FILM STUDIES - learning journey & curriculum

film learning journey 12 13.pdf

The A level Film Studies curriculum aims to inspire students to critically examine texts, form judgements and draw conclusions about the values and ideologies that are conveyed through a film’s macro and micro features; whilst considering how production contexts play a significant role in shaping meanings for spectators. Through a knowledge-rich curriculum, students will study the theoretical framework of cinematic texts, with an exploration of films from a wide variety of time periods and cultures exploring: Silent cinema; the birth and dominance of Hollywood; modern British Cinema; global cinema from Brazil and Turkey; and contemporary documentary.

At Cleeve, we believe all students should be exposed to texts that truly stretch their understanding and perceptions of the world in order to transform lives – asking them to think deeply about contemporary issues such as gender inequality; representations of people and ideologies, whilst exploring the shifts in attitude that occur over time as a consequence of social, cultural, political and economic change. Whilst doing so, a range of genres are explored, including horror, sci-fi, romantic comedy and gritty social-realism. Students will examine the contexts which impact on creative choices within film, and how the structural elements of film, including narrative and performance, play a huge role in establishing messages and values screen.

Film Studies at Cleeve encourages students to become truly active spectators who will be able to explore contemporary issues within our society and culture, whilst mastering the knowledge and skills necessary to think, talk, write and create content like professional film makers. Students are truly rewarded and enriched by the film texts that have been meticulously curated so students are enriched and prepared for learning as undergraduates beyond A-Level. 

At Cleeve, we don’t just deliver the content necessary for success; we teach beyond the specification to ensure students are ready for a career in the arts! Students will be able to build on the foundation we provide at Cleeve, and will be prepared to embark on one of 509 Film Production/TV and Film Creative Writing undergraduate degrees currently on offer in the U.K. We strive to develop and refine core analytical skills, sharpening not only English language mastery, but through the study of contexts, students will see links with History, Geography, Sociology and Psychology and other subjects at KS5 outside of the arts and humanities.

Studying Film opens up a multitude of opportunities within production and screen writing, learning essential skills to lay the foundation for successful careers within this exciting, growing industry. Our Cleeve alumni are already enjoying exciting careers in the sector, travelling the world making film content for producers including Sky, the BBC and local media companies in the South-West of England.  

Given cinema has often been deeply implicated in projecting and establishing inequalities on screen, we feel it is incumbent upon us to challenge this by studying a diverse range of films that allow for close scrutiny of representations, including: gender stereotypes; characters from diverse socio-economic backgrounds; nationalities and ethnicity; religions and sexualities. By exposing students to the origins and use of stereotypes, not only does it further debate, and foster understanding, but we believe students will develop the egalitarian tolerance and respect essential for success in the world.

In Film Studies, we have selected film texts that represent the identities of people and groups that are traditionally less visible on screen, exploring texts which challenge representations of ethnicity and sexuality within Moonlight (Jenkins, 2016. U.S) and representations of nationality, gender and religion in Mustang (Ergüven, 2015, Turkey). In other films, including the seminal classics Vertigo (Hitchcock. 1958, U.S) and Alien (Scott, 1979, U.S), students can deeply consider the patriarchal representations of men and women on screen that have facilitated social injustice, prejudice, intolerance throughout history. 

Our Film Studies curriculum has been carefully mapped to ensure key skills are developed and embedded over time. Students learn how to decode the preferred and intended meaning of directors, whilst considering alternative negotiated and oppositional meanings of their own as they grow in confidence over time. Through close exploration of macro and micro features, critical skills are nurtured and developed to prepare students for the challenges of external examinations and internal coursework assessment. Students are encouraged to embrace the latter as a real opportunity to showcase their understanding of the theoretical elements in the production of a short, edited film, or production of a screenplay, with accompanying digital storyboard.

Laying the foundation in Year One, then building the core skills through considered schema, ensures our students are ready in Year Two to write extended analyses and produce professional creative work.  Core theoretical concepts, such as spectatorship, narrative theory and ideological critical approaches, are revisited and solidified to ensure our students become confident experts of film over time.