1. A2 FILM STUDIES
Introduction to Course

2. Welcome to A2 Film Studies
 The Second Year of A Level Film
Studies is split in to two distinct
modules:
 FM4 – Varieties of Film Experiences –
Issues and Debates (exam based
assessment)
 FM3 – Film Research and Creative
Projects (coursework based
assessment)
This year each module
has been given equal
weighing
THIS MEANS YOUR COURSEWORK IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT THAN LAST YEAR!
50%
50%

3. What will we be studying?
 FM4 – Exam Assessment
 Urban Stories – Power, Poverty & Conflict
 Spectatorship – Popular film and emotional
responses
 Single Film – Critical Study – ‘Vertigo’

4. FM4 Section A – World Cinema Topic
Section A – World Cinema – Urban Stories – Power, Poverty &
Conflict
Deals with ‘Urban Stories’ and how the issues of
Power, Poverty & Conflict are depicted by different
‘National Cinema’ industries

7. Section B – Spectatorship – Popular Film and Emotional
Responses
Deals with the spectator as an individual. This module will
look at how individuals respond to film and the factors that
determine / affect their response
FM4 Section B – Spectatorship

10. Section C – Single Film Critical Study – VERTIGO(1958)
This is a synoptic module that will bring to bear everything
you have learnt during your AS & A2 studies.
FM4 Section C – Single Film Study

12. This years coursework module is called
“This module contributes to synoptic assessment and
focuses on TWO projects related to the production of
meaning: one is research based and the other is
creative”
FM3 Coursework
FM3 – Film Research and Creative Projects
This will be achieve through:
• Completing a small-scale research project designed
to develop research skills within the framework of one
or more critical approaches used in film studies
• Develop creative skills and a deepening
understanding of the medium chosen for the creative
project

13. You will be required to submit TWO pieces of
coursework to complete the A2 course:
FM3 Coursework
You will create and submit:
1. Small Scale Research Project
2. Creative Project

14. This year there are TWO options available for your
Creative Project
FM3 - Creative Project
You can either create:
1. Short Film (groups of up to 4)
2. Screenplay (solo project)
45
Both options present unique challenges,
however there is no ‘easy’ option. Both
filmmaking and screenwriting will present their
own challenges and be graded to the same
standard

15. This project has been designed to enhance not
only your knowledge and understanding of Film
topics, but also your own research skills.
Small Scale Research Project
Your findings will be presented in TWO
documents:
1. ‘Presentation Script’
2. ‘Annotated Catalogue’
What you research IS UP TO
YOU!!!!
I cannot provide you with a topic

16. Your Presentation Script should be no longer than
1,500 words and you can only use THREE films in
your work
Small Scale Research Project
Read the exemplar Presentation Script entitled:
“The changing representations of Nazis in
Cinema”

17. Critical Framework Options
The exam board states:
Candidates will establish an area of investigation that
relates the chosen focus film to one of the following
frameworks:
Critical Framework
Options
Star / Performer
Genre
Auteur
Social, Cultural &
Political Study Gender
Issues
Ethnicity
Technolo
gy

18. Example – Social, Political & Cultural
Study
 Research area – “What role does cinema play in
our ‘Cultural Literacy?”
Related
Film # 1
Related
Film # 2
Primary
Film

19. Example – Auteur
 Research area – “David Fincher – Auteur Study”
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 1
Related
Film # 2

20. Example – Ethnicity
 Research area – “Why are most Super Heroes
White?”
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 2
Related
Film # 1

21. Example – Gender Issues
 Research area – “The Changing representation
of women in Cinema”
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 2
Related
Film # 1

22. Example – Gender Issues
 Research area – “Representation of
Homosexuality in Cinema”
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 1
Related
Film # 2

23. Example – Institution
 Research area – “Are the MPAA’s classification of
NC-17 films justified and what a film can do when
given one?”
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 1
Related
Film # 2

24. Example – Institution
 Research area – “Looking for new frontiers - The
American film industry and the Western Genre”
Related
Film # 1
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 2

25. Example – Genre
 Research area – Adaptation – How does
changing the form of a story change its
meaning?”
Related
Film # 1
FOCUS FILM
Related
Film # 2

26. Critical Framework Options
The exam board states:
Candidates will establish an area of investigation that
relates the chosen focus film to one of the following
frameworks:
Critical Framework
Options
Star / Performer
Genre
Auteur
Social, Cultural &
Political Study Gender
Issues
Ethnicity
Technolo
gy

27. It is essential that the research project is firmly
centered on a SINGLE FILMIC TEXT – to ensure
the project remains ‘small scale’
Small Scale Research Project
You must then pick TWO ‘related films’ to support and
expand upon the point you make
It is essential that you consider the films context (the
specific production backgrounds well as broader
social/political/historical context)
Do violent films
influence the behavior
of their audiences?

28. Banned TOPICS
 The following research projects / areas are
banned
 Auteur - Tim Burton
 Pixar & it’s success
 Auteur – Christopher
Nolan
 ‘ ’
 Evolution/Developmen
t of CGI/Technology in
film
 Disney & Racism
 Disney and Sexism
 Auteur: Kubrick or
Hitchcock
 Representation of
Italian Americans in
film

29. Settling on a final research area will be
difficult and may take some time
Decisions, Decisions…
Task 1
Everyone must come with ONE potential
research project based on the critical
framework options you have seen
Star/Performer
Genre
Auteur
Social,
Political,
Cultural
Gender Issues
Ethnicity
Technology
Institution
Task 2
In the middle of the page write the name of your
favorite film
Now try to come up with 3 potential research projects
based on that film

30. Part 1 - Small Scale Research
Project
 You are required to carryout a research project designed
to develop your research skills
 The research project is completed in two parts:
 An Annotated Catalogue (15 marks)
 A Presentation Script (25 marks)
 You are not being asked to write an essay!

31. Annotated
Catalogue
 Turn to page 4 in
your handouts to
see an example of
an Annotated
Catalogue

32. Annotated Catalogue
 The Annotated Catalogue is simply a list
of the research materials you have used
 You should include both PRIMARY and
SECONDARY research
 Primary – information you have collected
yourself that does not rely on ‘secondary’
sources.
 Secondary – existing information is
collected and analysed

33. Annotated Catalogue
 The Annotated Catalogue is to be made
up of between 10 – 15 research items
 This does not mean the first 15 items you
look at
 Each piece of research must be judged
on its own merits and relevance to your
overall objectives
 You are required to ‘Annotate’ each piece
of research (approx 70 words) explaining
how the particular item is relevant to the
area of investigation you have chosen

34. Small Scale Research Project
 Your research is to be submitted
as a presentation
 Your presentation must be 1,500
words in length and should last
between 12 – 18 minutes when
presented
 The Presentation Script may:
 Be in note form
 Be bulleted or numbered
 Short piece of prose with reference to
presentation material
 Turn to page 7 in your handouts

35. Task - Critical Framework Options
 Chose one of your favourite films and identify three or
more of the Critical Framework Options that you can
fit it in to – Are there any that suit it better than the
others?
 Pick one of the categories and list all the films you can
think of that would fit into it – Are any of these films that
stand out to you?
 Devise an area of investigation for one of the films that
you are interested in researching
 Does this film fit with one or more of the Critical

36. Research Project
 Before we begin our
research projects we must
develop our research skills
and develop methods of
gathering primary research
 What methods could you
use to gather primary
information?
 E-Mail
 Forum
discussions
 Questionnaires
 Interviews
 Twitter
 Facebook

37. Research Practice
 Choose a film
 Then students must create a one page
presentation on the film including:
 2 books
 2 internet resources
 1 primary resources