OCR A-Level Film Studies Hollywood and American film (Component 01): a complete overview
A complete overview of the Hollywood and American film parts of OCR A-Level Film Studies Component 01. Explains the Hollywood comparative study (1930 to 1990), Classical and New Hollywood, American film since 2005 and spectatorship, and the auteur and ideology approaches.
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Component 01: Film History is a 2 hour 30 minute written paper worth 120 marks (35%). Most of it is American film: a comparative study of two Hollywood films (1930 to 1990) and a study of one American film since 2005. This overview ties the module together; each section has a matching dot-point page. Always confirm your centre's set films with OCR.
The Hollywood comparative study (Section A)
A direct comparison of one Classical Hollywood film (1930 to 1960) and one New Hollywood film (1961 to 1990), through film form and context, with auteur or ideology as the specialist area. This is the highest-tariff essay on the paper, so direct comparison and a clear judgement matter most. The defining contrast is between the studio system and classical style and the collapse of the studios and the looser New Hollywood.
American film since 2005 (Section B)
A study of a mainstream and an independent American film since 2005, through film form and narrative, with spectatorship as the specialist area. The pairing lets you compare how the films position the spectator (alignment, allegiance, active or passive response), with the polished blockbuster and the distancing independent film often working differently.
The auteur and ideology approaches
The two specialist options for the comparative study. Auteur reads the film as the work of its director (a signature of style and theme), weighed against the collaborative critique. Ideology reads the film for the values it carries and judges whether it reinforces or challenges dominant ideology. Both are applied through film form and context.
How to revise this module
Build a fact file on each set film: film form, narrative, context, and the specialist area for its section. For the comparative study, practise comparing directly rather than describing in turn. For American film since 2005, practise applying spectatorship through form. Drill the higher-tariff essays, where applying the specialist approach and reaching a judgement reaches the top band.
Sources & how we know this
- OCR A Level Film Studies (H410) specification — OCR (2023)