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Students can find studying spectatorship challenging.  There are many theories of spectatorship, but starting with the theory can lead students to list theoretical ideas rather than engage with the texts. Let’s not forget this A2 Film Studies unit is about “emotional responses” more than critical ones.

This is a good place to start with students. What is “emotion”? What is “popular film”? And what elements of the film experience trigger emotional responses?

Emotion and Popular Film

The term emotion,...

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Crime and cinema have a longstanding relationship.

Going right back to early cinema one of the landmark silent films was The Great Train Robbery (1903). There is a shot in that film which is overtly referenced as the last shot that we see in the American crime film GoodFellas (1990).

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However, whereas we might argue that the criminal life that’s represented in the Hollywood-produced GoodFellas is somewhat glamourised and told in an overtly artificial way (think of how music is used...

AS WJEC FM2: Producers and Audience

For FM2, British and American Film each question is worth 40 marks, and there is 2.5 hours to answer three questions. The paper is made up from resource material and 12 page answer book. Candidates are asked to explore the relationship between film producers and audience.

The resource material can include:

• Home page of a fan website
• Table illustrating box office figures
• Poster of a film
• Front cover of a magazine
• Press release
• Cinema programme
• Blog extracts

Candidates will be asked to use the exam...

Synopsis

It is Gromit’s birthday and he is feeling particularly ignored by Wallace. When the post arrives, he eagerly seeks it out but find a rather tacky and unoriginal card ‘To a dear dog’ from Wallace and nothing else. Wallace presses his alarm for breakfast and reminds Gromit that it is his turn for breakfast, so Gromit obliges. Wallace finally gives Gromit his presents, which bemuse him - a collar and lead (so he can finally look like he “belongs to someone”) and techno-trousers that can take him for walks.

Gromit goes for a...

Synopsis

A television news report provides the prologue / chorus for Romeo and Juliet, introducing the tale of the “star-crossed lovers”. The city of Verona is divided by a feud between the two wealthiest businessmen - Lord Capulet and Lord Montague.

As the Montagues arrive in a petrol station, they are met by the Capulets. Whilst Benvolio (leader of the Montagues) tries to maintain peace, Tybalt (leader of the Capulets and “King of Cats”) cannot be persuaded and leads them into battle. Tybalt shoots one of the Montagues as they drive...

Paper 1 | Superhero Films Case Study | The Dark Knight

Synopsis

The Dark Knight opens with a bank robbery in which the Joker kills his accomplices. A news report then explains that public opinion of Batman is decreasing, yet when Batman tries to stop some gangsters a number of ‘copycat’ Batmen try to help him.

At home, recovering from his wounds, Bruce Wayne (Batman) pines after his lost love Rachel, who is now going out with Harvey Dent, Gotham’s new District Attorney. Harvey and Rachel lead a prosecution court case, after which...

Production Context & Key Notes

• Written and Directed by Shane Meadows (UK)
• Shane Meadows films include Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, Dead Man’s Shoes and Northern Soul
• Produced by EM Media (East Midlands)
• Distributed by Optimum (Independent UK Distributor : Brick, Vera Drake, Dead Man’s Shoes, 9 Songs)
• Additional Funding – Film4 and UK Film Council (£668,000 – New Cinema Fund, £90,000 P and A Fund)
• Theatrical Release: April 2007
• Independent British Film
• Genre/Tradition: Social Realism
• Critical Success: Film Festival Awards
• UK...