Core Requirements

Course Descriptions

FIL 101 Early Films 1900 - 1950 - History
This course studies the silent film and the birth and development of film as an art form in the United States, Germany, Russia, and France 1900-1950.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 108 Screenwriting I
This course includes an intensive program of screenwriting techniques, focusing on writing a short form screenplay.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 202 American Film History II (1950—present)
The course covers post World War II films, American New Wave in the 1960s and 1970s, the emergence of the age of American auteurs, and the consolidation of the industry into a global phenomenon. Topics include feminism, black liberation and the student movement; the rise of the blockbuster; and the independent challenge to dominant cinema that has become part of mainstream cinema today.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 203 Major Forces in the Cinema
The influence of major movements in the cinema is examined in this course. Subject changes each semester. May be taken for a maximum of three semesters.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 205 Film Theory
The course acquaints the student with the multitude of theories that together constitute Film Theory. The course traverses the multiple disciplines that have been used to examine the film, including psychology, linguistics, history and sociology and aesthetics. The course traces the broad outlines in the evolution of each branch of Film Theory including psychoanalysis, semiotics, feminism, and theories of ideology. Considerable attention is also paid to students developing a sense of how to place the film object in its historical and cultural context.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 206 Production I
The introductory concepts of visual storytelling are taught with HD production techniques. This is a hands-on course where students learn the basics of shooting, directing, and editing through working on projects.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 207 Production II
Introduction to working in small crews; development of storytelling skills.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 212 Introduction to Editing and Sound Acquisition
This course is designed to give students basic skills in digital picture and sound editing, sound recording, and sound mixing.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 214 Directing the Moving Image I
This course begins to breakdown the job of the Director in narrative filmmaking. One of the mysteries of filmmaking is what a director does. We will seek to understand the process that is directing by exploring the role they play as they interface with the crew, producer, production designer and cinematographer. How is the vision for script developed and nurture throughout the process of filmmaking? How does a director work, through all of the stages of film production, development, preproduction, production, post production and distribution?
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 215 Cinematography
This course is an intensive study of the motion picture camera and lighting technology.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 218 Production Management
This course examines the nuts and bolts of production management in film, television, and contemporary media. Topics include entertainment and copyright laws, operations, scheduling, hiring, budgeting, and media management. Students complete and entire Production Handbook as their semester-long assignment.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 223 Documentary Workshop I
Students learn the basics of producing a short documentary film, including research, interviewing, budgeting, shooting styles and organizing footage for editing.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 225 Animation Comp Graphics & Visual Effects I
An introductory level class to Special Effects pipelines and workflows for digital filmmaking. Working with basic computer graphics software and editing compositing suites, students will work on real world production projects in special effects. Special emphasis is placed on basic compositing, matting and 2d solutions to production effects.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 228 Components of Visual Storytelling I
This course is designed to explore and impact of visual elements that control the audiences experience of film and other forms of 2D imagery. We will look at Space, Line, Shape, Tone, Color, Rhythm and Movement. We will be breaking down these visual components then combining them into a dynamic project in which the story components in the script are matched by the visual elements making an emotionally engaging work. The Film project is structured in the preproduction stage, with storyboards, computer graphics, story and component graphs integrated into Production Design and Cinematography that can shape the audience's response.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 235 Filmmaking Studio A
This course is an intensive practicum in motion picture production where teams of students with develop and produce a film project that covers advanced cinematography, advanced sound, research, budgeting, production and postproduction practices. Prerequisites of FIL 101, 202, 205, 206 & 109 and co-requisite of FIL 237 are required. The co-requisite of FIL 237 is required. The pre-requisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206, and 209 are required.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 236 Filmmaking Studio B
This course is an intensive practicum in motion picture production where teams of students will develop and produce a film project that covers advanced cinematography, advanced sound, research, budgeting, production and postproduction practices. Prerequisites of FIL 101, 202, 205, 206 & 109 and co-requisite of FIL 238 are required. The co-requisite of FIL 138 is required. The pre-requisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206, and 209 are required.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 237 Filmmaking Studio C
This course is an intensive practicum in motion picture production where teams of students with develop and produce a film project that covers advanced cinematography, advanced sound, research, budgeting, production and postproduction practices. Prerequisites of FIL 101, 202, 205, 206 & 109 and co-requisite of FIL 235 are required. The co-requisite of FIL 235 is required. The pre-requisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206, and 209 are required.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 238 Filmmaking Studio D
This course is an intensive practicum in motion picture production where teams of students with develop and produce a film project that covers advanced cinematography, advanced sound, research, budgeting, production, and postproduction practices. Prerequisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206 & 209 and co-requisite of FIL 236 are required. The co-requisite of FIL 136 is required. The pre-requisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206, and 209 are required.
Credits: 3
Every Spring

