AS Film StudiesAS Film Studies

Induction lessonInduction lesson

Favourite films – and what this revealsFavourite films – and what this reveals Messages and valuesMessages and values X-Men: messages and values about X-Men: messages and values about

discriminationdiscrimination The Terminator: messages and values about The Terminator: messages and values about

the futurethe future The Terminator – binary oppositionsThe Terminator – binary oppositions RepresentationRepresentation Representation of people and place : Representation of people and place :

Kidulthood Kidulthood

What is Film Studies?What is Film Studies?

Film Studies is about the study of:Film Studies is about the study of: the art of filmmakingthe art of filmmaking the history of film productionthe history of film production the contemporary film industrythe contemporary film industry

ProductionProduction DistributionDistribution Exhibition Exhibition

Technological developments in film Technological developments in film production and reception production and reception

What is Film Studies?What is Film Studies?

Film Studies at A-Level is not simply about Film Studies at A-Level is not simply about watching filmswatching films

Being a Film Studies students requires a Being a Film Studies students requires a different approach to films – in film studies, we different approach to films – in film studies, we talk about reading films not watching them – the talk about reading films not watching them – the act of reading goes beyond watchingact of reading goes beyond watching

Reading films is about considering why we see Reading films is about considering why we see what we see, about considering why a certain what we see, about considering why a certain actor is in a film, about what type of company actor is in a film, about what type of company has produced the film, about who the potential has produced the film, about who the potential audience is for the filmaudience is for the film

What is Film Studies?What is Film Studies?

AS Film StudiesAS Film Studies 2 units – 1 coursework (40%), 1 exam (60%)2 units – 1 coursework (40%), 1 exam (60%) FM1 Making Meaning – 1 analytical essay about FM1 Making Meaning – 1 analytical essay about

a film sequence, the production of the opening a film sequence, the production of the opening sequence to a film, plus evaluation in the form of sequence to a film, plus evaluation in the form of a ‘DVD extra’ commentarya ‘DVD extra’ commentary

FM2 British & American Cinema – 3 sections of FM2 British & American Cinema – 3 sections of work – Producers & Audiences, British Cinema, work – Producers & Audiences, British Cinema, American CinemaAmerican Cinema

A2 Film Studies – 2 more units – coursework A2 Film Studies – 2 more units – coursework and exam, but harder still…and exam, but harder still…

What is Film Studies?What is Film Studies?

Topics studiedTopics studied Producers & Audiences – September – Producers & Audiences – September –

NovemberNovember American Cinema – December 10 and March American Cinema – December 10 and March

10 – 2 studies10 – 2 studies British Cinema – Living with crime and horror British Cinema – Living with crime and horror

– September – October (horror) and January – September – October (horror) and January – March (crime)– March (crime)

Messages and valuesMessages and values

Values – what is important to us, what we Values – what is important to us, what we believe in , what we take seriouslybelieve in , what we take seriously

Messages – having something to say to Messages – having something to say to othersothers

Messages & values = IdeologyMessages & values = Ideology Ideology – set of beliefs, valuesIdeology – set of beliefs, values E.g. – the world is flat, if we sail to the E.g. – the world is flat, if we sail to the

edge we will fall offedge we will fall off

Messages and valuesMessages and values

Communicating without wordsCommunicating without words

Messages and values: X-MenMessages and values: X-Men

What is the film’s message about What is the film’s message about discrimination?discrimination?

How is this communicated?How is this communicated? What does the message reveal about the What does the message reveal about the

values of the filmmakers?values of the filmmakers?

Messages and values: The Messages and values: The TerminatorTerminator

What is the film’s message about the What is the film’s message about the future?future?

How is this message communicated?How is this message communicated? What does this message reveal about how What does this message reveal about how

the filmmakers view the benefits and the filmmakers view the benefits and drawbacks of technological progress?drawbacks of technological progress?

The Terminator: binary The Terminator: binary oppositionsoppositions

The Terminator v Sarah ConnorThe Terminator v Sarah Connor Working in pairs, note down everything Working in pairs, note down everything

you can think of about each characteryou can think of about each character Compare lists – what are the differences?Compare lists – what are the differences?

RepresentationRepresentation

Portrayal or re-presentation of people, Portrayal or re-presentation of people, places, ideas in the mediaplaces, ideas in the media

How does Kidulthood represent...How does Kidulthood represent... School?School? Teenagers?Teenagers? Adults?Adults? London?London?