GCSE FILM STUDIES: FIRST LESSONS

In the first lessons we will be looking at the key concepts of genre, conventions and audience. The genre of films we will be studying is disaster movies. You are required to study this genre of film by the examining body (the people who have created the course you are studying) which is the Welsh Board.

Disaster movies can be broken into sub-genres including natural disasters, monsters, viral, science fiction, documentary etc. It is important to be able to identify the main conventions (features) of a disaster film and to be able to compare and comment on the films you "read". The films we will be featuring in our studies will include:

Godzilla

Quatermass and the Pit

World Trade Centre

The Towering Inferno

Dantes' Peak

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Poseidon Adventure (2006)

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

The Day after Tomorrow

Cloverfield

28 Days Later

It is essential that you carry out independent research and "read" as many disaster movies as you can to expand your knowledge and understanding of this genre but also to enable you to comment in much more depth and gain the highest grades. I will shortly be listing useful websites to help you with your research. Be prepared for a quiz in October too!