Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts: Conservatory of Motion Pictures

Robert Bassett, M.A., Dean

Dezso Magyar, J.D., M.F.A., Senior Associate Dean

Dan Leonard, M.F.A., Associate Dean

Joe Slowensky, M.F.A., Chair, Film Division

Janell Shearer, M.J., Chair, Media Arts Division

Professors: Badham, Bassett, Bettman, Boylan, Dill, Magyar, Paull, Rose, Seydor, Shearer, Slowensky, Ward;

Associate Professors: Cheney, Ferncase, Gardner, Gulino, Leonard, Swimmer, Weitzner, Wolansky;

Assistant Professors: Alosi, Brown, Kost, Kowalski, Kriger, Lewis, O'Connor, Pavelin, Rote;

Instructors: Mardesich, Walther.

Master of Arts in Film Studies

Master of Fine Arts in Film Production

Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

Master of Fine Arts in Production Design

Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting

Master of Business Administration/Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

Juris Doctor/Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

The graduate programs are housed in the Conservatory of Motion Pictures within the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

The master of arts program in film studies provides students with a liberal arts course of study and an intense academic and creative research experience.

The master of fine arts program in film production provides students with a specialized course of study that prepares them for production-oriented careers in the film and television arts as directors, editors, cinematographers, or sound designers.

The master of fine arts program in film and television producing provides students with a course of study that prepares them for careers as producers or business and creative executives in the film and television arts.

The master of fine arts program in production design provides students with a course of study that prepares them for careers as production designers, art directors, and set designers in the film and television arts.

The master of fine arts program in screenwriting provides students with a course of study that prepares them for careers as writers in the film and television arts.

The master of business administration/master of fine arts program in film and television producing offered in collaboration with the Argyros School of Business and Economics provides unique training to students who want to develop their skills in business administration with a focus on business practices and careers in the film and television industry in management or executive level positions at production companies, talent agencies, studios, or television networks.

The juris doctor/master of fine arts program in film and television producing offered in collaboration with the School of Law provides unique training to students who want to practice law in the entertainment industry, either as in-house counsel to production companies, talent agencies, film studios or television networks, in law firms that specialize in entertainment law, or who want to be film and television producers or film and television executives in studios or independent production companies.

Admission and Prerequisites

The Conservatory of Motion Pictures welcomes applications for graduate study from students with baccalaureate degrees in any discipline. Admission to the program is based on the following requirements, as outlined in the Graduate Supplemental Application for the Conservatory of Motion Pictures:

1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Official transcripts should be mailed directly to the Office of Admission.
2. Achievement of the required admission grade point average as specified in the Admission section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants with a grade point average between 2.500 and 2.990 may be granted provisional admission on the strength of the creative and supportive materials provided with the Graduate Supplemental Application. Provisional students must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and achieve a minimum score of 490 on the Verbal section and a minimum score of 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section.
3. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic, professional or personal qualities.
4. Creative or scholarly portfolio list: A listing of activities that demonstrates the student's creative or scholarly potential.
5. Personal statement/Letter of intent: A statement of intent describing why the applicant wants to attend film school.
6. Creative or scholarly writing assignments: as outlined in the Graduate Supplemental Application for the Conservatory of Motion Pictures.
7. Interview: Each candidate may be interviewed by the Admissions Committee. The student will be contacted if this is required.

Transfer or Substitution of Coursework

Students who have taken graduate courses in film and television at other regionally accredited universities may petition to transfer up to six credits of course work upon approval of a petition by the chair of the graduate programs. (See the Academic Policies and Procedures section for more information.)

Students who have undergraduate degrees in film or significant, documented prior experience in the film and television arts may petition to replace certain basic requirements with other graduate level FTV courses.

MFA in film production applicants who demonstrate advanced professional experience and/or who have completed a degree in a film major may, in exceptional cases, apply directly to the second year of the program (the beginning of conservatory program).

