanities subjects. If you pursue the screenplay option, writing skills for GCSE English will be enhanced. The visual and design aspects of film production are linked to skills required of art students. You will also develop technical skills that can improve your employability in a number of careers. 

  • Studying Film enables you to see the world in a completely different light and develop a wide range of transferable skills for further education, work and life: Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Emotional Intelligence Film Analysis Textual Analysis Communication Research skills Literacy Technical competencies (i.e. film editing) 

  • Students of Film Studies are the students of the future, gaining the skills needed to develop healthy careers and great academic minds. 

Key Stage 4

Eduqas GCSE Film studies 

You will study the following areas:  

US Film 1930-1960, US Film 1961-1990, US Independent film,  Global Film and Contemporary UK Film, Film 

Technology Narrative & Genre Representation, Film Style, Film Criticism. 

You will study the key elements of film form including cinematography, mise en scene, editing and 

sound. 

You will also study the contexts of your chosen films and what was happening when the film was made. 

What can the film tell us about history and society at that time?  

Assessment - There are two exams at GCSE, each worth 35% of the qualification with the remaining 30% 

assessed by Production work. Each exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of three different sections: 

Component 1: Key Developments in US Film  

Section A: US Film Comparative Study 

Section B: Key Developments in Film & Film Technology  

Section C: US Independent Film  

Component 2: Global Film Narrative, Representation & Film Style 

Section A: Global English language film  

Section B: Global non-English language film  

Section C: Contemporary UK film 

Section C: Contemporary UK film Creative Production  

There is a creative production element which allows you to showcase the film-making or screenwriting 

skills you have developed during the course by producing a: Film Extract (video) or Film Extract Screenplay 

(with storyboard) Evaluative Analysis  

Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development

Film studies uses a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with students from different religious, ethnic and socio economic backgrounds. A willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively. An interest in and understanding of the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels. Students gain the ability to recognise between right and wrong and their readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives. Understanding the consequences of their actions. An interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues. 

There is an understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage.

A willingness to participate in and respond to artistic, musical, technological and cultural opportunities.

An interest in exploring, understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diverse socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

Cultural development is shown by their beliefs which inform their perspective on life and their interest and respect for different feelings and values. Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

Use of imagination and creativity in their learning and willingness to reflect on their experiences. 

Beyond the Classroom

To enrich the classroom based learning students will have the opportunity to join the film club, create other productions for their portfolios, visit a film studio and the London Film Museum.