Year 12 Film Studies - Exam Advice

Exam Advice - Year 12 Film Studies

In order to achieve the best possible results in your exam you must obviously know your subject, revise and ensure you have a thorough understanding of all possible topics.

This is not all however - you can make a huge difference to your overall grade by learning and using good exam technique, knowing the common pitfalls that students fall into and avoiding them.

Common Mistakes (All exam sections)

Below is a list of common mistakes that students make or areas where they fall down.  Use it as a check list to ensure that you don't make the same mistakes.

Not enough reference to examples.
Not including (or mis-spelling) title, director, year.
Time organisation.
Not using specific terminology.
Presentation (illegible writing).
Not keeping focus on the question.
Not having wide or deep enough knowledge to draw from.
Not going into enough detail.
Not bringing in your own case study knowledge.
Not choosing/answering the right question.
Not structuring the response.
No close analysis used.
Not enough debate in the response.
Unsophisticated use of stimulus material.


SECTION A (Audiences and Producers) -
 STEP BY STEP EXAM PLAN

1.  Read both questions carefully
2.  Evaluate how much you know about each question
3.  Decide which question you want to answer
4.  Which point of view do you take on the question?
5.  Read the resource pack
6.  Annotate resource pack with brief notes or thoughts
7.  Weigh up 2 sides of the argument mentally
8.  Make very brief notes on structure using bullet points.
9.  Begin essay with an introduction in which you answer the question in brief.
10.  Argument 1 - try to make 3 points and back them up with evidence from your learning or from the resource pack.
11.  Argument 2 - try to make 3 points and back them up with evidence from your learning or from the resource pack.
12.  Conclude with the question and answer it finally.

SECTION B (British Film and Genre) -

 STEP BY STEP EXAM PLAN

1.  Read both questions carefully

2.  Evaluate how much you know about each question

3.  Decide which question you want to answer

4.  Write a list of conventions/characteristics/points to include very briefly.

5.  Create very brief plan/structure.

6.  Begin essay with introduction in which you refer to the question.

7.  Film 1

8.  Film 2

9.  Film 3

10.  Conclude with reference to the question again.

Year 12 Media Studies - Exam Topic

EXAM FORMAT

It is important to understand the format for the exam.

Exam Requirements:

A written paper 2½ hours in length

There will be 3 compulsory questions

Question 1  -  requires an analysis of an audio/visual or print based extract in which you will demonstrate your skills of Textual Analysis.  This will be either a print based text or a moving image text.

Question 2 - Based on either representation or audience.  Split into 3 smaller questions - a, b and c.  Part a and b will be based on the source material you are given but part c will be based on your own case studies.

Question 3 - Based on either representation or audience (depending on what the focus was for question 2).  Question 3 is an essay question and will require you to use your own case studies.

Key Point: For question 2c and 3, you will need to refer to your own case studies to answer the questions.


UNIT OVERVIEW
The teaching for this unit will focus on the following key areas:

1.  Textual Analysis - Click here for more info.

2.  Audience - Click here for more info.

3.  Representation - Click here for more info.

To look at examples of past papers please click here.

Please click here for advice on timings and exam strategy.

Please click here for revision advice on this unit

SUMMARIES

KEY ISSUES - TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

A textual analysis is the process by which a media text is examined and deconstructed in order to determine what message and values it contains.

Still Image Analysis

When analysing a still image (such as an advert or movie poster) you will need to use denotation and connotation to deconstruct the media text.

Denotation
- What is shown only.  The image with no meaning attached eg a young woman smiling in a white lacy dress.
Connotation
- What associations and meanings the images have eg. a bride on her wedding day.

Moving Image Analysis

If you are given a moving image text to analyse (such as an extract from a television show or a film for example) you must use the tools of analysis to help you deconstruct the text.  These are:

Mise-en-scene - what is 'in the scene'.  Everything that is seen including props, costumes, lighting, make-up, body language, settings.

Editing - the way the images are cut to together to make meaning. Continuity editing is used to create the sense of seamless chronological  action while montage editing is used to collapse time and give the impression of time flowing quickly.  Transitions are part of editing and all create their own separate meanings.  Possible transitions include fades, wipes and dissolves.

Sound - There are two types of sound, diegetic (within the reality of the text - sound effects, dialogue) and non-diegetic (sound that the characters cannot hear - voice overs, theme music)

Cinematography - The way the camera is used, the size and angle of the shot.  Different shots create different meanings.  Possible shots include close ups, high/low angles, wide shot.

Codes

All of these elements can be categorised as certain codes:
Visual codes
Technical codes
Audio Codes

Spectatorship - Popular Film and Emotional Response

EXAM TOPIC

Spectatorship - Popular Film and Emotional Response


In Film Studies, the exploration of people's responses to film is termed 'spectatorship'.


Spectatorship is about studying spectators and exploring how and why people respond to films as they do.  It involves exploring:



The impact of the film viewing experience - the environment.
The impact on people of the way films are constructed - their micro and macro features.
The degree to which all spectators respond in the same way.

What is Emotion?


"A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling: the emotions of joy, sorrow, reverence, hate and love.”

How is Emotion Provoked?


Popular films manipulate their audience's emotions in order to provide pleasure.  This unit is concerned with examining how this is done.

Narrative and themes. 
Characters.
Imagery.
Sound.
Dialogue.
Performance.
Cinematography.




These could all be summarised as:


MANIPULATION
IDENTIFICATION
IMMERSION

Emotional Involvement and Identification  

We are encouraged to IDENTIFY with characters; to become emotionally involved with them, to feel as they do. 


This process of identification is sometimes called Alignment and refers to the way spectators are encouraged to relate to characters' emotions as well as to adopt their point of view.  


