In our moving image dominated world, it is more important than ever for students to be critically aware of the key elements and choices that inform filmmaking and how we, as spectators, respond to films. As such, our film studies curriculum endeavours to make all students knowledgeable, confident and enthusiastic about all areas of film. We prioritise developing our pupils’ analytical skills in order for them to critically engage with and question technical, structural and contextual choices and ideas related to a broad range of films, in addition to developing creative filmmaking skills to produce high-quality short films and screenplays for coursework. It is a subject that combines elements of many others, namely English literature, history, politics, art, sociology and philosophy – and serves as an excellent complement to the study of any of the above.
Year 12
At the beginning of Year 12, in their introductory module, students are familiarised with core knowledge related to film studies, including macro and micro elements of film, social and industrial context, and theories such as auteurship, spectatorship and ideological analysis. Students are also introduced to practical elements of filmmaking and asked to complete a short project, taking them through the screenplay pre-production stage, production and post-production editing stages.
Students then begin their study of Vertigo and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest from the Hollywood 1930-1990 unit and Buster Keaton’s Shorts from silent cinema.
Students then study global film unit options City of God and Pan’s Labyrinth, in addition to the modern Hollywood options No Country for Old Men and Captain Fantastic.
Students finish the year looking at Stories We Tell from the documentary unit. They also begin to compile ideas for their NEA coursework.
Year 13
Students return to their second year with focus turning to a unit on short film production to help inform the production of their screenplay or short film.
In addition to producing and submitting coursework, students will study This Is England and Fish Tank from the British film unit. The course finishes with a study of Pulp Fiction for the experimental cinema unit.