Courses in Production / Directing MFA

Degree Requirements

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I. Area: MFA Directing (See sections I to V for all requirements)

II. Summary:

The Directing Program has a twelve-quarter time-to-degree requirement. The minimum total units required to graduate is 72 units (18 courses). Only 16 units of FTV 596ABC may be applied towards the total course requirement and only 8 of these may be applied towards the minimum graduate course requirement. Only 4 units of 596A and 4 units of 596B may be taken prior to advancement. FTV596D though F may be taken after advancement.

III. Courses:

A. Required Courses:

FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM

Fall Quarter

410A

SYMPOSIUM (2 units)

410B

CINEMATOGRAPHY (2 units)

410C

POST PRODUCTION (2 units)

410D

POST PRODUCTION SOUND (2 units)

409

DIRECTING THE ACTOR FOR THE CAMERA

433

WRITING FOR THE SHORT FILM

401

FILM ANALYSIS

Winter Quarter

410A

SYMPOSIUM (2 units)

410B

Film Production Workshop

410E

PRODUCTION

298A

FINAL CUT PRO

Spring Quarter

410A

SYMPOSIUM (2 units)

410C

POST PRODUCTION (2 units)

410D

POST PRODUCTION SOUND (2 units)

405

Television Production Workshop

452C

PRODUCTION SOUND

Second and Third Year

423A

Advanced Directing the Actor (required for students who will make a dramatic fiction thesis)

B. FTVDM Elective Requirement:

TWO CINEMA AND MEDIA STUDIES SEMINARS, one must be completed no later than the quarter you advance to candidacy (list of courses below), and ONE OTHER COURSE in the department that is outside of the Production program (animation, screenwriting or producers program). Seminar courses that are approved to fulfill the Cinema and Media Studies requirement:

Plus choose one course below:

203

FILM AND OTHER ARTS

204

VISUAL ANALYSIS

206A

EUROPEAN FILM HISTORY

206B

SELECTED TOPICS IN AMERICAN FILM HISTORY

206C

AMERICAN FILM HISTORY**

207

EXPERIMENTAL FILM

209A

DOCUMENTARY FILM

208B

CLASSICAL FILM THEORY **

208C

CONTEMPORARY FILM THEORY

209B

FICTIONAL FILM

209D

ANIMATED FILM

217

SELECTED TOPICS IN TELEVISION HISTORY **

217A

AMERICAN TELEVISION HISTORY**

218

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIETY

219

FILM AND SOCIETY

220

TELEVISION AND SOCIETY

221

FILM AUTHORS

222

FILM GENRES

223

VISUAL PERCEPTION

224

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR FILM STUDY

225

VIDEOGAME THEORY

246

ELECTRONIC CULTURE

270

FILM CRITICISM

271

TELEVISION CRITICISM

276

NON WESTERN FILM

277

NARRATIVE STUDIES

298AB

SPECIAL STUDIES (select classes must see Graduate Counselor

Please note that not all courses are offered every quarter. Students should consult the registrar’s schedule for available courses and class times. For courses in the 298 series, students should consult the graduate advisor first to check whether a course fulfills the CMS requirement.

**These courses are sometimes taught as a core course for M.A. students and may not be available that particular quarter for MFA students.

** courses are sometimes taught as a core course for MA students and may not be available that particular quarter to MFA students.

PROGRAM FOCUS

A. FIRST YEAR: A FOCUS ON PROCESS

The first year is a highly intensive program operating on a six-day schedule with the regularly scheduled courses enhanced by all-day technical craft training on Saturdays. The first quarter provides basic background in video, cinematography, sound, editing, the directing of actors and the camera, the organizing of production, and short fiction screenwriting. The second and third quarters are devoted to intensive production work focusing on process leading to six minute sync sound film with clearly defined parameters that must be completed during the academic year if a student is to continue in the program. Two evaluation sessions with the first year faculty will be required of all students. The first will occur at the end of Fall Quarter. The second, a First Year Review, will take place at the end of the spring quarter with the purposes of determining fitness to continue in the program, advising on curriculum for second year professional training, and the selection of Second Year Advisors.

B. SECOND YEAR: A FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Second year training is intended to develop professional skills. Courses are constructed around two pivots: 1. Mentor relationships established by students with their Second Year Advisors involving multi-quarter course sequences in the specialized areas of: Narrative Film, Documentary, Multicamera Television Production, Experimental Media and Cinematography. 2. Advanced training in various areas of the craft enhanced by critical studies courses. All projects begun during the second year associated with any of these courses must be completed no later than the middle of the eighth quarter of residency.

C. THIRD YEAR: A FOCUS ON PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE

Third year training is committed to the planning and production of a Thesis Film (no more than 30 minutes). The Thesis process involves the following elements: 1. Extensive pre-production planning prior to advancing to candidacy. FTV 486 is available for a student to work with a faculty in preparation to advance. 2. Specialized craft courses and critical study courses can continue to be taken based on the needs of the individual student, but should not impede progress on the thesis. 3. * Advancement to candidacy must take place by the winter quarter at latest. 4. *Advancement to candidacy will be based on a signed contract clearly defining the parameters of the project including budget, time line, film length, and advising procedures.

D. FOURTH YEAR: COMPLETION

The fourth year is used for completion of the thesis project. The twelve-quarter limit will be strictly enforced.

To download a copy of this, which includes a checksheet, please click here.

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