The Master's Thesis

The intent of the coursework in all programs is to prepare the student for a final thesis project. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 (B) to meet the minimum eligibility requirements to begin work on the thesis project and enroll in thesis credits. Students writing a thesis or producing a thesis project as part of their master's degree will work closely with a faculty thesis supervisor. Guidelines for successful completion of the thesis process are available from the chair of the graduate programs. Students should observe the printed deadlines for submitting an Application for Degree Conferral Graduate form when the thesis project is near completion. (See the Academic Policies and Procedures section for additional guidelines.)

Master's Degree Time Limit

For the master of fine arts degree in film production, all coursework and thesis requirements are designed to be completed within three years of the date of the student's catalog year entry into the program. For the master of arts degree in film studies, the master of fine arts degree in film and television producing, the master of fine arts degree in production design, and the master of fine arts degree in screenwriting, all coursework and thesis requirements are designed to be completed within two years of the date of the student's catalog year entry into the program. Students may not deviate from their assigned program curriculum (see requirements for the degree) in any semester without the consent of the chair of the graduate programs. An official Leave of Absence form (available from the Office of the Registrar) must be approved in the event a student is unable to take required classes during any semester while in residence. A detailed explanation of the reasons for needing a leave of absence and a proposed timeline for completion of degree requirements will be required for approval. A leave of absence may not exceed two years.

Persons failing to notify the film school of a leave of absence will be subject to:

1. Reapplication to the degree program and any new admission guidelines in effect at that time;
2. Completion of any new or additional coursework and thesis requirements in place at the time the student wishes to resume study and/or complete the thesis.

Under no circumstances will a leave of absence be granted or a student be readmitted after seven years from the date of initial enrollment.

All degree requirements, including the thesis project, must be completed within seven years.

Student Code of Conduct

The collaborative nature of the MFA Conservatory programs requires cooperation and participation by every student. Students are expected to collaborate and work collegially with their faculty and peers.

Master of Arts in Film Studies

Requirements for the Degree

1. Complete 39 credits at the 500 or 600 level.
2. Successfully complete the thesis project.
3. Pass an oral defense of the thesis project.

first year (21 credits)

fall (9 credits)

interterm (3 credits)

spring (9 credits)

first year review

second year (18 credits)

fall (9 credits)

spring (9 credits)

completion, submission, and oral defense of thesis

Master of Fine Arts in Film Production

Requirements for the Degree

1. Complete 72 credits at the 500 or 600 level.
2. Successfully complete a thesis film.
3. Pass an oral defense of the thesis project.
4. At the end of the first year of study, an emphasis (i.e., cinematography, directing, editing, production design, or sound design) will be determined and confirmed for each student by the faculty. In the second year of study, each student will take the Advanced Specialization Workshop sequence according to his or her confirmed emphasis. During the third year of study, students will continue to work within their emphasis on thesis productions as assigned by the faculty in the course, FTV 697 Thesis in Film Production.

The following sequence of courses is intended to prepare the student for successful completion of the thesis project. The courses must be taken in the following order, during the semesters indicated. Any deviation must be approved by the film division chair.

first year (30 credits)

fall (15 credits)

spring (15 credits)

second year (18 credits)

fall (9 credits)

spring (9 credits)

third year (24 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (12 credits)

Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

Requirements for the Degree

1. Complete 48 credits at the 500 or 600 level.
2. Successfully complete a two-part thesis project:
   1. Produce advanced level films. (See academic advisor for details.)
   2. Develop an industry-ready project. (See academic advisor for details.)
3. Pass an oral defense of the thesis project(s).

