What is a film studies course like?

So, I was meant to start university straight after I finished college, to do a course that I had a moderate interest in, but not what I wanted to do most. It was a course that was “acceptable” amongst my family, and other people in my life.

Anyway, I ended up not going, and didn’t go this year either for similar reasons - but now I’ve got to the point where I want to take control of my own life and make my own decisions without the influence of my family’s opinions. So I thought screw it, the second applications open this September I’m going to apply to study film studies next year - which is where my main passion is at.

However, I’d like to know what a film studies course is like. I’ve read the course summaries on university websites but I’d like to hear from students what it’s actually like to do it? Also, anyone who has studied film, what area are you working in at the moment? I appreciate any responses ☺️

Reply 1

domonict

17

Ok, so I know that I didn’t actually study film, but I know people who did.

Basically they are not courses to make you a film maker. They are closer to an English Degree, but studying Film v Books. You study early film, the genres that exist, the way that a film script is built.
You may make a film or two as part of the course, but it is not a vocational course.
People tend to end up in any career, if they are in the industry, they would be involved more in office based work such as script writing or production. One person I know started as a bookings person in a post production house, moving on to become to the PA to the CEO. Then she moved abroad and ran a boutique cinema. Another wrote for east Enders and other BBC shows. One guy worked for a pet food company, another worked for a special effects company.
It is not a magic ticket.
More people work outside the industry than in.

Reply 2

ChichesterStuRep

7

Original post by Alfie883

So, I was meant to start university straight after I finished college, to do a course that I had a moderate interest in, but not what I wanted to do most. It was a course that was “acceptable” amongst my family, and other people in my life.

Anyway, I ended up not going, and didn’t go this year either for similar reasons - but now I’ve got to the point where I want to take control of my own life and make my own decisions without the influence of my family’s opinions. So I thought screw it, the second applications open this September I’m going to apply to study film studies next year - which is where my main passion is at.

However, I’d like to know what a film studies course is like. I’ve read the course summaries on university websites but I’d like to hear from students what it’s actually like to do it? Also, anyone who has studied film, what area are you working in at the moment? I appreciate any responses ☺️

Hi @Alfie883!

So I studied Media and Communications at Chichester. This is a different course to Film Studies but they are similar in many ways with Film Studies being part of what I did in many modules. Film Studies is a theoretical course area as opposed to something like Digital Film Production which will be more vocational and majority practical based. Film Studies will have have you exploring many themes and subjects related to film, analysing their production and context, to reading the content of films on a deeper level, using things like semiotics, mise-en-scene, post-modernism (to name a few) to understand them better and deconstruct their meaning.

You will also look at things like gender and representation within film, exploring how roles, portrayals and stereotypes have shifted over time and how they manifested within films. One example I did in first year was looking at James Bond, how he's developed as a character over the years and how each reinterpretation of him is like the franchise resetting for each subsequent/current generation.

However, where my course did involve film studies, it was also more broadly on the creative industries itself, meaning I also did modules on social media, marketing, journalism, music and pr, gaming. A Film Studies course will be entirely looking at Film, allowing your knowledge and understanding to go much deeper and set the foundation for you to become more specialist in certain areas down the line, either in what you do your dissertation on or with further studies.

One other final thing to note, is that despite being highly theoretical, there may also be opportunities for you explore some practical elements. This may either be in certain modules being practical based, or some of your assessments affording you some flexibility and choice in how it's structured and delivered, i.e. video essay, website, an editorial/journalism piece, or portfolio of different pieces but all related. Things like that will depend on the University you apply for/choose and the course curriculum, so those things are always worth looking up before applying, and asking about at Open Days/Visit Days, etc :smile:

I hope this helps! If you have anymore questions please let me know :smile:

Tom
University of Chichester Student Rep and Alumni

What is a film studies course like?

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