Courses in Cinematography MFA

The UCLA Master of Fine Arts degree in Production with an emphasis in Cinematography, established in 1997, is a four-year program that trains students in the aesthetic, technical, and organizational aspects of cinematography making them the most versatile and innovative young cinematographers working today.

Currently 2-3 MFA students in Cinematography are admitted each year with 10-15 MFA Cinematography students enrolled at any time. In the first year of admissions to the program, nearly 100 candidates applied for the two positions. The number of applications increases annually as the reputation of the program grows.

Program Requirements

Year 1

Introductory filmmaking workshops [the 410 Program] are required for both MFA Directing and Cinematography students. Students are required to write, direct and edit their own two-minute and six-minute films. All other major roles, such as director of photography, assistant director, gaffer, sound mixer, camera assistant and boom operator are filled by colleagues in order to learn all aspects of the craft and be exposed to as many filmmaking opportunities as possible.

Years 2 and 3

Cinematography students take required classes in intermediate cinematography, lighting for film and television, cinematography and directing, advanced cinematography, digital cinematography, among other courses. Students also take diverse electives such as film and television critical and historical studies, screenwriting, directing actors, makeup fundamentals, production design, etc. Directed Individual Research Projects are required. These courses afford the student an opportunity to work one-on-one with individual faculty members, allowing the student to pursue targeted interests in aesthetic or technical subjects.

Cinematography students also serve as the director of photography on the advanced projects written and directed by Directing students.

Years 3 and 4

Each Cinematography student is required to photograph three thesis films written and directed by MFA Directing students.

Year 4

Completion of a thesis research project. Students focus their academic research on an aspect of cinematography of interest to them. Combining a written document with original photography, each student creates a research project that contributes to the greater knowledge of the field. Currently, students are authoring their research projects on interactive DVDs, allowing for greater correlation of the research to the images created in support of that research. Recent examples: The Narrative Impact of Hand-Held Camera Work, Color Theory and Cinematography, and Cinematography in a Multi-Monitor Environment.

Pre-Requirements

To pursue the Cinematography specialization, students are required to:

complete the FTV 410 course sequence and other general MFA degree requirements
complete FTV 153, 298A, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 596A
photograph a minimum of three advanced projects
enroll in Directed Individual Research Projects exploring various aspects of cinematography
write a research paper on an area of cinematography
photograph a short project related to the research paper
photograph three thesis films

Required Cinematography Courses

FTV 153: Motion Picture Lighting
FTV 298A: Post Production Pathways
FTV 416: Intermediate Cinematography
FTV 417: Lighting for Film & Television
FTV 418: Cinematography & Directing
FTV 419: Advanced Cinematography
FTV 420: Digital Cinematography
FTV 596A: Directed Individual Research (repeated)

Courses in Cinematography MFA

Program Requirements

Pre-Requirements

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