Pursue your vision. Perfect your craft. Find your crew. SHU is home to the only film MFA in Connecticut.
Master the art of storytelling in our dynamic and close-knit graduate program. Work in fiction, documentary, web based and/or VR/AR/XR formats. The Film and Television Master’s program (FTMA) at Sacred Heart University is devoted to cinematic storytelling across all platforms. Our students find their artistic vision in a collaborative environment in which they live and breathe filmmaking.
Our program fosters the next generation of storytellers through dynamic courses that guide students as they work collaboratively to create independent projects, supplemented by frequent masterclasses and workshops. Focusing on story and hands-on production, students learn the craft and techniques that empower them to stand out in today’s media market.
If you’ve been considering a master’s in film and television, you might be asking yourself––especially in a year like this one––if it’s the right move. You might want to bring your visual storytelling to the next level with an MA or MFA, but is now the right time?
At Sacred Heart, we believe all of our students deserve an opportunity for equal access to the creative process. Our small class sizes, lively, student-driven production schedule and state-of-the art equipment and facilities make this possible.
Students can complete a Master of Arts in this intensive one-year film and television production degree.
The Master of Fine Arts is a customizable, terminal two-year degree in film and television production.
Sacred Heart’s home is in the heart of Connecticut’s “Creative Corridor” with close ties to nearby New York City, which means students in the film & television program can go beyond the classroom into professional environments. Through partnerships with media companies and mentorship from industry professionals, students complete the program ready to enter the media industries with meaningful industry connections. Students have the opportunity to work at high profile companies such as ABC News, NBC, CBS and MTV, among other top corporations.
Sacred Heart’s facilities are only rivaled by Hollywood studios. You can make a movie from the first idea to a world premiere without ever having to leave the campus.
FTMA students have access to a wide variety of shooting environments and locations, including our own soundstage with 20′ ceilings, a live news TV set and a green screen studio. On campus, there is also a 1950s style diner, working bar, fitness center, rock wall, bowling alley, 100-seat cinema, screening rooms, a chapel and city or country-style settings.
After shooting, our students learn the craft of editing on professional computer systems in our dedicated computer lab that include the Adobe Creative Suite, Davinci Resolve and Protools. We also have two finishing suites for color correcting, sound mixing and sound design.
Access to state-of-the-art VR/AR/XR labs and makerspaces as well as relationships with other University departments (broadcast television, advertising, public relations, art and design, etc.), allow for collaboration in production design, marketing, advertising, business and distribution. In addition to all the facilities on SHU’s West Campus, students also have access to the assets in the School of Communication, Media, and the Arts including:
The most impressive list of equipment is only useful if you receive thorough training on equipment that is both well-maintained and accessible when you’re ready to shoot. It is important to us that our equipment is not only in great shape, but is also available to all graduate students at no additional charge. In addition to classroom instruction, we schedule supplementary workshops that focus on specialized equipment.
FTMA students shoot their films with the latest in DSLR and HD camera technology systems, including:
Accessories include:
Students work with our Glidecam, jibs, sliders and dollies to get moving shots. Our selection of tripods (Manfrotto, Davis & Stanford and Cartoni) are adaptable to any on-set needs. We also provide car mounts, shoulder mounts, handles and an Easyrig for specialty shots.
Our one-ton grip and electric package includes:
Students can check out:
Set crew members are provided with an Atomos Ninja, 15″ 4K and 7″ LCD and on-camera monitors for video village, a Eurorack audio mixer, boom poles, shotgun mics, lavs and Zoom H4ns for sound recording, a slate, walkie-talkies and expendables.
Sacred Heart University’s FTMA program is home to the 49 Hour Film Festival.
Recently, a small crew of FTMA graduate students and faculty traveled to Luxembourg, Germany and France to shoot a commissioned project documenting SHU’s study abroad programs. Check out some behind-the-scenes footage!
Open SHUtter Productions supports film collaboration among SHU student filmmakers. The inaugural Open SHUtter production, “Jumbled Up Jane,” was an official selection at the Indie Short Fest, LA International Film Festival (2019) and an official selection and second place winner at the Battle of the Film Schools, Astoria, Queens (2020). The production is directed by Tyler Stirling and written by Brian Hogan and Abigaile Sands.
Student work and internships with partner organizations
In January 2020, FTMA students and faculty made their inaugural trip to the Sundance Film Festival. The students served as official festival volunteers, which provided them with free and behind-the-scenes access to festival events.
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
The film and television master’s program
