Madrid Film Studies and Documentary Video Production Program

This special Madrid program combines advanced Spanish study with a unique opportunity to explore Spanish culture through the study of film and television. It also offers students a rare chance to investigate a specific aspect of Spanish culture through the production of a documentary. The program is open to upperclassmen with an advanced level of Spanish language and a serious interest in both Spain and film production.

Program Curriculum

This class will be led by an accomplished Spanish documentary filmmaker and will entail in-depth observation and immersion into the culture.

Required Courses

Students enroll in the following courses:

CAS LS 305: Topics in Language and Culture: Spanish Through TV Serials (4 credits)

(Offered on an enrollment basis – when there are too few students enrolled to offer this course, Advanced Language and Composition, through the Level II program, is recommended.) Develops written and oral skills by looking at different cultural aspects of the history of Spain through the reading of contemporary Spanish novels, short-stories, and their film adaptations.

CAS SP 342: Spanish Film (4)

This course seeks to offer students a dynamic study of contemporary Spanish film, using techniques of formal and theoretical analysis, and taking advantage of the great diversity of genre and stylistics found in recent cinematographical production.  Special emphasis is placed on the work of two of the most important Spanish directors of the 20th and 21st centuries: Almodóvar and Amenábar. Syllabus

COM FT 552: Documentary Video Production (4)

This course is designed to provide students with an interactive experience of the documentary film-making process, culminating in the creation of a documentary about a chosen topic related to Spain.  As students learn about each step of the process, they apply what they learn in the classroom to their own film: first they must choose a topic, which they will research extensively; then find subjects; film, and finally edit their documentary.  Throughout the course, students are provided on-going support from experienced professionals active in the film industry in Spain. This class is directed towards all students interested in documentary film as a tool to tell stories related to anthropology, information and audiovisual creation. Syllabus

Elective Courses

Students choose one additional 4-credit course from those offered through Level II of the Madrid Language and Liberal Arts Program

Program Details

Requirements
  • Open to all majors
  • Minimum of fifth-semester college-level Spanish language or the equivalent
  • A genuine interest and dedication to learning the production of documentary film
  • Admissions requirements for all programs
Program Dates
  • Fall Semester: early September to mid December
  • Spring Semester: mid January to mid May
Cost
  • 2011/2012 Tuition & Fees: $26,779 per semester

Cost includes tuition, housing, board, airfare from New York, field trips, and emergency travel assistance coverage. The cost for 2012/2013 has not yet been announced and will be subject to approval by the Board of Trustees at Boston University. Additional expenses to consider. Financial aid is available.
Credits
  • Upon successful completion of the program, students earn sixteen Boston University credits. Students must enroll for a total of sixteen credits.
Housing
  • Boston University’s household accommodations facilitate the students’ language acquisition and integration into Spanish society through the daily usage of Spanish.  All Madrid students are placed in Spanish households, where they have their own room and eat meals with their host families. Households represent a wide range of incomes and situations, from an older woman living alone to a professional couple living in the city to a large family with several children.
Application Deadlines
  • Fall Semester: March 15
  • Spring Semester: September 15

For the spring semester, preference will be given to qualified students who submit their complete applications by September 15. After that date applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until October 15.

Download a description of the Madrid Film Studies and Documentary Video Production Program.

Program Faculty & Staff

The Boston University Madrid Programs are administered by staff in both our Boston and Madrid offices. In Boston, a program manager facilitates the admissions and pre-departure procedures, and maintains contact with students prior to their arrival in Madrid. The Boston office also houses administrative personnel who are responsible for everyday operations. In Madrid, the staff comprises a resident director as well as administrative, academic, and housing personnel.

Faculty & Staff Profiles

Kathleen Rodriguez Dietzel, Program Manager

Overseas Staff

Faculty

The Madrid Film Studies and Documentary Video Production Program is hosted at the Instituto Internacional, where all courses are taught in Spanish.

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