Media & Film Studies

home > curriculum > media & film studies

Media & Film Studies

Overview

Media and Film Studies is a popular, up-to-date two-year course at EGA. In a world where technological changes mean young people can access many new types of media, it is important that young people understand who is creating this and how young people may be manipulated by it. The aim of Media and Film Studies is to give students the opportunity to explore the media they consume, to think critically about this media and to give them the opportunity to create their own media texts.

The course gives students the opportunity to obtain two GCSEs in a two-year period. The subjects are coursework-based, with students researching different media and then creating their own versions of these. They are encouraged to look at the immediate world around them and question their representation in the media. In Film Studies, students examine films for meaning, much as they would an English text, and question conventions and stereotypes by comparing Hollywood films to World cinema. Students sit one exam for each subject in the Summer exams.

Each Media and Film Studies student has access to excellent resources: digital cameras, digital video cameras, the latest Macs with the full Adobe suite, an iPad and the latest Microsoft software. Students are also given the opportunity to work with professionals in the media industry, including the BBC, the Guardian and UCL.

Media and Film Studies at Key Stage 4

Media and Film Studies is a combined two-year GCSE course. There is a strong emphasis on deadlines and these are expected to be adhered to. There are three lessons per week, made up of one single and one double lesson. It is expected that coursework is completed in this time. There is no tier system in Media and Film Studies, students will all sit the same exam.

For the current Years 10 and 11, the course consists of:

Year 10 Media Studies (AQA Exam Board)

Assignment 1 – Analysing DVD covers

Assignment 2 – Cross Media Analysis – Music

Assignment 3 – Major Production – Magazine/Film

This is then followed by a pre-determined exam topic. In 2011, it is Action Adventure Films.

Year 11 Film Studies (WJEC Exam Board)

Assignment 1 - Exploring a film of candidate’s choice

Assignment 2 - Pitch and Preproduction

Assignment 3 – Film production

Assignment 4 - Analysis

This is then followed by two short exams.

Study at Home for KS4

There are many resources that can be used for Media and Film Studies. The following links are recommended by the subjects’ exam boards. This will be updated to suit the current year’s exam topic.

British Film Institute

American Film Institute

UK Film education site

Young film-makers site

Review of British film and television history

Screenplay archive

Internet movie database

Empire Magazine online

BBC online film magazine

British Academy of Film and Television Arts

Narrative structures

Production storyboard guidance

Digital storytelling

clips.e2bn.org,

www.storycenter.org,

www.photobus.co.uk

Mediascapes

Recent Events

In Media and Film Studies, the department takes on various projects to enhance students’ learning and to give them the chance to work with professionals. Year 10 Media Studies students have recently entered a documentary-making competition in collaboration with UCL, Open City and Kodak when the students spent the day with university students creating documentaries about their areas. These will be posted on the Media and Film Studies page soon. We also look to get involved with community events, so if you would like to work with students in the Media and Film Studies course, please contact the school.