Courses
Film and Media Arts
0410-Animation Workshop 4 s.h.
A creative workshop exploring the concepts, aesthetics, and techniques of independent animation in a number of media from cards and cels to digital design and manipulation. (Offered summer only.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
0419-Screen Directing Theory and Practice 4 s.h.
Theories of directing, dramatic form, and acting are examined through lectures, demonstrations, readings, and applied exercises to establish a theoretical and practical foundation in film and television directing.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
0442-Scene Analysis for Writers and Directors 4 s.h.
Analysis and exercises dealing with the conventional language of mainstream narrative film, including how this language, traditionally presented as the only way to organize narrative films, actually serves to circumscribe the kinds of stories that may be told.
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy
0457-Editing Theory and Practice 4 s.h.
Theories of cinematic form and structure are examined through lectures, demonstrations, assigned readings, and applied exercises in film and video editing and related computer and disc technologies.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
0458-Cinematography Workshop 4 s.h.
The art, theory, and technology of film production with special attention paid to location lighting, location sound, cinematic composition, and film structure. This is a dual level course, intended for both the experienced filmmaker and the media-aware but inexperienced graduate student ready for intensive, accelerated study in the design and solution of cinematographic problems.
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of instructor
0459-Videography 4 s.h.
Lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises in the art, theory, and technology of video and electronic media production.
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of the instructor
0460-History of Documentary Film 4 s.h.
An international, historical survey of the factual film, including creative documentary, anthropological film, television news film, direct cinema, and cinema verite.
0461-Film History and Theory 4 s.h.
This course surveys major filmmakers who have theorized their practice in journals, workbooks, lectures, interviews, essays, etc., including theorist-practitioners like Sergei Eisenstein, Jean-Luc Godard, Atom Egoyan and Jane Campion. Historical and cultural contexts of theorist-practitioners and related critics are considered in relation to the conditions of experimentation and innovation in significant genres and aesthetic movements.
Prerequisite: MFA candidate or permission of the instructor
0470-Producing 4 s.h.
An overview of the processes of financing, managing, promoting, and distributing a documentary, fiction, or experimental production. Emphasis is on projects produced independently, outside the commercial mainstream, and without institutional sponsorship or governance. Students will produce a comprehensive proposal for a viable film or videotape project.
0510-Communication Aesthetics 4 s.h.
Investigation of the historic and aesthetic relationship between idea and form as applied to modern media, theater, films, broadcasting and writing; emphasis on the application of critical theory and problems of meaning. Examination of the nature of the image, especially its textual and its symbolic properties, visual representation, its relationship to verbal communication, and its reception.
0541-Experimental Television 4 s.h.
An advanced workshop to develop projects in experimental, documentary, or narrative forms using portable video, TV studio, and computerized image and editing facilities.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
0636-Writing for Media I. 4 s.h.
A seminar and workshop exploring various approaches to media writing, including documentary treatment, experimental appropriation, performative conceptions, and narrative screenplays. Through weekly exercises and a final project, each student will begin to develop a personal integration of these approaches, leading to a voice of his/her own.
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of instructor
0637-Writing for Media II. 4 s.h.
The preparation of a scenario and complete television or motion picture script.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
0651-Documentary Workshop 4 s.h.
Design, pre-production planning, production, and subsequent evaluation of individual documentary projects.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
0654-New Technology Laboratory 4 s.h.
Exploration, study, design, production, and implementation of hypermedia projects including interactive and computer controlled video, computer graphics, digital sound, videodisc, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies. Interdisciplinary collaborations will be encouraged between FMA, Computer Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Art, and Music.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
0655-Advanced Documentary/Fiction Workshop 4 s.h.
Designing and executing individual documentaries, dramatic projects, or works that intermix the strategies of documentary and fiction while dealing with socially significant material. Each project will involve one month of planning and scripting, one month of field production in film or video, and a final month of editing and postproduction. Lectures, demonstrations, critiques, and crew assignments on each other's projects will accompany the intensive fieldwork.
Prerequisite: FMA 419, 651 or permission of the instructor
0657-Digital Post-Production 4 s.h.
Advanced tools and concepts of digital non-linear editing of film and video with emphasis on fine-cut preparation, file management, ProTools, foley, looping, multi-track mixing, compositing, titling, EDL generation, and film matchback.
Prerequisite: FMA 457 or permission of the instructor
0658-Lighting for Film and Video 4 s.h.
Technical, aesthetic and compositional aspects of lighting for cinematic, photographic and electronic media. The course analyzes the evolution of lighting styles in fiction and non-fiction film, commercials, and music videos. Each student completes an individual and/or group portfolio of different lighting exercises.
Prerequisite: FMA 458 or permission of the instructor
0696-Advanced Problems in Film and Video Production I. 4 s.h.
Enrollment limited. Planning and production of individual projects dealing with significant topics. May be repeated.
Prerequisite: FMA 655 and permission of instructor
0697-Advanced Problems in Film and Video Production II. 4 s.h.
Enrollment limited. May be repeated.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites: FMA 655 and permission of instructor
0719-Screen Directing Laboratory 2-4 s.h.
Exercises and critiques specifically exploring the theories, aesthetics, and practice of directing actors for the screen. Directors are paired with advanced MFA actors from the Theater Department.
Prerequisite: FMA 419 or 442 and permission of the instructor
0799-Experiments in Visual Dynamics 4 s.h.
A production lab for new and on-going film, video and multimedia projects. Media theories and aesthetics will be applied to developing documentary, fiction and experimental productions. Explorations in this class range from issues of genre blending to the use of new technologies, including distribution strategies utilizing the World Wide Web, CD-ROMs and digital video disks.
0861-Critical Methods Seminar 4 s.h.
Methods and approaches to issues of media history, theory, and critical analysis are covered through lectures, discussions, screenings, and directed research as practical preparation for comprehensive examinations. Required of 4th semester MFA candidates.
Prerequisite: FMA 461
0882-Seminar: International Film 4 s.h.
A critical and historical examination of the films of a particular country or world region. Topics vary per semester. May be repeated (as long as the specific topic is not duplicated).
0884-Seminar: Film Analysis and Criticism 4 s.h.
Analysis of selected films through various critical methodologies.
0901-Special Problems in Film and Media Arts 2-4 s.h.
Special seminars typically taught by distinguished visiting faculty. Inquire at departmental offices for details, since these seminars often are scheduled on short notice.
0902-Special Problems in Film and Media Arts 2-4 s.h.
Special seminars typically taught by distinguished visiting faculty. Inquire at departmental offices for details, since these seminars often are scheduled on short notice.
0903-Special Problems in Film and Media Arts 2-4 s.h.
Special seminars typically taught by distinguished visiting faculty. Inquire at departmental offices for details, since these seminars often are scheduled on short notice.
0904-Special Problems in Film and Media Arts 2-4 s.h.
Special seminars typically taught by distinguished visiting faculty. Inquire at departmental offices for details, since these seminars often are scheduled on short notice.
0943-M.F.A. Colloquium 1 s.h.
Wide variety of discussions, screenings, and lectures from guest image makers, exploring and integrating the range of theoretical, conceptual, and pedagogical aspects of film and video production. Required of all entering M.F.A. students. Open to other advanced students with permission. May be repeated.
0951-Directed Readings 1-4 s.h.
0961-Directed Projects 1-4 s.h.
0966-M.F.A. Project 1-6 s.h.
Open only to M.F.A. candidates in Film and Media Arts for their final project. May be repeated for credit during all semesters the final project is in progress, although only a maximum of six hours will be counted toward the degree.
Prerequisite: Permission of the department