AUS Senior Film Studies: Film Techniques & Processes

In partnership with ClickView, we're excited to release our AUS Senior Film Studies unit of work on Education Perfect.

This article outlines the content that's included within the Film Techniques and Processes unit.

ClickView Partnership

In partnership with ClickView, EP are able to use clips of films hosted on the ClickView platform and embed them in our lessons.

All students using our Film Studies resources require an active ClickView account.

Students must be logged in to ClickView before starting a lesson to ensure they're able to view the film clips.

Please note that students need to double-click on the play button when playing an embedded film clip in a lesson.

Content Warning

Some resources in this unit of work are from films rated M and MA15+. If you have concerns about your students viewing this content or any potential triggers, please review the resources used in each lesson before assigning the content to your class.

Some examples of MA and MA15+ films sourced from prescribed texts lists include:

Arrival
Fargo
Interstellar
Knives Out
Legally Blonde
Mad Max: Fury Road
Pan's Labyrinth
Picnic at Hanging Rock
True Grit

Syllabus Relevance

This module of work is designed to support students in their study and understanding of Film Techniques & Processes, including camera angles, film editing, and an overview of key processes and personnel.

The resources are aligned with the content areas up to Year 10 but are specifically aimed at students in Y11 & Y12 to take their AC knowledge and apply it to senior English topics.

Rationale

The module has been designed to make it easy for teachers to select lessons to support their classroom teaching or students' independent work on Film Studies. The resources can be used for differentiation and the development of transferable skills across various texts, which will help minimise the time teachers spend on planning and developing resources.

Lesson activities provide students with a thorough understanding of the vocabulary, techniques and key personnel involved in filmmaking. Students progress from basic understanding to applied analysis. The extended response tasks encourage students to use their imaginations and consider how they would use different film techniques to achieve specific effects. Students are asked to write in a structure (TEEL) and then reflect on their own compositions and quality of their answers, preserving valuable teacher time.

Module breakdown

Camera shots	Introduces students to key terminology related to the visual elements of film, with a focus on camera shots and how they are used to convey meaning across a variety of example texts.
Camera angles	Provides students with an overview of how camera angles are used to create meaning. Provides definitions for essential film terminology that relate to camera angles.
Camera movement	Introduces students to different types of camera movement. Students will identify camera movement and determine the purposes and effects of these in various films.
Editing	Introduces students to key editing techniques in film. Students will see each of these techniques in practice and understand their effects, before planning their own sequence using at least three different techniques.
Sound and music	Provides an introduction to how sound and music are used in film. Students are tasked with identifying, describing and analysing techniques in context, such as silence and voice over narration. Diegetic and non-diegetic music are also examined, alongside ambient, SFX, foley and asynchronous/synchronous sounds.
Colour and lighting	Outlines various techniques related to how colour and lighting are used to construct meaning in film. The three-point lighting set up is introduced, and colour connotations explored. Students are given the opportunity to analyse films using their knowledge of techniques and propose techniques of their own.
Production design and mise en scène	Gives students an overview of production design and mise en scène. Students will review different visual aspects of film and how these come together to create the overall appearance and desired effect. Anachronisms, blocking, setting, and rule of thirds are all introduced in this module. Auteurs and individual director’s styles are also explored.
Costume design and makeup	Gives students an overview of costume design and makeup. It provides opportunities for students to consider the choices made in this visual component of film, and what impact these have on the audience. Colour palettes, special effects specific to ageing characters and creating fantasy characters, are also introduced in this lesson.
Overview of key processes and personnel	Gives students an overview of the many roles involved in filmmaking, taking into consideration the different components of film. Students are encouraged to view and critically evaluate excerpts, deconstructing, analysing, and justifying which component has the greatest contribution to its success. Unlike earlier lessons, this should be used as a final summary lesson as it provides students with the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of the previous 8 lessons and begin to write about the interaction between the different components of filmmaking.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel welcome to contact our team!