Film is an important part of many people's lives. Those who choose to study it
characteristically bring with them a huge enthusiasm and excitement for film which
constantly motivates them in their studies. They experience a powerful medium
which inspires a range of responses from the emotional to the reflective as they are
drawn into characters, their narratives and the issues films raise. The root of that
power is the immersive audio-visual experience film offers – one which can exploit
striking cinematography, composition and locations as well as powerful music and
sound. It is not surprising that many consider film to be the major art form of the last
hundred years and that many feel it important to study a medium which has such a
significant influence on the way people think and feel.

The WJEC Eduqas specification in GCSE Film Studies is designed to draw on
learners' enthusiasm for film and introduce them to a wide variety of cinematic
experiences through films which have been important in the development of film and
film technology. The three units of the course are:

Key Developments in US Film

• US film comparative study

• Key developments in film and film technology

• US independent film

Assessed by written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Global Film - Narrative, Representation and Film Style

• English Language Film

• Non-English Language Film

• Contemporary UK Film

Assessed by written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Production

The production may take the form of:

• either a filmed extract from a genre film (2 minutes to 2½ minutes)

• or an extract from a screenplay for a genre film (800 to 1000 words).

The screenplay must be accompanied by a shooting script of a key section from the screenplay (approximately 1 minute of screen time, corresponding to approximately one page of screenplay).

Non-exam assessment