FIL 244 Directing the Screen Actor I
Hands-on workshop exploring how to direct an actor. This in turn will help students write dialogue for actors to speak and learn to meet the creative demands of their projects as a producer. Students learn how an actor creates a part and drops into that internal place on camera that makes the viewer really believe they are that character. A crucial element of narrative film/television production is understanding the process and requirements of performance. Students learn techniques and insights which give directors confidence and develop that "eye"; help writers take dialogue and structure to another level; and are given guidance and incentive to do pre-production and script analysis.
Credits: 3
Every Fall

FIL 297 Film Capstone
Students will meet as a class with their selected capstone advisor weekly for the semester as they plan and develop the pre-production for their thesis project. Generating all of the various elements of production culminating in the finalization of the pre-production process for their thesis Film. This will include casting, crewing, location scouting, and budgeting. At the completion of the class the students should be ready to be greenlighted by the capstone advisor so the production of their Thesis film can begin the next semester.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 298 Film Thesis
Students work with a professor to create an original work that showcases their main areas of interest in film.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 299 Film Internship
This is an opportunity for the student to work in a professional venue and be directly and meaningfully involved in the day-to-day operations with an emphasis in an area of their special interest.
Credits: 1 to 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 304 Major Forces in Cinema II
The personal styles and influences of major directors are covered in this course. Subject changes each semester. May be taken for a maximum of three semesters.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 308 Advanced Motion Picture Production
This course develops further exploration into the techniques of filmmaking and application of professional practice. Prerequisites of FIL 206 and 207 are required.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 310 Screenwriting II
This course includes an intensive program of screenwriting techniques, focusing on the development of a feature length screenplay.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 313 Intermediate Editing & Sound
This course is designed to give students intermediate skills in digital picture and sound editing, sound recording, and sound mixing. Prerequisite of FIL 212 is required.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 313a Advanced Motion Picture Production
This course is designed to give students the advanced skills in sound recording, sound editing, and sound mixing for film and digital media production.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 316 Intermediate Cinematography
This course covers intermediate camera, lighting and field production, theory and technique. A series of location and studio set scenes demonstrate techniques used to create and control the 'look' of moving images. Related issues from camera and set preparation to post production considerations are covered. Prerequisite of FIL 215 is required.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 317 Advanced Screenwriting
This course is an advanced workshop for Film Majors devoted to writing and developing an original full-length screenplay.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 322 Independent Producing
A hands-on approach to the production management tasks of the independent producer of film, video, or multimedia. Topics include, script breakdown, scheduling, budgets, writing the business plan, marketing, and distribution. Students will complete a Production Handbook and mock Business Plan as their final projects.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 324 Making of a Documentary II
Students learn the next stage is documentary producing in a medium to long form documentary film, including research, interviewing, budgeting, shooting styles and organizing footage for editing.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 326 Animation Comp Graphics & Visual Effects II
An intermediate level class in Special Effects pipelines and workflows for digital filmmaking. Working with CG assets & basic tracking, students will learn and work with basic workflows and production pipelines for 3d, 2d, and live action integration and compositing for effects.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 327 Animation Computer Graphics & Visual Effects III
An advanced special effects class in digital filmmaking using state of the arts 2d and 3d CG integration with live action. Students will work with complex tracking, 2d and 3d tracking, PBR rendering for film, matched lighting, shooting elements reels for SFX, and the latest techniques from the field.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 330 Film Festivals, Markets and Platforms
Now that you've made a film: what next? This course will delve deeply into advertising, selling, and marketing films in the current television and film industry. How do films make money? How are they bought and how are they sold, who are the entities and the players in this part of the industry? We'll learn about distribution, marketing, and what you need to know as a Producer/ Director to survive in this industry.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 350 Pitches, Treatments, Grants and Funding
In this course students will develop and understanding and the facility to market their ideas as intellectual property. They will develop pitches with the corresponding documents and treatments. They will develop their understanding of the dynamics of grants, methods of fundraising, and the filmmaker's relationship to investors. They will also look at the niche markets covered by cable TV venues as well as the major platform markets.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 351 The Business of Freelance
The film industry is dominated by freelance entrepreneurs. This includes artist like Directors, Cinematographers, Production Designers, Editors, Special Effects Artist, Producers and the other positions covered under the word "crew". Students will understand the question: "what is your rate", as well as where to go to find employment. This course will also delve into individual financing, LLC/ corporations and 1099 income. In this course they will learn how to organize themselves financially so that they can maximize their entrepreneurial careers.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

FIL 429 Directing the Moving Image II
This course will take a deeper dive into the realm of directing. We will dig into the analysis of films from a variety of styles and genres, their structure, and the choices that directors made that creates the mise en scene. The pre-requisites of FIL 201, 202, 205, 206, 209, and 214 are required.
Credits: 3
Rotating Basis

Typical Sequence