WJEC Eduqas GCSE Film Studies sample

2. (b) Here you should begin to reap the benefits of carefully choosing your answer to question 2. (a). To score 4 marks you must be as clear as you can about the meaning behind your selection. You should discuss how a low angle shot such as this typically emphasises the threat of what we see: in this case the strange men. As it is a point- of-view (POV) shot it also serves to allow the audience to share the character’s, E.T.’s, vulnerability. Hopefully, you can see now how carefully choosing a camera shot that is used in the film to express a clear meaning throughout gives you both plenty of examples to use in discussing this, and other, meanings. 2. (c) In this final 10 mark question, to score in band 5 (9–10 marks) you must be as clear as you can about the meaning(s) behind your selection. In this example from the opening sequence you could talk about how E.T. is scared and hiding in the bushes at this point in the scene and that the low angle shot does two main things for the audience. Firstly, it allows us to share E.T.’s POV, so we share in his feelings. Secondly, by looking up at the men and only being able to see them from below the waist it conveys E.T.’s feeling of powerlessness and fear, as well as creating an air of unknown danger around these men. In your answer you should emphasise that this is a typical way to use a low angle POV shot, but also discuss how this sets up its use during the rest of the film that is less typical. Discussing how much of what we see is shot using this type of cinematography is unusual but it is used by Spielberg to show us the shared viewpoint of both Elliot and E.T. in a film that looks at the world and its adults from their young and innocent eyes. Hopefully by now you can see the full benefit of carefully choosing an aspect of cinematography that is used throughout the film in both typical and non-typical ways, so you have plenty of ideas to talk about. This is a key skill to practise to make sure you can show a clear knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of film form. Section A: The US film comparative study The final question in Section A asks you to compare each of the films you have studied. In order to make sure you do this, first highlight your film pairing on the exam paper. Below are handy tips that will help to improve your exam technique. Answer question 3 in relation to both your chosen comparative study films: ⦁ King Solomon’s Mines (1950) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) ⦁ Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Grease (1978) ⦁ Rear Window (1954) and Witness (1985) ⦁ Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) ⦁ Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). 3. Compare how the same theme is explored in each of your comparative study lms. In your answer, you should consider: ⦁ how characters and narratives illustrate the theme you have identi ed ⦁ similarities between the way the theme you have identi ed is explored in each of your lms ⦁ differences between the way the theme you have identi ed is explored in each of your lms. [20] 291 Part 6: Exam skills