COURSE Film Studies – How Movies Work

Learn to see what others miss

Move beyond just watching and start seeing the invisible craft of cinema. Based on Jim Piper’s Film Appreciation, this course transforms students from passive viewers into visual storytellers and critics.

What This Course Is About

Film Studies – How Movies Work introduces you to the language of cinema and shows how filmmakers use camera work, editing, sound, and structure to create meaning and emotion. Through guided screenings and scene analysis, you’ll learn to break films apart and explain why they work.

What You Will Learn
  • The basic language of film: shots, angles, lighting, and composition
  • How stories are shaped through editing, pacing, and sound
  • How genre, style, and context influence meaning
  • How to express informed opinions using film terminology
Who Should Enrol
  • Aspiring filmmakers and content creators
  • Students interested in media, arts, or communication
  • Movie lovers who want deeper insight into how films work
  • Future reviewers and critics building a professional vocabulary

    PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

    Learn to see what others miss
    Skills You Will Develop
    • Critical and analytical thinking
    • Media and visual literacy
    • Clear written and verbal communication
    • Cultural and contextual awareness

    Duration: 1 Semester
    Level: Introductory
    Entry Requirement: Grade 10
    Resources: Jim Piper e-book included
    Learning Method: Weekly screenings and structured analysis

     

    Watch smarter. Think deeper. Speak the language of film.

    Most education is about learning things you’ll never use. This is about learning something you’ll use every time you turn on your TV for the rest of your life. It’s perhaps the highest ROI on ‘leisure time’ you’ll ever find.

      ADMISSION PROCESS

      Submission

      Option 1: Complete the online ‘Contact us Form’ and one of the iCALC staff members will contact you.

      Option 2: Complete the ‘Registration Form’ and email your form to mylene@icalcta.co.za, along with all supporting documents.

      Option 3: Come to our campus and let us help you fill in all the forms.

      Verification: The submission is checked, and all supporting documentation is verified.

      Registration: Successful applicants will be required to pay the registration fee and first installment or deposit to finalize their registration.

      The Registration is then captured and submitted, and your student number will then be issued.