The following sequence of courses prepares students for successful completion of the thesis project. The courses must be taken in the following order, during the semesters indicated. Any deviation must be approved by the film division chair.

first year (27 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (12 credits)

summer (3 credits)

second year (21 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (9 credits)

Master of Fine Arts in Production Design

Requirements for the Degree

1. Complete 57 credits at the 500 or 600 level.
2. Successfully complete the thesis project.

first year (33 credits)

fall (18 credits)

spring (15 credits)

second year (24 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (12 credits)

Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting

Requirements for the Degree

1. Complete 48 credits at the 500 or 600 level.
2. Successfully complete a thesis screenplay.

The following sequence of courses prepares students for successful completion of the thesis screenplay. The courses must be taken in the following order, during the semesters indicated. Any deviation must be approved by the film division chair.

first year (30 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (12 credits)

summer (6 credits)

second year (18 credits)

fall (9 credits)

spring (9 credits)

Master of Business Administration/Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

In conjunction with the Argyros School of Business and Economics, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers a joint program leading to both an MBA degree and an MFA in film and television producing degree. Offered to full-time students, the program requires three years of study and acceptance to both the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the Argyros School of Business and Economics. The MBA/MFA in film and television producing gives students the opportunity to obtain two highly marketable professional degrees designed for individuals seeking a management or executive level position at a production company, talent agency, studio, or television network.

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers an MFA in film and television producing that consists of 48 credits and is completed by full-time students in 4 semesters, while the Argyros School of Business and Economics offers an MBA program that consists of 52 credits and is typically completed by full-time students in 3-4 semesters. The two programs, combined into the joint degree, require the completion of only 89 credits, a savings of 11 credits, resulting from the cross-application of completed coursework in the two schools.

Requirements for the degree:

first year (35 credits)

fall (16 credits)

spring (15 credits)

summer (4 credits)

second year (33 credits)

fall (13 credits)

spring (17 credits)

summer (3 credits)

third year (21 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (9 credits)

* The required 4-credit business elective can be taken any time after the spring semester of the student's first year in the program.

Juris Doctor/Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Producing

In conjunction with the School of Law, the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers a joint program leading to both a JD degree and an MFA in film and television producing degree. Offered to full-time students, the program requires at least four years of study and acceptance to both the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the School of Law. The JD/MFA in film and television producing gives students the opportunity to obtain two highly marketable professional degrees designed for individuals seeking careers as entertainment attorneys, legal counsel at production companies, agencies, guilds or studios, as producers or as executives in the entertainment industry.

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers an MFA in film and television producing that consists of 48 credits and is completed by full-time students in 4 semesters, while the School of Law offers a JD program that consists of 88 credits and is typically completed by full-time students in 6 semesters. The two programs, combined into the joint degree, require the completion of only 124 credits, a savings of 12 credits, resulting from the cross-application of completed coursework in the two schools.

Requirements for the Degree

first year (27 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (12 credits)

summer (3 credits)

second year (27 credits)

fall (12 credits)

spring (9 credits)

summer (6 credits)

third year (37 credits)

fall (15 credits)

spring (16 credits)

summer (6 credits)

fourth year (33 credits)

fall (16 credits)

spring (17 credits)

Course Descriptions - Film and Television

FTV 501 Acting for Non-Actors

A comprehensive course in understanding the acting process through script analysis, scene study, and acting exercises. Each student will be required to act in various monologues or scenes, both improvisational and scripted. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 502 Evolution of Narrative Film, I

This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the evolution of film language through the study of the intertwining aspects of film theory, film history, and film practice. Students will focus on close analyses of a series of films representing important points in the development of the narrative cinema from its earliest days to the present. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 503 Evolution of Narrative Film, II

This course is a further exploration of the evolution of film language and theory. Students will examine the films of such filmmakers as Orson Welles, Jean Renoir, David Lynch, Peter Greenaway, Chantal Ackerman, and other traditional and alternative filmmakers, to see how they translated their unique visions of the world to the screen. Students shall see how the visual forms these filmmakers developed are a direct creative articulation of the ideas they wish to express through the medium of film. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 504 Fundamentals of Visual Design and Production

Students further their understanding and appreciation of the art and craft of visual design by studying the prime concepts of cinematography, equipment procedures, camera mechanics, interior and exterior lighting, pre-production planning, composition, optics, electricity and safety, exposure, color, production design, sound, and collaboration. Each student will discover and refine his or her own visual aesthetic and develop an understanding of the collaborative nature of filmmaking. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 505 Fundamentals of Story