The emotional impact of a film frequently depends on spectator alignment with central characters.

Preferred Reading

The degree to which all spectators respond in the same way.

Do all spectators respond the same way?

Does gender make a difference? Class, race, religion?

The response that a director intends to create is the 'preferred reading' but this is not always what the spectator experiences.

Sample Questions

1.     1.  Explore possible reasons to explain why a second or third viewing of a film can actually increase the emotional response rather than lessen it.

2.      2.  How far is emotional response to mainstream films triggered by specific techniques used by the filmmakers?

3.      3.  From your experience, is it true to say that the emotional impact of some films comes from their subject matter whilst for other films the impact is created through the use of cinematic devices?

4.      4.  From your studies, discuss what you have found to be some of the most interesting ways in which filmmakers produce an emotional effect on the spectator.  Make detailed reference to specific films in your answer. 

5.      5.  “It is when film spectators are being shocked that they are most aware that they are being manipulated.”  Has this been your experience? Make detailed reference to film extracts you have studied in developing your answer.

6.      6.  ‘One of the greatest pleasures of popular cinema is surrendering to the film experience and allowing ourselves to be emotionally manipulated.’ Discuss this statement with reference to the films you have studied for this topic.

7.      7.  ‘Emotional response to a popular film is dependent on the ways in which we are made to identify with particular characters.’ How far has this been your experience?

Key Texts

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
(Frank Darabont 1994)

Please click here for detailed information on this film.

Year 12 Media Studies - Writing the Report

The pre-production and production must be accompanied by a report of 1200 – 1600 words. This report must be completed individually and will:

•Outline the research undertaken by the candidate.
•Explain how the research has been used to inform the pre-production.
•Outline and justify the target audience for the production – and explain HOW the audience has been targeted.
* Evaluate the production, summarising its strengths and weaknesses; preferably by comparing it with similar products.





Breaking it Down

If you break it down therefore you can see that there are THREE main parts to the essay:

Part 1: 
What research was undertaken?
How did you use the research?
Word Count: 700

Part 2: 
Who was your target audience?
How was this audience targetted?
Word Count: 150-200

Part 3: 
Was the production effective?
What were its strengths?
What were its weaknesses?
Comparison to real crime dramas.
Word Count: 700


Part 1:  Research
What research was undertaken and how did you use it?

1.  Think about what texts you used in your research and how you researched them.
Make a list of these.

2.  Think about what television crime drama conventions you identified.
Make a list of these.

3.  Think about which of these conventions you used.
Did you subvert any conventions? Did you challenge any stereotypes?
Did you stick very closely to the conventions?
Make a list of examples.

Part 2:  Target Audience

Who was your target audience and how did you target them?

1.  Think about who your crime drama was aimed at. 
Note this down.

2.  Think about ways in which you targeted them. 
Did you choose a particular channel?  A time slot?  A style or sub-genre? A particular day for transmission? Graphic violence? Sexual content? A particular character type?
Make a list of examples.

Part 3: Evaluation

Was your production successful?

1.  Think about whether your production was effective in a general sense. 
Note down answers to the following:  Was it good? Did it work as a TV crime drama?  Did it look like a real crime drama?

2.  Identify 2 real television crime dramas which are as close to your production in terms of style, sub genre and target audience as possible.

Use these examples to compare your production against.  Does it look as good as them?  is it in line with them?  In what ways is it?  In what ways is it not?

3.  Identify 3 positive points about your production.


4. Identify 3 negative points about your production.

Wrapping it up.

Create a detailed essay structure.

Identify which examples will be used.

Identify what will be in each paragraph.

Identify how many words each paragraph needs to be.

Year 12 Film Studies: Audiences and Producers - Hollywood, then and now

Year 12 Film Studies: Exam Topic - Audiences and Producer: Film Distribution

• Someone has an idea for a movie.
• They create an outline and use it to promote interest in the idea.
• A studio or independent investor decides to purchase rights to the film.
• People are brought together to make the film (screenwriter, producer, director, cast, crew).
• The film is completed and sent to the studio.
• The studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company.
• The distribution company determines how many copies (prints) of the film to make.
• The distribution company shows the movie (screening) to prospective buyers representing the theaters.
• The buyers negotiate with the distribution company on which movies they wish to lease and the terms of the lease agreement.
• The prints are sent to the theaters a few days before the opening day.
• The theater shows the movie for a specified number of weeks (engagement).
• You buy a ticket and watch the movie.
• At the end of the engagement, the theater sends the print back to the distribution company and makes payment on the lease agreement.

Some of these steps may be combined and, particularly in the case of small independent films, additional steps may be necessary. As you can see, there is a lot that goes on before a movie is ever shown to a paying audience!

Year 12 Film Studies: Audiences and Producers - Film Finance and Production

The Package
Investment
Costs
UK Film Council
The Stages of Production

Question 1b

This part of the exam requires you to choose ONE of your productions to write about and evaluate in relation to one of the following media concepts:

Narrative

You must be able to link Narrative theory to your AS coursework production and explain whether your work is in line with the theories or not.

Todorov's Classic Hollywood Narrative

Equilibrium
Disruption
Recognition of disruption
Repair
New equilibrium

Barthes

5 Codes -
Enigma Code:  Small puzzles and mysteries are set up which draw the viewer into the narrative and engage their attention.  Questions that audience members will ask themselves could be:  Who is that?  Why are they doing that?  What do they want?  How has that happened?

Propp

Propp identified 8 different CHARACTER TYPES or ARCHETYPES which he claimed are present in all narratives.  Are they present in yours?  Do you agree with this theory?

Genre

Representation
Click here for detailed information on representation.

Audience

Media Language

You will not know which of the concepts you will have to write about until you see the exam paper.