Film Studies
Back to Subjects MenuWhat is it like to study Film Studies at BCHS?
Film Studies at BCHS is a challenging, provocative and engaging subject at BCHS, in which students will understanding of film will develop critical and creative thinking, alongside building their emotional intelligence, whilst delving into in-depth analysis and research. The study of Film at Brentwood County High School is lead by a subject specialist, with years of experience working the UK Film Industry, who promotes an appreciation of Film as an art form and pushes students to dive into the academic nature of moving image. The course is designed to encourage students to consider the variety of career opportunities in the film industry – one of the fastest areas of economic growth in the UK, with film studios currently being built on our doorstep in Essex.
Subject Overview year 9-11
Year 9 (Carousel) Overview:
Students in Year 9 will be given a broad overview of the foundations of film form – mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, editing, genre and context – whilst studying the Superhero genre of cinema, to prepare them for their GCSE study. The course will include in-depth analysis of Black Panther as a historic filmic text, conceived at the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement, being the first Blockbuster Marvel film with a black Superhero in the lead role.
Year 10 Overview:
In Year 10, students will begin developing an understanding of Global Film (Tsotsi), Indie Film (Whiplash) and the evolution of Hollywood Teen Dramas (Rebel Without A Cause and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). Having studied these set texts, alongside the history and technological evolution of film, students will complete the year by beginning to design their NEA (coursework), which will see them beginning to write the opening sequence of a screenplay.
Year 11 Overview
By Year 11, students will broaden their understanding of film, by analysing the James Bond franchise of British Cinema (Skyfall), followed by further study of Global Film (District 9). Students will also revise and develop their understanding by moving into conversations of narrative and representation, whilst completing their NEA (coursework) and writing an evaluative analysis of their work against other professionally produced filmic texts.
CURRICULUM MAP
Subject Overview Sixth Form
Year 12 Overview
In Year 12, students will be given a broad overview of the A Level foundations of film form – mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, editing, context, genre, narrative etc. – through studying British Film (This Is England & Trainspotting) and Experimental Film (Pulp Fiction). Later students will look widely at the film industry, with Global Film (Pan’s Labyrinth and Wild Tales) and pit US Hollywood Film (La La Land) against US Indie Film (Winter’s Bone). Students will complete the year by beginning to design their NEA (coursework), which will see them studying the short film format and beginning to design their own short film screenplay.
Year 13 Overview
By Year 13, students will start the path to University-level understanding and criticism, by analysing Silent Cinema (Buster Keaton), documentary (Amy) and ideas of Hollywood (Some Like It Hot) with New Hollywood (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest). Students will also revise and develop their understanding by moving into conversations of auteur, critical debates, aesthetics and filmmaker theories, whilst completing their NEA (coursework) – screenplay and storyboard - and writing an evaluative analysis of their work against other professionally produced filmic texts.
Enrichment
If circumstances allow, students will have opportunities to make their own short films (with their smartphones!), attend the school’s Into Film Club, attend lectures and screenings at BFI on London’s Southbank, receive virtual masterclasses from industry professionals and have access to the school’s subscription to Total Film and Sight and Sound Magazines.
How do we contribute to PHSEE, British Values and SMSC?
From exploring harmful stereotypes perpetuated in the highest grossing Box Office films, to discussing the ideologies reflected back to children in Disney films, Film is primed to build emotionally intelligent students who question the world around them, who can better understand and challenge their ideas of society, culture, history, economics and politics, because of the work completed in the classroom.
What careers does film studies support?
Film is one of the most relevant subjects today. Did you know that every nine days, as much moving image is uploaded to YouTube as the BBC has broadcast in its entire history? Employment in the screen industries has grown by over 20% since 2009 and will substantially outpace the economy wide increase of 3% if the skills shortages in this area are fulfilled.
Career paths for students of Film may, of course, include practical avenues such as Film-Making, Directing, Producing and Editing but a qualification in Film Studies also allows you to move into more theoretical pathways such as Film Criticism, Journalism, Teaching and Education.
The study of film is highly regarded. Film Studies has been an academic discipline within universities for over 50 years and is regarded as an academic subject in its own right. Oxford and Cambridge are now offering Masters and PHD courses in Film Studies and Screen Arts. Russell Group universities accept Film Studies as an appropriate A level qualification when prospective students apply to study a humanities or arts related discipline.