This course aims to establish storytelling in its various forms as the lingua franca of all disciplines at Dodge College. It will enhance the awareness of storytelling, as well as expand the student's knowledge of the humanities through the study of music, commercials, dance, poetry, theatre, art, literature, etc. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 506 Overview of Post Production

This course provides a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the motion-picture, post-production process from a creative and technical perspective. We will follow the post-production work flow from the moment the shoot is finished through editing and sound design to the final release print of the film. Along the way, we will look at the technical and practical aspects of each step in the post-production chain, and we will focus on how each step can play a creative role in the storytelling process. Fee: $75. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 509 Production Design Workshop I

A workshop in which students learn about the role of the Production Designer in film. The course also covers an overview of the business of Production Design, budgeting and breakdowns. Seminars with guest speakers from the Production Design community and set visits to various studios may be included. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 510 Industry Insiders

Through screenings, interviews, and discussions, this course explores the work of a variety of well-established working artists from the Hollywood film community and explores how these artists incorporate their own beliefs and values into the broader culture by working in an intensely collaborative medium. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 513 Byte-Sized Television I

Prerequisite, FTV 527, or 531, or consent of instructor. An exploration of the creative and logistic challenges of creating a narrative episodic television series designed for the internet including developing a pilot concept, series characters, and writing, producing and editing a pilot. Fee: $300. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 514 Producing the Variety Show

An advanced course in which each student will be responsible for producing, directing, and editing a complex television program to completion. Enrollment contingent upon approval of project proposal. Fee: $300. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 515 Fundamentals of Editing

Provides students with an intensive hands-on experience editing projects electronically. This course will introduce the student to the theory and practice of film-style editing on the computer using a non-linear computer editing system. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 516 2-D Graphics

An introduction to two-dimensional computer graphics and design fundamentals as they relate to film and digital arts. Using Adobe Photoshop, students will explore pixel-based graphics and their applications in raster-based images. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 518 Motion Capture

Prerequisite, FTV 566. Students will learn to use motion capture to create and manipulate motion in the 3-D environment and create 3-D animations and digital composites for the purposes of visual storytelling. Students will explore the art and technique of creating visual effects for use in film and learn about industry standards. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 519 Production Design Workshop II

Prerequisite, FTV 509. A workshop that is divided into three 5-week Production Design projects. Each project will have a different architectural style and will be comprised of 1/4" plans and elevations, sketches, and a model of the design. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 521 The Documentary Tradition

A critical and historical analysis of documentary film and video-making through lecture, discussion, and viewing of film and video excerpts. The documentary is examined from artistic, social, ethical, and political perspectives. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 522 Digital Compositing

Prerequisite, FTV 516 or consent of instructor. Digital compositing has stretched the limits of what is possible on screen today. In this course, students will learn to use Adobe After Effects to master the artistic and technical challenges of creating and manipulating motion in the 2-D environment and creating digital composites using green screen footage. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 525 Art & Craft of Foley & ADR

Prerequisite, FTV 515. This course will introduce students to the necessity of foley and Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) for a completed motion picture sound track. Methods for producing and recording real-time sound effects and post-production dialogue will be taught using a fully-equipped foley stage as a classroom and work from fellow students and professional filmmakers as raw material. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 527 Fundamentals of Screenwriting

An introduction to the building blocks upon which all film and television writing are based: visualization, dialogue, scenes, sequences, and basic dramatic structure. Students begin with short writing exercises and proceed to longer scenes and sequences. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 529 Experimental Course

(Offered as needed.) 1-3 credits.

