Courses in Production / Directing MFA


Minimum 12 quarters residence. Minimum total of 72 units. Minimum course load is 12 units per quarter.

First Year

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

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)

TWO FILM AND TELEVISION GRADUATE SEMINARS, one must be completed no later than the quarter you advance to candidacy (list of courses attached), and one other course in the department that is outside of the Production program (animation, screenwriting or producers program).

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.

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.

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.

FOURTH YEAR: COMPLETION

The fourth year is used for completion of the thesis project.

The twelve quarter limit will be strictly enforced.

* Please contact the Graduate Advisor for criteria for advancement to thesis status.

Seminar courses that are approved to fulfill the critical studies requirement are (Two of these courses are required):

201
Media Industries and Cultures of Production
202
Media Audiences and Cultures of Consumption
203
Film and Other Arts
206A
European Film History
206B
Selected Topics in American Film History
206C
American Film History **
207
Experimental Film
208B
Classical Film Theory **
208C
Contemporary Film Theory
209D
Animated Film
217A
American Television History
217B
Selected Topics in Television History
218
Culture, Media and Society
219
Film and Society
221
Film Authors
222
Film Genres
223
Visual Perception
246
Electronic Culture
268
Short Film
270
Film Criticism
271
Television Criticism
273
Contemporary Film and Television
276
Non-Western Film
277
Narrative Studies


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