Film Studies
Head of Department: Laura Pickering
Members of Department:
- Mark Lickley (Deputy Head of Department)
Media Technicians:
- Keith Merkelt
- Diarmuid Slattery
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. Film Studies is a dynamic, academic and creative subject, which combines many different disciplines. Through the study of film, students build their skills in analysis, research and creativity and will develop understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of film; the major art form of the twentieth and twenty first centuries.
Film Studies offers a broad and diverse range of study opportunities as we study film as an art form, and as an important cultural influence which both shapes and reflects our society, our understanding of history and our appreciation and knowledge of other cultures.
The department benefits from excellent facilities including, practical film making equipment, computers for every student, professional media software packages and the use of two ex-industry media technicians.
We are committed to mixed ability teaching and recognise that to do this effectively the curriculum has to be planned carefully, ensuring progression, support and challenge.
Pupils’ progress is carefully tracked and intervention strategies are employed to support pupils who are underachieving.
Key Stage 4
At Morpeth, we follow the WJEC/ Eduqas specification in GCSE Film Studies which 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. Learners will develop their knowledge of US mainstream film by studying one film from the 1950s, Rebel without a cause, and one film from the 80s Ferris Bueller’s day off, thus looking at two stages in Hollywood's development. In addition, they will be studying more recent films – a US independent film; The Hurtlocker as well as films from Europe; Tsotsi. And British Films; Attack the Block and Slumdog Millionaire (a British film set in India).
Studying a diverse range of films from several different contexts is designed to give learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own screenwriting project. For the non-examined assessment work (30% of the whole course) students write a screenplay and shooting script for the opening to a film; a project that has provoked some excellent creative writing in the last few years.
Key Stage 5
Film Studies at Morpeth is now a well-established subject with the option for further study at A level. The department has a history of excellent results in this subject.
The WJEC Eduqas specification in GCSE Film Studies aims to develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the ways in which meanings and responses are generated through film
- a contrasting, culturally diverse range of films from different national contexts
- film as an aesthetic medium
- how films reflect the social, cultural and political contexts in which they are made
- the relationship between film and film technology over time.
In addition, the specification aims to enable learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of film to filmmaking or screenwriting.
The core and additional areas that are studied on the course include;
Classical Hollywood period (1930-1960) and New Hollywood period (1961-1990). American film since 2005 /2012 and British film since 1995
Global film (two-film study), documentary film and film movements which includes the study of one experimental film and one example of early silent cinema.
Other area that are studied alongside the main topic areas involve the study of ideologies, spectatorship, auteur theory and other critical debates as they relate to a study of cinema.