FTV 531 Production Workshop I

An introduction to narrative techniques in media production. Each student will write, shoot, and edit several production exercises. While the primary emphasis is on visual storytelling, the student will also learn basic production techniques. Fee: $300. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 532 Production Workshop II

Prerequisite, FTV 531. An intensive study of the meaning of text in storytelling and the techniques of digital video and film production, including pre-production planning, scripting, shooting, directing, and picture and sound editing. Fee: $600. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 533 Fundamentals of Audio Design

A course on the art and science of audio recording and re-recording. Students will provide production and post-production audio design and support for advanced film, video, and multimedia projects. Emphasis on proper methods of recording quality field sound, sound effects recording, SMPTE time code systems, signal processing, multiple sound track construction, and mixing. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 534 Production and Set Management

Analysis of procedures and problems in preparing a script for film or television production. Emphasis on the role of the production manager in breaking down scripts, setting up shooting schedules, preparing budgets, and planning post-production, as well as on-set organization, safety and chain of command. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 535 Documentary Production

In groups of three, students will take individual documentary ideas and turn them into ten to fifteen-minute finished videos. The class will have a special emphasis on the ethics of working with real people and topics, the specifics of on-your-toes documentary camera work, effective editing techniques, and the uses and misuses of narration. In-class viewing of a variety of different styles of documentary films will serve as examples for the students' projects. Fee: $300. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 536 Fundamentals of Production Design

A course in the general principles of art direction and the creation of the visual look of a production. Films will be analyzed from a design perspective: the set, costumes, make-up, cinematography, and other visual elements. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 537 Fundamentals of Cinematography I

Corequisite, FTV 504. A basic lecture/workshop course on the techniques of still and motion picture photography, lighting, and digital videography. The course emphasizes artistic control in the use of lenses, filters, film, lighting, exposure, and composition. Projects focus on control and creative uses of film in a variety of situations. Fee: $300. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 538 Fundamentals of Directing

Prerequisite, FTV 531. A concentrated study in the means of eliciting convincing performances from actors and blocking for the camera. Work includes script analysis from an acting viewpoint and directing actors brought in from outside the class. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 539 Directing II

Prerequisite, FTV 538. An intensive study in camera blocking taught in a workshop setting for students experienced in the fundamentals of directing for film and television. Emphasis is on teaching students how to heighten the drama of the story through effective placement and movement of the camera. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 540 Set and Costume Design

This course is an introduction to the art of set and costume design. DESIGN is defined in the dictionary as "a mental project or scheme in which means to an end are laid down...a preliminary sketch or outline showing the main features of something to be executed." We will study the design process and explore how it relates to the dramatic text and the film production as a whole. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 541 Visual Perception and Expression

Prerequisite, FTV 531. A detailed study of how viewers respond to visual stimuli and how filmmakers create meaningful images. Figurative devices such as symbolism and thematic motif are examined. Students study examples from films after which they will use video and 16mm film to shoot and edit their own solutions to visual problems. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 542 Seminar in Film Studies: Genre and Auteurs

An extensive study of one film genre and/or auteur with a different genre and/or auteur covered in each course offering. May be repeated for credit. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

Film Noir

An exploration of the films of the 1940s and 1950s known as "black" cinema because of their style and content. An antidote to the optimistic fare of the period, these films typically dealt with unstable heroes and resolutions that defied the convention of the happy ending. Central to the course is the study of the world-view that underlies the attitude, as well as the visual style, of the genre.

The Horror Film

Study of the horror genre from a historical point of view beginning with Thomas Edison's Frankenstein (1910) and continuing through current horror cycles.

The Musical

Intensive study of the history and aesthetics of the movie musical with emphasis on the development of the genre and the influence of studios, stars, directors, composers, and choreographers.

The Melodrama

A study of the history, uses, and misuses of character-driven drama.

The Science Fiction Film

A study of science fiction from George Melies' A Trip to the Moon (1902) through contemporary films. Emphasis is placed on certain periods, such as the alien invasion pictures of the 1950s, as well as important sub-genres, such as the robot films and social future histories.

The Screwball Comedy

A study of the dialogue comedies, made primarily during the 1930s and 1940s, known as "screwball comedy." Cultural and cinematic antecedents will be explored, along with more recent films which refer to and emulate the form.

The War Film

A study of the history and thematic development of war films, placing them in their historical and cultural context.

