2016-2017 Undergraduate Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Film, BFA
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 Return to: College of Visual and Performing Arts
Contact
Owen Shapiro, Department of Transmedia
102 Shaffer Art Building, 315-443-1033, ojshapir@syr.edu
Faculty
Boryana Dragoeva, Kara Herold, Alexis Mendez, June Kyu Park, Vasilios Papaioannu, Owen Shapiro, Miso Suchy, Ruige Xu
Description
The main objective and educational mission of our film program is to provide a stimulating and rewarding context for independent filmmaking and scholarship. The film program places equal emphasis on academic film studies and creative production. Students pursue various modes of production, including experimental, narrative, documentary, and animation and are required to take film history, theory and criticism classes.
Our approach is that of the total filmmaker. The primary focus of the program is to foster creative, intellectual, and personal achievement. Students learn everything from scriptwriting to pre-production, production, and post- production. Learning how to develop interpersonal and leadership skills is an important part of the process. The program encourages independence, debate, and originality. Our approach to film is an aesthetic one rather than a commercial enterprise.
The first two years of the program are rigorously structured. Freshmen follow Transmedia core curriculum, including film history and an introductory film production course. Sophomore classes concentrate on the essential filmmaking skills. Juniors and seniors have more flexibility. Students choose from menu-structured courses according to their academic and professional interests, in essence constructing their own path with their faculty advisor.
Students must participate in a portfolio review, which is held at the end of each semester. The student and faculty members evaluate creative and academic work and assess student progress. Sophomore Review will result in a recommendation to continue or to not continue in the program.
In addition to the core study and study abroad options, students have various opportunities for involvement with the Syracuse International Film Festival, the Dropped Frame Society (a student-run film organization), and are encouraged to seek internships. Each year, two of our film seniors participate in the “Sorkin Week,” a week-long professional sojourn in Los Angeles, California.
The program maintains full facilities for 16mm, super 16mm, and digital video formats, including HD.
Our students go on to become independent filmmakers and educators, and work in a wide variety of media-related fields.
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Major Requirements: 48 credits
Film Required Studio Electives: 12 credits
Academic Requirements: 6 credits
Studies in Culture: 21 credits
Courses classified as Studies in Culture for the Film program are, in general, classes related to art history and cultural studies but also include disability studies, gender studies, religion, film business, film history, and languages 200-level or higher. The film program strongly recommends that students take ART 250 - Topics in Film History, as well as FIL 360 - Topics in Film Culture. Please consult the Film Grey Book, available from your academic advisor, or contact your advisor directly if you have any questions about a particular class.
Academic Electives: 24 credits
Academic electives are most courses offered outside of art, design, or transmedia (for example, courses offered in CRS, Arts and Sciences, Whitman, and other colleges outside of SU:VPA). These academic courses usually have non-art-related content, such as math, natural sciences, astronomy, global history, political science, psychology, and entrepreneurship, and languages at the 100-level, among others. These classes meet for a total of 150 to 160 minutes each week for the duration of the semester (usually on a two- or three-day pattern, such as MW, TTH, or MWF, with classes ranging from 50 to 80 minutes each.)
Studio Electives 18 credits
Studio electives are courses usually offered in VPA through art, design, or transmedia. The content of the courses directly relates to the preparation of students for professional careers in art, design, and transmedia. The course content includes, but is not limited to, conceptualization, process, product, and critique of creative work in studio practice. These courses meet for a much longer time, for a minimum of four hours per week for the duration of the semester. Usual meeting patterns are: the class meets once per week for four+ hours, or the class meets twice per week, usually for two or more hours each.
For the Film program, courses in music performance and composition also count as studio electives, as well as some drama courses as they relate to set design, lighting, costume, make-up, and acting. Sound design courses, whether from Newhouse or VPA, are considered studio electives.
Study Abroad
The structure of the program allows students to study abroad for one semester in any of the SUAbroad locations. You must plan ahead with you advisor to make sure you can fulfill your major requirements.
The film program offers both semester-long and short-term study programs with FAMU in Prague (spring, junior year); in LA through the SULA semester (fall, senior year); and in Bologna, Italy (summer program).
Total Credits Required: 129
Degree Awarded: BFA in Film
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Return to: College of Visual and Performing Arts
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