Courses

• COM FT 555: The Narrative Documentary Practicum
  This practicum, designed for advanced film and television production students, focuses on the highly specialized filmmaking techniques used for the narrative documentary; that is, character-driven films about real people. The course also explores this tradition's rich legacy: from the Russians of the 1920s, through the CV movement of the 1960s, and on to the present day host of new films spawned by digital filmmaking technology.
• COM FT 560: The Documentary
  Surveys the history of the documentary and the changes brought about by the advent of television. Examines the outlook for the documentary idea in national and international markets. Periodic highlighting of special areas such as the portrayal of war, historical events, drama-documentary, and propaganda. Students develop critical and professional skills. Lectures, screenings, discussions.
• COM FT 561: Television Drama
  Surveys the history of television drama from its "live" beginnings in the 1950s to contemporary taped and filmed series, mini-series, and specials. The critical evaluation of such forms as sitcoms, soap operas, and regularly scheduled dramatic series from the perspective of the producer, writer, and director. Lectures, screenings, writing reviews, and discussions.
• COM FT 563: French New Wave
  A comprehensive survey of the most important directors and films of this vital movement, which arguably changed the course of world cinema. Directors include Godard, Charbol, Rohmer, Truffaut, Resnais, and Varda. In addition to class screenings, some outside viewing may be required.
• COM FT 565: Motion Picture Editing
  This is an advanced editing class in which students edit challenging and complex projects using Avid software. Students edit scenes from features and episodic television shows that were shot using single camera techniques, as well as multi-camera material, such as sitcoms and music concerts. Students learn rhythm and pacing, when and where to make a cut, how to increase the emotional content of a scene, ways to propel the story forward, and the proper use of sound, effects, titles and music. Students must have previously taken a production class that used Avid software.
• COM FT 566: Special Topics
  Topics and instructor vary each semester. Recent topics have included Television Production Hothouse and the Avid Film Composer.
• COM FT 569: Holocaust Film
  
• COM FT 573: BUTV
  Provides students with the opportunity to develop and product television programs for student television station BUTV10, and for student -operated production group, Growling Dog Productions.
• COM FT 574: BUTV
  Provides students with the opportunity to develop and produce television programs for closed-circuit and, possibly, cable-access distribution, and to produce low-budget videos for nonprofit organizations.
• COM FT 593: Introduction to Cinematography
  Based on a fundamental knowledge of technical and creative procedures of film production, this course pays deeper attention to important elements of cinematography such as composition, raw stock, sensitometry, lighting, movement, colors, and space. Emphasis is on a conscious usage of pictorial elements in the picture-building process.
• COM FT 701: Media in Evolution
  A course that examines the business of entertainment media industries. History, structure, business models, regulatory and social issues will be discussed. An assessment of the emergence of new media businesses, and how technologies, that offer many new content distribution options, are changing the definition of traditional media. 4 cr. Fall
• COM FT 703: Media Business Entrepreneurship
  This course will provide students with the practical knowledge and skills needed to heed the call of entrepreneurship. Classes will include guest speakers from various business sectors including venture capital professionals, angel investors, accountants, attorneys, marketing experts who are skilled in launch phases of PR, as well as media entrepreneurs who succeeded against all odds. Students will also participate in the development of a core business idea, from concept through the creation of a sound business plan as a final project/presentation. 4 cr. Fall
• COM FT 706: Acting for Directors and Writers
  For first-year graduates. Develops the director's knowledge and understanding of actors, the "human equipment" of filmmaking, through direct acting experience. Students learn the language and tools of the craft through sensory exercises, improvisation, text analysis, and scene study.
• COM FT 711: Screenwriting I
  Principles of drama and screenplay structure are analyzed. Students prepare characterizations, perform certain scene exercises, and create an act-by-act outline for a feature-length film.
• COM FT 712: Television, Culture, and Society
  Issues of content, representation, regulation, effects, and ethics in television. Specific areas include children's programming, representation of women and ethnic groups, violence, educational, and prosocial aspects. Also covers methods of social inquiry, including students' own practical assignments.
• COM FT 713: Screenwriting II
  Students compose a feature-length film and a set of revisions based upon the film outline created in COM FT 711. Further examples of dramatic structure are analyzed from the library of world cinema.
• COM FT 716: Video Production II
  Emphasizes longer-form television programs and stresses the role of the producer/director. Course includes both documentary and dramatic productions using both field and studio equipment and techniques.
• COM FT 721: International Masterworks
  A selective survey of important films from outside the United States from the earlier twentieth century to the present. Films will be selected to represent important stylistic movements in film history, such as Expressionism and Surrealism, and to represent diverse possibilities for what the medium of the feature theatrical film can accomplish. The course will include work of such directors as Eisenstein, Murnau, Lang, Renoir, Rossellini, Mizoguchi, Bergman, Antonioni, Buñuel, Ray, Godard, Sembène, Akerman, and Kiarostami. The course will concentrate on analysis of individual films and will develop skills for shot-by-shot reading and critical writing.
• COM FT 722: American Masterworks
  Subjects vary with instructor. Directors include: D.W.Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, King Vidor, Frank Borzage, Victor Fleming, Howard Hawks, Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, John Huston, Elia Kazan, George Cukor, Orson Welles, Robert Altman, John Cassavetes, and Woody Allen.
• COM FT 727: Creative Producing I
  An introductory course that takes the student through the various stages of production beginning with a concept and ending with a full-fledged, camera-ready proposal. Students are introduced to issues of finance, scheduling, and organization; they learn what a producer must do to keep budget and concept on track.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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