The Western

A study of the oldest and most enduring of Hollywood genres. This course explores the mythology of the genre as well as its historical origins: how the mythology is expressed in conflicts set in the American West, and how the structure of the Western has evolved from The Great Train Robbery (1903) to the present, reflecting contemporary cultural concerns.

Women and Genre

This course examines film genres and genre theory within the framework of gender. It explores the patterns and themes of the major Hollywood film genres and their relationship to issues of representation of women. It includes an investigation of the lines of inquiry of contemporary feminist theory.

FTV 543 Seminar in Film Studies: American and International Cinema

A concentrated study of movements within American and international cinema. Films are studied within their historical and cultural context. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

Asian Cinema

Survey of Asian film with emphasis on film as a reflection of culture. The cinema of India, China, and Japan, the countries with the largest film industries, will be featured. Representative films from smaller nations such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, and Burma will also be included.

British Film

This course will cover the major areas of British Film, including: "British Heritage" films, British Cinema of the 1990s; plus influential directors, including Hitchcock's British films, Powell and Pressburger, Thorold Dickinson, David Lean, Mike Leigh, and Peter Greenaway.

French and German Films

Examination of the French and German film industries throughout film history. Discussions will focus on major movements within each country, as well as the ways in which France and Germany have interconnected histories.

Mexican Film

An historical survey of Mexican cinema with an emphasis on film as a reflection of culture. The course will examine films produced in Mexico and films made by Mexicans in the United States.

FTV 544 Advanced Topics in Film Studies

An in-depth study of a particular topic in film history or criticism. May be repeated for credit in a different topic. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

Independent American Cinema

This course examines independent film movements across the history of North American cinema, but with an emphasis on the "independent revival" from the 1980's onwards. In addition, students will also examine the process by which independent films and filmmakers get promoted and develop a reputation. Students therefore study the process of reputation building - on how an independent filmmaker's reputation emerges, changes, and declines.

African-American Cinema

A critical, historical analysis of African-American filmmaking through lecture, discussion, and viewing of films and excerpts. Feature films are examined from artistic, social, moral, and political perspectives.

Animation Aesthetics

An examination of the aesthetics of animation. The course will cover an international array of animation created throughout history using a broad range of techniques.

Films of the 1960s

Examination of the cinema of the 1960s such as British "kitchen-sink" social realism and American "counterculture" cinema.

Gay and Lesbian Cinema

Explores an alternative history of film, setting out to decode the rules and parameters of a gay cinema. Focuses on gay cinema as an historical and theoretical category for analysis.

Hollywood Censorship

A study of censorship in America and its effects on film and television. Representative works will be viewed, and the histories behind specific landmark cases will be studied.

Women in Film and Television

A survey of the on–and off-screen roles women have played in film and television, and an examination of how these roles have changed to reflect the changing status of women in society.

FTV 545 Film Theory and Criticism

This course analyzes film through a number of well-known theories: the classical film theories of Arnheim, Bazin, V.F. Perkins; the theories of film narration developed by David Bordwell and Edward Branigan, and theories of interpretation. Numerous extracts from well-known classic and contemporary films will be shown and analyzed in detail. This course explores the value of theory in analyzing individual films and scenes. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 546 Television and New Media Culture

A study of new media and underlying social and cultural factors which influenced the development of new media and television. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 552 Survey of American Cinema

This course presents a survey of canonical American films, the classics that define and shape American film history. Ranging from the silent classics to today's high concept blockbusters and independent films, this course will study the aesthetic innovations of these films, the important personnel who worked on them, highlight their political and social significance, and will examine the deal-making process that went on behind the scenes. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 553 Survey of World Cinema

This course will analyze the essential classics of world cinema. European cinema (especially French, German, Italian, Swedish, Hungarian, and Russian), Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong, and Middle Eastern cinema will be analyzed within historical, social, and aesthetic contexts. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 554 Art and Craft of Set Design I

A workshop in which students will develop a basic understanding of the principles of set design while designing sets and building models of those sets based on screenplays selected by the faculty. The emphasis will be on the development of design techniques that complement the narrative of the screenplay and the characters within. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 555 The Short Film Form

