MFA in Film & Television Curriculum

This course explores the grammatical rules, stylistic techniques and narrative elements of cinematic storytelling, with instruction on lighting, staging and blocking. By completing a series of directing exercises, students start to develop their portfolios. Students are equipped to direct a scripted short film at the end of the course.

This course explores the craft of screenwriting, including character, action, conflict, story structure and construction. Students write several short screenplays over the course of the semester, one of which they will select to produce as their first short film.

This course covers major aspects of producing for film, television and new media, including set protocols, responsibilities and etiquette, script breakdowns, budget creation, production agreements, SAG paperwork, crew hiring, casting, locations, permits, shot lists and scheduling.

This course provides students with an understanding of how filmmakers create compelling stories in the moving image media, exploring aesthetic choices of cinematic storytelling from a critical perspective. Through lectures, screenings and class discussion, we examine the nature of storytelling for the moving image. Students consider how stylistic choices contribute to the development of plot and character in a variety of forms.

This course introduces editing technique, including issues of style and structure, as a crucial aspect of moving image storytelling. Students work through all aspects of the post-production process as they workshop and edit various exercises and small projects. They conclude by editing their first major short film project.

This advanced screenwriting course builds on the fundamental skills learned in Screenwriting I. Through guided and collaborative workshops, students learn how to brainstorm story ideas, create outlines and structure a feature-length screenplay or a television pilot/spec. Students work on the screenplay for their second major production in the program.

An advanced course in the theory and history of communication and media. This course integrates significant production assignments as part of MACOMM's commitment to applied learning. Topics are chosen based on the interests of the MACOMM cohort and in response to changes in the communication and media environment. Course title is shown on the student's transcript.

With advanced directing exercises, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the art of visual storytelling, orchestrating the shape, tone and experience of a piece. Further, students learn the art of directing the actor, practicing the skills necessary to communicate notes and vision in a way that generates the best performance. Students gain a firm understanding of "the director's work" on the script, including floor plans, staging, camera and storyboards. Students also develop and prepare to shoot their second major production.

This course explores production methods and how storytelling and creative content are applied to new media formats for advertising and marketing. We look at how creative content can serve clients. Students operate as a production company and work with real clients and marketing teams, creating a series of commercials, advertisements, promos and more.

With over 2,000 media firms in the surrounding area, students complete internships in a film, television or other media company to gain professional experience and exposure to the marketplace. Working closely with the faculty, each student finds a unique opportunity that fits their desired area of interest.

In this TV Development class, students will learn an alternative to the solo screenwriting process as they collaborate to develop a television pilot as part of a course writers' room. Students work together to pitch ideas, develop a story, write a beat sheet, and complete at least one act of their pilot, creating characters, plot and story arcs. The focus is on the benefits of the hive mind as it relates to collaborative storytelling.

In this course, students improve their understanding of cinematic storytelling through close examination of film style and form. They examine the structure and aesthetics of different types of visual media, including documentary and narrative forms, as well as the relationship between adapted material, screenplays and completed films. Students develop their analytical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of effective cinematic storytelling.

In this course, students study the roll of producers in completing, exploiting and distributing a project. The course covers film festivals, networking, promoting, fund-raising and more so that students learn the skills to complete and distribute their work to an audience. Faculty mentor students as they prepare their second short film of the program.

This course prepares students for their Thesis Project with thorough personalized critiques of their scripts. Exercises, screenings and discussions also provide students with a deeper understanding of story structure and craft.
Prerequisite: Pre-req CM-525 and CM-625;

This class teaches advanced editing techniques such as fine cutting, scratch tracks, sound design, color correction, sound mixing, ADR, foley, picture lock, credits, delivery and more. Projects that have previously been shot go through all phases of post-production including screenings, questionnaires and feedback until they are fully polished and ready for film festival submission or distribution.

In preparation for the thesis project, Directing III enhances students' directing skills by mounting in-class rehearsals of their own material that allow students to make practical use of the skills they've learned so far. This class includes workshops for directing actors and prepares students to work on professional sets by demystifying the process. Students may work in either narrative or documentary traditions, developing a fully fleshed out idea that they will produce and shoot for their thesis.
Prerequisite: Pre-req CM-515 and CM-615

Offers qualified students a supervised mentorship experience with a working professional or faculty member in the student's area of interest. Students are required to deliver public presentations of their completed portfolios.

