A Level Film Studies
"I don't dream at night, I dream at day, I dream all day. I dream for a living". Steven Speilberg.
Notes before we begin?
Evaluative analysis of the production In order to ensure the authenticity and comparability of all learners’ evaluative analysis, teachers are required to establish the following conditions for completing the evaluative analysis: Learners and teachers may carry out the following:
• learners may refer to any filmmaking or screenwriting notes, ideas and other relevant resources (such as those collected in the learner’s portfolio) in completing their evaluative analysis
• teachers may provide general advice on areas of possible improvement for one draft version of the evaluative analysis provided that the learner is responsible for completing all work.
What should the evaluation contain?
The evaluative analysis Learners must complete an evaluative analysis of their production of between 1600 and 1800 words and make reference to all short films selected for study from the set compilation (at least three short films totalling a minimum of 80 minutes).
The evaluative analysis will include:
• narrative structure of the short film – an analysis of how the narrative features and dramatic qualities of all short films studied are constructed, including through dialogue, highlighting key ideas which informed learners’ own production
• cinematic influences – an analysis of how key visual/audio elements of other professionally produced films or screenplays, including short films studied, influenced their short film
• creating meaning and effect – an evaluative analysis of how their production creates meanings and generates responses for the spectator in relation to other professionally produced films or screenplays, including short films.
Note: all short films selected for study from the set compilation (at least three short films totalling a minimum of 80 minutes) must be considered in the evaluative analysis and must be listed on the coversheet submitted to WJEC. As set out in the production brief, learners must submit the evaluative analysis in the form of extended writing (which may include sub-headings). It must be word-processed and may be illustrated with screen shots or screenplay extracts. Screenplay extracts used to illustrate the evaluative analysis are excluded from the word count of 1600-1800 words.
Evaluation example
The document below is a student example from the board which achieved an A-grade, a 59/60 mark grade. It also identifies the importance of the using images to annotate the points being made from influences that had an impact on the style and narrative structure of the film.
Evaluation Outline
Short Films.
To structure the evaluation you will need to firstly identify the short films that you have studied. You should list the films that you have studied and a reminder this should come to a total of 90 minutes but can be more. You will need to make direct reference to these films when analysing how they imacted the style and narrative structures.
Reminder of the list of the short films:
- Below is the full list of short films that can be studied.
- Meshes of the Afternoon (Deren, US, 1946) 14’
- La Jetée (Marker, France, 1962) 28’
- La Ricotta (Pasolini, Italy, 1963) 34’
- The Grandmother (Lynch, US, 1970) 34’
- A Girl’s Own Story (Campion, Australia, 1987) 26’
- Elephant (Clarke, UK, 1989) 39’
- The Wrong Trousers (Park, UK, 1993) 30′
- When the Day Breaks (Forbis/Tilby, Canada, 1999) 09′
- About a Girl (Percival, UK, 2001) 09′
- Wasp (Arnold, UK, 2003) 24′
- High Maintenance (Van, Germany, 2006) 09′
- Connect (Abrahams, UK, 2010) 05′
- Night Fishing (Park, South Korea, 2011) 33’
- Pitch Black Heist (Maclean, UK, 2012) 13’
- Curfew (Christensen, US, 2012) 19′
- Swimmer (Ramsay, UK, 2012) 18’
- The Gunfighter (Kissack, US, 2014) 09′.
- Stutterer (Cleary, UK, 2015) 12′
You can also discuss media products that had an impact outside of the list such as films you have studied for component 1 and component 2.
What is being submitted?
Assessment Non-exam assessment Internally assessed, externally moderated by WJEC 60 marks 30% of qualification (production, 20%, evaluative analysis, 10%) Learners must submit the following for assessment:
• production (40 marks)
• evaluative analysis (20 marks) • production coversheet, including the list of short films studied, authenticated by teacher and learner. Learners should note that work cannot be assessed without the appropriate authentication.
Marking Criteria
Adhering to production requirements A penalty will be applied to work which either does not reach or exceeds the stipulated length of the short film or screenplay.
Evaluative analysis (1600 to 1800 words) • work exceeding the maximum length of the evaluative analysis (1800 words): only the first 1800 words will be assessed. • work which is up to 180 words short: 2 marks must be deducted by the teacher assessing work • work which is less than 1420 words: a mark between bands 1 and 3 will be awarded depending on how far the evidence indicates the aims of the brief have been met.
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