An immersion class into the world of short films. Short films screened and analyzed will include: classic shorts that launched directorial careers, short films that were expanded into classic features, great short films from America and Europe, award winning film school shorts, and segments from feature films consisting of several short films. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 556 Drawing and Storyboarding Studio

A workshop in which students develop freehand sketching and storyboarding skills, using the designs that they develop in the Production Workshop sequence. The medium chosen is at the student's discretion, whether it be pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, or acrylics. May be repeated for credit. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 557 Feature Analysis

Recommended, FTV 527. Feature films are screened and analyzed from a storytelling viewpoint, with emphasis in the wide range of problems and possibilities screenwriters and directors face in the process of managing the audience's emotional involvement in a story. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 558 Digital Production Design Studio

A workshop covering computer system operations, digital design, digital graphics and illustration, computer assisted drafting, 3D animation, Vector Works, compositing, and print and presentation. May be repeated for credit. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 560 Overview of Producing

Examines the process of producing film and television programming for various entertainment companies, including large corporations studies, independent production companies, television companies, computer companies, and startup ventures. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 561 The Structure and Function of a Film Festival

Examines the structure, function, marketing, and exhibition of film festivals. This is a travel class where students participate in festival events including jury procedures, screenings, workshops, and seminars with filmmakers. Fees based on travel and accommodation expenses. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 562 The Development Process of Film and Television

An introduction to the process of developing material for motion pictures and television. Topics examined include developing existing literary material; developing news stories/current events; and developing fictional material for numerous venues including feature films, movies of the week, television shows, and cable films. Other topics examined will be the role of the producer in working with writers, agents, and studio/network executives during the development process. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 564 Film and Television Financing

An overview of the different financing structures utilized in motion picture and television production. Topics covered include bank financing, studio financing, network financing, IPO's, limited partnerships, debt swap financing, negative pickup deals, and presales. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 566 Introduction 3-D Animation

An introduction to the tools available in Autodesk's Maya software package for the creation of 3D digital animation. This course emphasizes an understanding of the software as well as the fundamental concepts of the Disney Principles of Animation. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 567 Independent Feature Filmmaking

A case study of independent filmmaking. Fee: $75. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 569 Producing for Television

An introduction to the key business and management issues involved in producing contemporary television. This course examines programming, marketing, and distribution trends in broadcast, cable, and satellite networks. Topics covered include the domestic and international market, financing issues, coproductions, movies of the week, series, public television, and special event programming. Fee: $75. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 571 Graduate Location Filmmaking

A group experience in which students participate in the production of a school-sponsored film project. Class members are organized into production crews and assigned specific crew positions. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $300. (Offered interterm.) 3 credits.

FTV 572 Prime Time Production: Writing the Dramatic Series

Prerequisite, FTV 527. Building on the student's previous narrative writing experience, this course provides an intensive study of writing and producing mirroring the real world rigors of producing a single-camera series on a weekly basis. Students will study the narrative and dramatic requirements of developing a storyline and characters in the episodic form. Fee: $75. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 573 Prime Time Production: Shooting the Dramatic Series

Prerequisite, FTV 531, or permission of instructor. Using the scripts generated in Prime Time Production: Writing the Dramatic Series, this course provides an intensive production experience mirroring the real world rigors of producing a single camera dramatic series on a weekly basis. Students will learn about and take on the various roles necessary for shooting a series episode. Fee: $300. (Offered interterm.) 3 credits.

FTV 574 Prime Time Production: Editing the Dramatic Series

Prerequisite, FTV 515, or permission of Instructor. Editing for episodic television requires an understanding of series tone and the relationships of key characters. This course offers students the opportunity to edit a prime time television series using the footage generated in Prime time Production: Shooting the Dramatic Series. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 575 International Documentary

This course will provide students with an opportunity to use the documentary form as a means of examining important social and historic issues, particularly those related to human rights and justice. Students will select and study a topic prior to travelling abroad to shoot a documentary. Shooting will take place on-location overseas. (Offered summer.) 3 credits.

