Exam Syllabuses and Specifications - Teachers only

This section consists of extracts from current A/S and A/2 specifications, GCSE exam syllabuses and the draft GCSE specifications commencing in September 2001. It is hoped that this website will be a useful case study in these areas. It should be noted, particularly at advanced level, that students are required to focus on a 'current' text so it is advisable that they use this site to give them an example of the area of research.

Exam Specifications - A/S and A2

Film Studies

WJEC (www.wjec.co.uk)

FS2 Producers and Audiences: Hollywood and British Cinema
(c) The Cinema Business
Aspects of finance, organisation, production, distribution (including
marketing) and exhibition will be studied, particularly through case studies.

Single Film Close Study:
This is a study of a single film's messages and values and requires the detailed analysis of issues of meaning and response, including some emphasis on how individual response is informed by a study of the film's 'moment' of production. Links with 'Producers and Audiences' from (FS2) are encouraged. So, for example, it may be particularly appropriate to consider institutional factors as they inform an appreciation of the film's messages and values. Alternatively it may be particularly appropriate to consider issues of reception, both popular and critical, and consider how these may reflect response to the film's messages and values. Unlike in Section A, questions may require candidates to refer to a particular key sequence.

One of the prescribed films is East is East.

Media Studies

WJEC (www.wjec.co.uk)

Unit 5: Changing Media Industries
Advertising
Advertising campaigns

AQA (www.aqa.org.uk)

Textual Topics:
Film and Broadcast Fiction.
institutional issues (influence of film/broadcasting institutions
upon texts; differences within film and broadcasting institutions Hollywood v non-Hollywood; public service v commercial broadcasting; influence of finance, marketing and distribution upon the production and reception of texts. Debates around aesthetic value, profit, public-service values etc)

Advertising and Marketing
Analysis and evaluation of a current advertising or marketing
campaign using the Key Concepts.

A2 Module 5
Independent Study
Possible Topics How successful was the marketing campaign of (a current
film)?
An evaluation of the appropriateness of the objectives, structure,
techniques and target audience of the marketing of the film in the
light of an analysis of the film. The study will analyse both the film
and the campaign as texts.

OCR (www.ocr.org.uk)

5.3 Unit 2732: Case Study: Audience and
Institutions
5.3.1 Set Topic Content
Media Ownership
For this topic candidates need to:
become familiar with the processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange
and their significance to media ownership (Production Practices);

5.5.1 Set Topic Content
Concept to Product
Research into the processes involved in the production of a media text from its conception to
consumption.
[Media products from Europe, USA or other countries]
A case study investigation into the making of a media product (in any medium), including the
initial concept, planning, personnel, technology, facilities, time scale, finance, marketing,
distribution and exchange. Candidates will need to understand the institutional contexts for
production and distribution and the definitions of successful reception by audiences.

SECTION B: FILM
The Concept of Genre in Film
Media Institutions: film industries; Hollywood studios production line approach to genre;
associated with specific studios; pre-/post production, distribution, exhibition; genre as marketing
tool.

 

 


Exam Specifications - GCSE

The site may be useful in providing stimulus for discussion in all the key concepts. Hence it may be used as input in coursework assignments. For example, the film provides ample material for a consideration of the representation of ethnic minorities. It could also be use to consider how a mass audience is addressed with what is generally considered to be a minority interest. From an institutional point of view, the marketing campaign can used a case study for an assessment of the promotion of other films (this is particularly useful for the OCR syllabus).

In contrast, the new specifications are more specific in terms of what is being assessed.

Starting Sept 2001 - GCSE (draft)

WJEC (www.wjec.co.uk)

5.2 Media Organisations
Candidates will investigate the ways in which media organisations create, sustain and
expand their markets and their audiences. This will be achieved through an
examination of:
Marketing and Promotion
Candidates will look closely at issues relating to:
competition;
branding;
distribution;
cross-media links;
ratings/schedules/audience reach and share.

The Nature of Coursework
1. Textual Analysis:
Examples of texts include trailers, title and opening sequences, sports and film stars,
advertisements, magazine front covers, newspaper front pages, film posters, comic strips,
computer games, pop videos, radio programmes and web pages.

OCR (www.ocr.org.uk)

Cross-Media Topics for 2003 and 2004:
Advertising

Texts: A minimum of three individual texts should be studied as examples for each topic.

AQA (www.aqa.org.uk)

12.2 film marketing & publicity


 

Crossing Over : Specifications