Courses

• 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
  Studies the great 1960s movement in filmmaking that has stayed forever fresh and challenging and has influenced all filmmaking since. The class will view and discuss films of Resnais, Malle, Truffaut, Godard, Chabrol, Rohmer, Varda, and others. We will consider the directors' innovative production practices and film styles, their attitude to their times and to life in general, and what their films finally achieve as works of art. We will talk about this movement's influence and what has developed out of it. Readings will include writings by the filmmakers, many of whom were prolific as film critics and theorists.
• COM FT 565: Motion Picture Editing
  Given its central role in the filmmaking process, examining the way films are edited can reveal a lot about the inner workings of film and help students understand the art of filmmaking. Editing scenes from films, television shows, and other material in a classroom setting and then examining different versions of those scenes can help students become better editors and will help them evaluate/critique their future film and television work. The course is designed for students who have edited a number of exercises and films in previous classes. It provides an opportunity for students to develop advanced editing skills, while learning advanced digital editing techniques on the Avid Media Composer. This is an advanced editing class, and not a course on how to use the Avid. By editing scenes from episodic television shows, and other professionally shot footage, students will learn how to select (and reject) material, where and when to cut, how to create pace, how to control what the audience sees and does not see, how to add music and effects to increase the emotional content, and how to use visual effects to enhance the impact of the material.
• COM FT 567: Film Styles
  "Style" is a term that crops up routinely in discussions of film, but does it really mean anything? Through the careful study of a broad variety of films, we will compile a catalog of stylistic components which critic and filmmaker alike can use to think more clearly about this slippery concept. How does one create a style? How does style influence narrative? What tools does a director use to create a distinctive style? Using feature films and film clips, this course will answer these and other questions about film style.
• COM FT 569: Holocaust on Film
  Holocaust on Film examines the aesthetics of filmic texts which place the experience of the Holocaust at the center of their investigation.
• COM FT 570: Uncensored TV: The rise of Original Scripted Series on Cable TV
  Using series like The Sopranos, Weeds, and Breaking Bad as case studies, this course will examine the current state of cable TV with regard to industry, "quality," genres, auteurs, and the so-called "post-network" era. Students will approach these cable series with a critical eye as they work to connect industry, political economy, and government regulation to issues of social class, television hierarchies, and artistry. Students will also emerge from the course with a thorough understanding of how to perform television-focused research and analysis.
• COM FT 573: BUTV
  BUTV1 is a credit-earning opportunity for members of BUTV10 & BUTV10.com, BU's student campus channel and website. Students work with at least one of the organization's productions or administrative departments. For undergraduates, one previous, not for credit, a semester in the organization is required, except with Faculty Advisor consent. This requirement does not apply to graduate students. All students must coordinate participation and be approved by the faculty advisor. 2 credits pass/fail, either semester.
• COM FT 574: BUTV2
  BUTV2 is a credit-earning opportunity for contributing members of BUTV10 & BUTV10.com, who have previously earned credit by successfully completing FT573: BUTV1. Students work with one of the organization's productions or administrative departments. All students must coordinate participation and be approved by the faculty advisor. 2 credits pass/fail, either semester.
• COM FT 575: Renoir & Bu?uel
  A survey of the careers of two of cinema's greatest and most admired directors: Jean Renoir and Luis Bu?uel. Both these directors had long careers, stretching from the late silent era into the 1970s, and both worked in various countries--France, Spain, the U.S., Mexico, India--taking in new situations and ways of life while maintaining their own attitude, philosophy of life, and artistic vision. The class will view and analyze such great films as Renoir's Grand Illusion, Rules of the Game, and The River and Bu?uel's L'Age d'Or, The Exterminating Angel, and Belle de Jour.
• COM FT 576: Globalnewwaves
  
• COM FT 577: Godard
  
• COM FT 578: 3MASTERDIRECTRS
  
• COM FT 579: Eurodirectors
  
• COM FT 580: Subversvecine
  
• COM FT 581: Thrdwrlddirctrs
  
• COM FT 582: Writing the Narrative Short
  Writing the Narrative Short class is an intensive writing workshop that focuses on the short form narrative screenplay. Students will write at a pace of roughly one script per three weeks, completing a minimum of FOUR (4) polished short screenplays: a personal film; a character driven film; and two "long shorts" of 10-25 pages
• COM FT 583: Filmtraumaloss
  
• COM FT 589: Advanced Production Workshop
  The focus of this class will be on story creation, performance, and filming strategies using small crews and lightweight equipment, culminating in the production of six short films. Working from approved scenarios with a core group of actors, directors will explore character and story development through an in-class workshop process of improvisation. Once committed to script form, these short films will be shot with a small crew made up of fellow class members in pods of three; Director, Cinematographer, and Editor. The class will be limited to 6 Directors and 4 to 6 Cinematographer/Editors.
• COM FT 590: 2D Animation Basics
  From TV shows and feature films to webisodes, 2D animation is more popular than ever, but how is it created? This fun yet intensive hands-on beginner course teaches all the fundamental skills needed to create great 2D character animation the way it is done in the industry, with Adobe Animate CC. Through progressive lessons students learn basic drawing and character design, storytelling, and how to make characters walk, talk and come to life. We will cover acting, timing, and facial expressions; drawing "keys and in-betweens," scene composition, color backgrounds, and more. The history of animation and industry trends are also discussed. Students complete numerous projects including a fully produced animated short film that will be shown in the End of Term Screening. Many of the valuable skills learned in this class can also be applied to 3D and experimental animation, filmmaking, art, and broadcast design.
• COM FT 591: 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 the 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.

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