This course covers major aspects of producing for film, television and new media, including set protocols, responsibilities and etiquette, script breakdowns, budget creation, production agreements, SAG paperwork, crew hiring, casting, locations, permits, shot lists and scheduling.

In this course, students improve their understanding of cinematic storytelling through close examination of film style and form. They examine the structure and aesthetics of different types of visual media, including documentary and narrative forms, as well as the relationship between adapted material, screenplays and completed films. Students develop their analytical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of effective cinematic storytelling.

This course provides students with an understanding of how filmmakers create compelling stories in the moving image media, exploring aesthetic choices of cinematic storytelling from a critical perspective. Through lectures, screenings and class discussion, we examine the nature of storytelling for the moving image. Students consider how stylistic choices contribute to the development of plot and character in a variety of forms.

In this course, students study the roll of producers in completing, exploiting and distributing a project. The course covers film festivals, networking, promoting, fund-raising and more so that students learn the skills to complete and distribute their work to an audience. Faculty mentor students as they prepare their second short film of the program.

This course explores production methods and how storytelling and creative content are applied to new media formats for advertising and marketing. We look at how creative content can serve clients. Students operate as a production company and work with real clients and marketing teams, creating a series of commercials, advertisements, promos and more.

This course explores the grammatical rules, stylistic techniques and narrative elements of cinematic storytelling, with instruction on lighting, staging and blocking. By completing a series of directing exercises, students start to develop their portfolios. Students are equipped to direct a scripted short film at the end of the course.

This course explores the craft of screenwriting, including character, action, conflict, story structure and construction. Students write several short screenplays over the course of the semester, one of which they will select to produce as their first short film.

This course introduces editing technique, including issues of style and structure, as a crucial aspect of moving image storytelling. Students work through all aspects of the post-production process as they workshop and edit various exercises and small projects. They conclude by editing their first major short film project.

This advanced screenwriting course builds on the fundamental skills learned in Screenwriting I. Through guided and collaborative workshops, students learn how to brainstorm story ideas, create outlines and structure a feature-length screenplay or a television pilot/spec. Students work on the screenplay for their second major production in the program.

An advanced course in the theory and history of communication and media. This course integrates significant production assignments as part of MACOMM's commitment to applied learning. Topics are chosen based on the interests of the MACOMM cohort and in response to changes in the communication and media environment. Course title is shown on the student's transcript.

With advanced directing exercises, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the art of visual storytelling, orchestrating the shape, tone and experience of a piece. Further, students learn the art of directing the actor, practicing the skills necessary to communicate notes and vision in a way that generates the best performance. Students gain a firm understanding of "the director's work" on the script, including floor plans, staging, camera and storyboards. Students also develop and prepare to shoot their second major production.

With over 2,000 media firms in the surrounding area, students complete internships in a film, television or other media company to gain professional experience and exposure to the marketplace. Working closely with the faculty, each student finds a unique opportunity that fits their desired area of interest.

In this TV Development class, students will learn an alternative to the solo screenwriting process as they collaborate to develop a television pilot as part of a course writers' room. Students work together to pitch ideas, develop a story, write a beat sheet, and complete at least one act of their pilot, creating characters, plot and story arcs. The focus is on the benefits of the hive mind as it relates to collaborative storytelling.

This course prepares students for their Thesis Project with thorough personalized critiques of their scripts. Exercises, screenings and discussions also provide students with a deeper understanding of story structure and craft.
Prerequisite: Pre-req CM-525 and CM-625;

This class teaches advanced editing techniques such as fine cutting, scratch tracks, sound design, color correction, sound mixing, ADR, foley, picture lock, credits, delivery and more. Projects that have previously been shot go through all phases of post-production including screenings, questionnaires and feedback until they are fully polished and ready for film festival submission or distribution.

In preparation for the thesis project, Directing III enhances students' directing skills by mounting in-class rehearsals of their own material that allow students to make practical use of the skills they've learned so far. This class includes workshops for directing actors and prepares students to work on professional sets by demystifying the process. Students may work in either narrative or documentary traditions, developing a fully fleshed out idea that they will produce and shoot for their thesis.
Prerequisite: Pre-req CM-515 and CM-615

Offers qualified students a supervised mentorship experience with a working professional or faculty member in the student's area of interest. Students are required to deliver public presentations of their completed portfolios.