Film & Television
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COM FT 201: Screen Language: The Aesthetics, Grammar and Rhetoric of the Moving Image
In this course, students study and practice the art and craft of expressing themselves persuasively through audio-visual media. The aim is both to familiarize students with the conventions of screen language and to test the validity of those norms. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Creativity/Innovation. -
COM FT 250: Understanding Film
Understanding Film introduces students to key aesthetic aspects of film. Students study a variety of historical and contemporary examples of fiction and nonfiction films that illustrate the expressive possibilities of image and sound. Students learn to analyze, explain and write about these formal elements. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Critical Thinking. -
COM FT 303: Understanding Television
This course examines television (and its foundation in radio) as it emerged, stabilized as an aesthetic and technological form, interacted with other media, was regulated and deregulated, and was shaped by and shaped the culture around it. We will use the sitcom and soap opera genres as aesthetic through-lines for this study and examine their evolution in historical contexts. Throughout the semester, we focus on broadcasting's beginnings, expansion, establishment as the national, mass medium in America, and eventual fracturing into niches. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Historical Consciousness, Critical Thinking. -
COM FT 304: Film Industry
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT250) - A survey of current business trends in the motion picture industry. Focuses on script development; studio structure; agents, attorneys, and contracts; independent filmmaking; and distribution. -
COM FT 310: Storytelling for Film & Television
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - An introduction to the art and craft of storytelling through the moving image. Particular emphasis will be given to writing short scripts. Topics covered include character development and narrative structure as it applies to shorts, features and episodic television. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation. -
COM FT 325: Creative Producing I
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT303) - This course takes students through the process of creating non-fiction TV programming. Think talk shows, reality programs, and documentaries. How to create a concept, write a proposal, cast a program, and develop a marketing reason to do the program. It's all part and parcel of being a creative producer. -
COM FT 353: Production I F1
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT201) with a grade of B- or higher - An intensive course in all the fundamental aspects of motion picture production. Students learn to use cameras, sound recording equipment and editing software and then apply these skills to several short productions. The course emphasizes the language of visual storytelling and the creative interplay of sound and image. -
COM FT 402: Production II
Undergraduate Prerequisites: FT353 with a grade of B- or higher and one of the following: FT502 or FT508 or FT526 or FT565 or FT592 or FT 593 - Intermediate motion picture production with an emphasis on narrative storytelling, high definition cinematography, sync-sound location recording, and multi-track editing. Students develop, produce, direct, shoot, record and edit medium-length productions that are of film festival quality, and which can be incorporated into highlight and demo reels. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration. -
COM FT 404: Asian Cinema
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT250) - This course studies the astonishing artistic flowering of contemporary East Asian film, focusing on selected works from directors working in China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand. The course focuses on post-1997 films, though it occasionally references earlier films made by the key directors or that influenced them. By examining a range of genres, styles, and themes, the course looks at a variety of important East Asian films during this period. Discussions deal with auteurist styles/themes, industry developments in Asia that affected the kinds of films produced and distributed, and the cultural values and history embedded in these films. Some notable directors discussed: Bong Joon-Ho, Park Chan-Wook, Lee Chang-Dong, Zhang Yimou, Jia Zhangke, Ann Hui, Wong Karwai, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hayao Miyazaki, and Edward Yang. -
COM FT 411: Screenwriting I
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT310) - Developing your first feature-length narrative screenplay; creation of characters, narrative outline, and scenes. . Each student will create a step outline, develop a treatment and write the first act of a feature- length screenplay. First draft screenplay pages will be discussed in class, and will be revised for the final project. Students will be advised to either work on a major rewrite of Act One or go deeper into Act Two, while outlining the remainder of the story. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation. -
COM FT 412: Screenwriting II
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT411) - Further study of narrative screenwriting, dramatic structure, and character development. Each student will develop and write a full feature-length screenplay. First draft materials will be discussed in class and will be revised for the final project. -
COM FT 417: TV Management
This course will examine current management and leadership issues facing television executives. Research, content development, revenue models, consolidation, regulatory restrictions, distribution and ethical considerations are explored using lectures, readings/screenings, case studies, and discussion. -
COM FT 425: Creative Producing 2
Course takes the student through the process of creating a fictional program or film. The course covers comedy and drama series and movies-of -the week from development through production and post-production. The student learns the complexities of the industry, the layers of decision makers to be dealt with, the place of agents, the nature of negotiation, and the fundamentals of hiring crews, scheduling and budgeting. -
COM FT 430: Producing the Short Script
Developing a producible student film begins with a solid short screenplay that takes all parameters into account. Students will watch, analyze, and discuss successful short films while examining screenplay structure, plot, genre, theme, and character. Based upon short film analysis, feedback received during workshops, and one-on- one consults with the professor, students will write and revise two short screenplays (under10 pages & 10-15 pages). Students will be expected to have a firm grasp on narrative structure, character development, and cinematic storytelling. Final body of work will be two polished scripts that could potentially be produced either independently or within one of The Department of Film & Television's advanced production courses (i.e. Prod. II - FT 402 or Prod. III - FT 468). Pre-req FT310 -
COM FT 454: Pitch to Pilot
First class in a series which will culminate in a collaborative project with CFA to produce a live action sitcom pilot, to be filmed at the Booth theater in Spring 2023. This is a writing class. more information in the FTV newsletter or email filmtv@bu.edu. Pre-req FT 512 or FT 522 -
COM FT 468: Production 3
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMFT402) application required - This is an honors thesis class for undergraduates who have taken Production II as well as other high-level production classes, such as Directing, Cinematography, Sound Design, Motion Picture Editing, etc. Students apply to the class as either as producers, directors, cinematographers, editors, sound designers and production designers. Directors submit scripts for consideration. The production faculty then selects eight directors, based on the scripts and each candidate's previous work. Faculty then selects the producers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and production designers based on their previous production work and their ability to work as members of a team. The class forms production teams to make eight thesis- quality films that can compete with the best student films in America. Maximum running time for each film is fifteen minutes. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration. -
COM FT 491: Directed Studies
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of supervising faculty and department chair - Individual projects; opportunity for advanced students who have completed a major portion of their degree requirements to engage in-depth tutorial study with specific faculty in an area not normally covered by regular curriculum offerings. -
COM FT 492: Directed Studies
Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of supervising faculty and department chair - Individual projects; opportunity for advanced students who have completed a major portion of their degree requirements to engage in-depth tutorial study with specific faculty in an area not normally covered by regular curriculum offerings. -
COM FT 493: Internship
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, a 3.0 GPA for COM courses, completion of COM FT 201 & COM FT 310. This includes Film/TV internships through abroad programs - Opportunity%20for%20students%20to%20gain%20professional%20experience%20at%20television%20and%20radio%20stations%2C%20film%20and%20video%20production%20houses%2C%20and%20other%20media%20institutions.%20Responsibilities%20vary.%20Availability%20depends%20on%20market%20needs.%20 -
COM FT 494: Internship 2
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, a 3.0 GPA for COM courses, completion of COM FT 201 & COM FT 310. This includes Film/TV internships through abroad programs - Opportunity for students to gain professional experience at television and radio stations, film and video production houses, and other media institutions. Responsibilities vary. Availability depends on market needs.
