Our Sessions
We provide sessions on a variety of topics which can be tailored to suit your particular needs. Most sessions would require a minimum of 2 hours to run, although the introductory Exploring Film session can be modified for shorter sessions. Listed below you will find information on each of our sessions, including guidance on the suitability of each sessions for particular age groups. For more detailed information on each session, please download our Outreach Brochure. We are more than happy to tailor existing sessions to meet your individual needs, or to work with you to develop a bespoke session. If you have any questions or ideas you can get in touch using our booking form
Exploring Film
A short introduction to film studies using Raiders of the Lost Ark and other examples of blockbuster cinema. Students are introduced to the concept of “reading” a film, and taught some technical vocabulary through hands-on exercises. For more information, please download our Outreach Brochure
Aims: Interactive session to introduce younger students to the basic elements of film studies.
Focus on close textual analysis and use of technical vocabulary.
Duration: Approximately 1 hour (with options of an extended session for older students)
Suitability: Can be tailored to years 5 – 9.
Location: On campus or in School
Exploring Film: Advanced
An expanded version of our Exploring Film Studies session, adapted with older students in mind. With particular focus on The Force Awakens, students are challenged to asses the artistic merit of blockbuster reboots, remakes, and sequels with reference to the historical, theoretical, and aesthetic frameworks. For more information, please download our Outreach Brochure
Aims: Introduce older students to the practice of film studies at Warwick. Students explore how a film can be analysed from historical, theoretical, and critical/aesthetic perspectives; and are introduced to the methods and vocabulary of close textual analysis
Duration: 2 hours
Suitability: Recommended Year 10+
Location: On campus or in School
Rethinking Twilight
Everyone has an opinion on the vampire franchise – so why should we care about studying it? This session uses a text already familiar to students as a primer in Film Studies debates and methods. For more information, please download our Outreach Brochure.
Aims: A flexible session that can be tailored for a wide range of age groups and cover a variety of topics. Can be used more generally as introduction to issues in film studies, or focused on specific concerns. Twilight is a particularly useful text for older students looking at the gothic or feminist theory and criticism. For students of all ages this session aims to challenge the notion that some texts are more worthy than others for critical consideration.
Duration: 2 – 3 hours for sessions on aesthetics, feminism, or art history. 1 hour as an introduction to film language (the intro to film language can be incorporated into longer sessions if required)
Suitability: Can be tailored for groups in years 7 – 13. The sessions on feminism and aesthetics are most suitable for years 10 – 13. The sessions on film language and art history are suitable for all age groups
Location: On campus or in school.
Public Service Broadcasting: Doctor Who
We'll climb into the TARDIS and explore how Doctor Who has been used throughout history to help the BBC fulfil its 'public service' obligations. Students will find out how Doctor Who educates, entertains and engages with art, culture, family, region, and nation. For more information, please download our Outreach Brochure.
Aims: Using the popular show Doctor Who as an entry pint, students are introduced to the concept of Public Service Broadcasting. This session has a strong historical component; with students covering the history of the BBC, looking at archival materials, and comparing an episode of the show from 1960s with a more recent example. In addition to learning about the BBC, PBS, and the licence fee, students will also come away with knowledge about the history – and future – of television more generally.
Duration: 2 – 3 hours or full day event
Suitability: Can be tailored to students in years 7 – 13
Location: On campus or in school
Representing the City: New York
A more in-depth introduction than that afforded by Exploring Film session. Our Representing the City: New York session introduces students to the technical language of film studies, before moving on to look at the representation of the city in the film. For more information, please download our Outreach Brochure
Aims: Younger students can explore issues of cinema, the city and representation through a case study of New York. This session uses child-friendly films Elf and Enchanted, and so is particularly suitable for primary or lower secondary school students.
Duration: 1 – 3 hours
Suitability: Can be tailored to years 5 – 9
Location: in school or in campus
Literature On Film: Set Text Enhancement
Many English Literature teachers use film adaptations of set texts as a learning resource. These sessions take this idea a step further, giving students the skills to critically interrogate and interpret the adaptations themselves as texts in their own right. By the end of the event, students will be able to engage with film at a level beyond narrative and story. This is particularly helpful where the course of study dictates that students should have an awareness of broader themes and the cultural context surrounding set texts.
For more information, and an example session, please download our Outreach Brochure
AS &A Level Film Studies and Media Studies Curriculum Enhancement
We are currently working on putting together sessions tied to the new specifications for Film Studies and Media Studies at AS and A Level. We are particularly interested in running sessions on music videos as well as more general sessions on aspects of theory. In the past, we have run sessions on representing the city (focusing on Berlin) as well as study sessions on Fight Club. You can read short descriptions of these sessions in our Outreach Brochure. We welcome any suggestions from teachers for sessions that might enhance student learning, or where students might benefit from additional support and expertise.