Courses
Film and Media Arts
0410. Animation Workshop (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
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.)
0419. Screen Directing
Theory and Practice (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
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.
0442. Scene Analysis
for Writers and Directors (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy.
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.
0457. Editing Theory
and Practice (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
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.
0458. Cinematography
Workshop (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of instructor.
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.
0459. Videography (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of the
instructor.
Lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises in the art,
theory, and technology of video and electronic media production.
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.)
Prerequisite: MFA candidate or permission of the
instructor.
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.
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.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
An advanced workshop to develop projects in experimental, documentary,
or narrative forms using portable video, TV studio, and computerized
image and editing facilities.
0636. Writing for Media
I. (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: MFA candidacy or permission of instructor.
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.
0637. Writing for Media
II. (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
The preparation of a scenario and complete television or motion
picture script.
0651. Documentary Workshop (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Design, pre-production planning, production, and subsequent
evaluation of individual documentary projects.
0654. New Technology
Laboratory (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
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.
0655. Advanced Documentary/Fiction
Workshop (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: FMA 419, 651 or permission of the instructor.
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.
0657. Digital Post-Production (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: FMA 457 or permission of the instructor.
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.
0658. Lighting for Film
and Video (4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: FMA 458 or permission of the
instructor.
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.
0696. Advanced Problems
in Film and Video Production I. (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: FMA 655 and permission of instructor.
Enrollment limited. Planning and production of individual projects
dealing with significant topics. May be repeated.
0697. Advanced Problems
in Film and Video Production II. (4
s.h.)
Prerequisite: Prerequisites: FMA 655 and permission
of instructor.
Enrollment limited. May be repeated.
0719. Screen Directing
Laboratory (2-4 s.h.)
Prerequisite: FMA 419 or 442 and permission
of the instructor.
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.
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.)
Prerequisite: FMA 461.
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.
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.)
Prerequisite: Permission of the department.
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.