AS Film Studies Blog...The Sequel!

The Wentworth AS Film Studies Blog is back again - it's been a while but over the course of the next few months I will be posting lots of links, case studies and other tips to help you with the AS Film Studies exam and preparation for your coursework.

Please use this blog alongside the notes I will be handing out, to help get you ready for the exam in May. The new material that I post will help keep your answers up-to-date, but you should also study the older posts carefully as they are packed full of relevant examples to help you discuss stars, marketing, genre, merchandise and topics such as exhibition, distribution and the differences between Hollywood and British cinema that will be useful for any question in Section A of the exam.

There are also specific sections on the blog for Section B and Section C of the AS exam with detailed analysis, essential clips and tips on approaching specific questions. Please look through each of the posts carefully as part of both your learning as we move through the topics BUT also as part of your revision.

Here is last year's FM2 - British and American Film Past Paper, with the Resource Material in a separate link.

Past Paper: FM2 - British and American Film - 12th May 2015

Resource Material - 12th May 2015

As we complete a topic it is in your interest to attempt questions from this and previous exam papers - if you email me your answers to alexmorphey@btinternet.com I will mark them and add suggestions for improvement.

AS Film Studies Blog Returns!

The AS Film Studies Blog is up and running again, packed full of useful information and links that will help you with both the your coursework at AS and preparation for you AS exam.

Look out for regular posts on all of the topics that you may need to discuss in the exam and useful tips for successfully completing your coursework. Each post is clearly labelled with a heading that outlines the content of the post BUT you can also search the blog by labels such as "Marketing" or "Hollywood" to make it easier to find the information you need.

I urge you to read last year's posts as well as they are all still totally relevant to the topics for this year's exam. Many of these older posts are essential and I won't be posting them again - so, it is important that you look at them.

FM2: British and American Cinema Past Paper - January 2014

The blog also includes all available past papers for the AS exam. It is a little early to start doing them yet BUT after Christmas it will be essential that you practice as many as possible. You should, in the meantime, take a look at them so that you can familiarise yourself with the layout and the types of questions that come up.

The first new post is about viral marketing (in relation to contemporary Hollywood blockbuster The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1) - a vital topic that you will almost certainly need to discuss in Section A: Producers and Audiences on the FM2: British and American Cinema paper.

AS Film Studies Past Paper - 14th May 2012

Here's another AS FM2 paper for you to try - from May 14th 2012.

There are now 5 past papers up on the blog, with plenty of alternative questions for you to attempt. Get as many done as you can - the practice will really help you when it comes to the real exam.

PAST PAPER FM2: British and American Film - 14th May 2012

AS Film Studies Past Paper - 14th January 2013

Please look back over the blog - this is the 4th AS FM2 past paper that i've posted (January 14th 2013) - you must start working through them. Either write the essays OR at least plan your answers, organising the examples you want to use to support your points.

The exam is fast approaching and the practice now will really help you. As ever, you can email me your answers to alexmorphey@btinternet.com.

PAST PAPER FM2: British and American Film - 14th January 2013

AS Film Studies Past Paper - 15th May 2013

You will need as much practice as possible ahead of the exam - so here's another AS Film past paper, from May 15th 2013. Have a go at as many relevant questions as possible and email me your answers to alexmorphey@btinternet.com. If you are confident that you have thoroughly revised the material, then try writing in timed conditions (approximately 50 minutes per question). If not, feel free to use your notes, my case studies and the information contained elsewhere on the blog.

PAST PAPER FM2: British and American Film - 15th May 2013

Tips for Section A: Producers and Audiences on the FM2 Paper

Having marked the first round of essays this week I though it would be useful to outline some tips that will help you get the best marks possible.

Whatever question you answer in Section A: Producers and Audiences, the following points will help you:

• read the stimulus material carefully - think about the issues that arise from the stimulus material rather than using specific examples from it
• in the introduction to your essay refer directly to the question and list the issues that are most important (for example stars, genre, marketing, budget, release patterns etc). This will show the examiner that you understand what the key issues are BUT also will give you a structure to your essay (include a paragraph in the main body of your essay on each of the issues that you list in your introduction)
• whatever the question, make sure that you make some kind of comparison between the Hollywood film industry and the British film industry
• pack your essay full of examples to support every point you make (just as you used to use quotations for every point you made in an English Literature essay) - these can be names of stars, films, production companies, genres etc
• some of these examples can be in the form of lists BUT some must be developed and detailed
• use examples from the stimulus material BUT remember that this is not an English comprehension! For every example you use from the stimulus material make sure that you have 2 or 3 of your own. The ratio should be roughly 25% examples from the stimulus material and 75% examples from your own case studies, my case studies and films you are familiar with
• use the case studies I have written for you on Sightseers and The Dark Knight Rises - don't just briefly refer to the films, the examiners will be expecting detail! I have related the case studies to every conceivable issue you could want to discuss regarding British and Hollywood film - so use them!
• write your own case studies following my template, and use the material as examples to support your points. You should write one for a British film and one for a big Hollywood blockbuster (from the last 3 years or so) - this will be an excellent form of revision regarding the key issues you should discuss BUT will also mean that you have your own examples to use in the exam
• you can use old examples of films, such as The Blair Witch Project, BUT try to make as many of your examples as current as possible

AS Film Studies Past Paper - 12th January 2012

Here's another FM2 past paper - from January 12th 2012.

PAST PAPER - FM2: British and American Film - 12th January 2012

AS Film Studies Past Paper - 16th May 2011

It is essential that you practice as many exam-style essay questions as possible.
You can begin by looking at questions for Section A: Producers and Audiences, but once we have completed the topics there are plenty of questions for Sections B and C also.

Have a go at as many as you can and email me your answers to alexmorphey@btinternet.com - I will mark them and get them back to you as soon as possible.

Click on the link below to access the past paper and stimulus material for the FM2 exam from May 16th 2011.

PAST PAPER - FM2: British and American Film - 16th May 2011