Same here
The course material does vary slightly so I can only tell you what I've done (and will be doing next year)
AS:
Section A - Producers & Audiences. There were topics like 3D, Video on Demand, Stars, Independent Cinema, Production, Distribution, Exhibition, High-Concept films, low-budget films.
Section B - Ewan McGregor. 3 films studied in-depth looking for themes, messages & values. I believe the other actor that we could have studied was Julie Christie.
Section C - Gangster Genre. 2 films studied in-depth looking for similarities and differences. The films we studied we Goodfellas and Bonnie & Clyde.
Coursework - Worth 40%. First piece was an analytical essay to analyse a 3-min film scene. Second piece was a creative project, we could choose to make a storyboard or an extended step outline.
A2:
Section A: Mexican Cinema. 3 films studied in-depth, one supporting film
Section B: Popular Film & Emotional Response. 3 films chosen which all give the same emotion to an audience. We study how and why these emotions are manipulated from the audience.
Section C: In-depth case study of ONE film. We're doing Fight Club
Coursework: Worth 50% this time. First piece is we get to choose our own question (I've done mine on Paul Walker
) and have to write a certain amount of words on it. Second piece is we can choose between writing a script or another Extended Step Outline
As for the lessons themselves... I have really enjoyed studying Film, even though I'm not a creative person. I honestly cannot be happier that I chose it (I was originally studying maths) and it has given me some really useful skills.
If you do end up taking Film Studies and you get stuck on something, just PM me