Cinema Art + Science – Cinema
Directing, MFA
50 Credits
2015/2016
Pre Semester – A-Term (6 Credits)
24-6360AS Introduction to Cinema
Directing, 6
1st Semester – Fall (13 Credits)
24-6361 Directing for Character, 6
24-6713 Screenwriting I, 3
24-6605A Cinema Study I, 1
24-6430 Editing Theory and Practice, 3
2nd Semester – Spring (13 Credits)
24-6362 Directing for Drama, 6
24-6605B Cinema Study II, 1
24-6700 Ideation & Theme, 3
Elective Course or Workshop, 3
3rd Semester – Fall (11-14 Credits) 24-6363 Thesis Workshop, 6
24-6605C Cinema Study III, 1
24-6071 Thesis, 1
Elective Course or Workshop, 3-6
4th Semester – Spring (6-9 Credits) 24-6071 Thesis Units, 2
24-6618 Applied Post-Production &
Delivery, 3
Elective Course or Workshop, 1-4
Cinema Art + Science – Cinema
Directing, MFA
Course Descriptions
2015/2016
24-6360AS Introduction to Cinema Directing
This course is designed to ensure that students entering the MFA Cinema Directing
program in Film & Video have a broad, basic knowledge of screen directing and how
they will develop as directors as they proceed through the program. This three-week
full time workshop uses lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practice to cover the
key foundational principles, analytical skills and requisite technical information for
Cinematic Expression in both documentary and fiction film. The course is led by a
team of two Film & Video faculty members and includes case studies and guest
presentations.
24-6361 Directing for Character
With an emphasis on narrative form, the course covers basic skills in revealing
complex fictional characters on the screen. Students learn to develop craft as well as
personal voice with the study of the basic relationship between actor, text, and
director, the course expands to include staging, rehearsal techniques, and effective
critiquing skills. Emphasis is on the development of director’s breakdowns, beat
analysis, rehearsal techniques, and casting. Students work on their own projects as
well as those of their peers.
24-6713 Screenwriting I
This course introduces students to techniques for finding story ideas and for
developing them in a variety of script formats. It aims to provide approaches to
writing screenplays drawing from the writer’s own life experiences and direct
observations; to facilitate a deeper understanding of the screenwriting process and
writing for an audience; to teach students the elements and structure of Western
drama as applied to short screenplay form, including character, story/plot and
cause/effect structure; to assist in developing systematic work habits to carry the
student from conception to idea development through revisions to polishing
scenes/scripts; and to provide students with the opportunity for critique of their
screenwriting. Students learn to write in treatment form as well as shot outline, split
script, and master scene formats.
24-6605A Cinema Study I
This is the first of three courses designed to investigate key historical moments of
cinema and media through close critical analysis. The goal is to develop a
sophisticated approach to the aesthetics of cinema and media as the basis of a
professional vocabulary and methodology for creative producing. Particular attention
will be paid to dramatic structure, meaning, subtext and authorship within specified
film movements or niche markets.
24-6430 Editing Theory and Practice
This course gives directors a fundamental overview and practice of the
postproduction phase of production from workflow development through finishing
strategies and across multiple platforms.
24-6362 Directing for Drama
Building on the foundations of Directing for Character and MFA Screenwriting I,
students will develop, cast, rehearse, prepare, shoot, and edit a 5- to 8-minute
narrative film through a series of lectures, written assignments, shooting exercises
and training workshops. These classroom experiences are designed to provide the
student with a better understanding of the relationship of character to dramatic
scene and story.
24-6605B Cinema Study II (
This is the second of three courses designed to investigate key historical moments of
cinema and media through close critical analysis. The goal is to develop a
sophisticated approach to the aesthetics of cinema and media as the basis of a
professional vocabulary and methodology for creative producing. Particular attention
will be paid to dramatic structure, meaning, subtext and authorship within specified
film movements or niche markets.
24-6700 Ideation & Theme
Ideation & Theme (MFA) is a course designed to help students approach the creative
process in multiple ways and to explore story and theme in conjunction with
considerations of personal vision and expression. Students develop a range of simple
ideas and work through the conceptualization and proposal process using various
writing and visualization strategies. These film possibilities are filtered in a variety of
ways throughout the course. Work completed earlier in the graduate program can be
drawn from and work produced in this class may be further developed in subsequent
graduate courses.
24-6363 Thesis Workshop
This is an advanced directing workshop in which students will further develop
material generated in Ideation & Theme. Students will explore that material through a
series of rehearsals, pre-visualization exercises, exploratory shoots, critique and
discussion. These will provide the students with the opportunity to develop and
sketch material from character-based, theme-based, traditional and nontraditional
narrative perspectives as ways to test out active creative decisions that will help
them prepare a strategy and finished script for their thesis film.
24-6605C Cinema Study III
This is the third of three courses designed to investigate key historical moments of
cinema and media through close critical analysis. The goal is to develop a
sophisticated approach to the aesthetics of cinema and media as the basis of a
professional vocabulary and methodology for creative producing. Particular attention
will be paid to dramatic structure, meaning, subtext and authorship within specified
film movements or niche markets.
24-6071 Thesis
Students work with 2 thesis advisors on the required thesis film or video project.
24-6071J Thesis Units
Students work with 2 thesis advisors on the required thesis film or video project.
24-6618 Applied Post-Production & Delivery
This course gives producers an in-depth overview and practice of the postproduction
phase of production from workflow development through finishing strategies and
across multiple platforms.