FTV 576 Cinematography for Commercials

Prerequisite, FTV 537. This course will teach students the fundamental theories and aesthetic practices of shooting 30 second commercials. Students will learn the role of the creative concept in advertising with the goal of understanding what makes good advertising and how filmmaking compliments the advertising message. Fee: $300. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 577 Production Workshop III

Prerequisites, FTV 531, 532. The first of a two-part course in which students are responsible for producing, directing, and editing a complex sync sound narrative production. Enrollment contingent upon approval of project proposal. Fee: $600. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 578 Fundamentals of Cinematography II

This is a lecture class on cinematography with in depth analysis of student's work as presented in production classes. It will include in-class workshops. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 582 Music Composition for Filmmakers

A course designed to give film majors a foundation in both the musical concepts and technology necessary to compose original music to accompany picture. Compositional activity is supplemented by discussion and analysis of film scoring trends and techniques, stressing the role that music plays in any filmmaker's creative process. Prior musical training or the ability to play an instrument is not essential. Fee $300. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 584 Art and Craft of Set Design II

Prerequisite, FTV 554. A workshop in which students will get a comprehensive understanding of the set design process while designing sets and building models from existing screenplays selected by the faculty. The emphasis will be on developing a strong approach to film design that will compliment the narrative of the screenplay and the characters within. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 585 Film Reviewing

Readings and discussion of contemporary theory related to film and television. Introduces students to a range of theoretical issues affecting current thought on the production and spectatorship of film and television. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 587 Short Script Workshop

Prerequisite, FTV 527. An intensive workshop in writing short screenplays. Students will write in a variety of styles and complete a number of short scripts. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $75. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 589 Cross-Cultural Documentary

This course is designed to give students a practical and theoretical understanding of how the cross-cultural (ethnographic) documentary film can be used as a creative medium to explore and document a foreign culture. Throughout the course of the semester the students will research and produce a short cross-cultural documentary about an aspect of a local culture that is different from their own. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

FTV 590 Internship

(Offered as needed.) ½-3 credits.

FTV 591 Entertainment Arts Forum

A lecture series which explores the scope, direction, and influence of the entertainment arts. Visiting film and television directors, writers, producers, actors and executives will present and screen recent work and respond to students' questions and critiques. Individual forum sessions may include panel discussions of current trends and issues, such as opportunities for women and minorities in entertainment, the impact of violence on television, censorship vs. First Amendment freedom, and other relevant topics. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $75. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 594 Research Techniques and Archives Tour

A course designed to teach the use of graduate research tools and local archives to reinforce the skills that students must possess for the critical and research writings and complex projects required for the master's degree. Students become familiar with significant journals in film history and criticism, local archives, and other important resources. (Offered interterm.) 3 credits.

FTV 596 Film Studies Thesis Project Design

Prerequisite, advancement to candidacy for the MA degree; to be taken in the last 12 credits of the degree. In this class, students prepare and write a thesis, based on individual study, research, and development of a topic in film studies. The subject must be approved prior to enrollment in this course. P/NP. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 609 Production Design Workshop III

Prerequisites, FTV 509, 519. Working as Production Designers, students fulfill all pre-production and production responsibilities on a collaborative thesis production - a professionally executed short film or digital video project. In addition to the thesis, each student will complete all final presentation drawings, models, and sketches. The workshop also entails the complete design of a feature film script utilizing drawings, models, and sketches. Film script to be approved by the faculty. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 613 Byte-Sized Television II

Prerequisite, FTV 527, or 531, or consent of instructor. Building on the series pilots created in FTV 513, students will learn about the collaborative writing and production process as practiced in the creation of narrative episodic television series designed for the internet. Fee: $300. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 619 Production Design Workshop IV

Prerequisites, FTV 509, 519, 609. A continuation of the Production Design Workshop III class from the fall semester. (Offered spring semester.) 3 credits.

FTV 624 Thesis Film Development

Prerequisites,