Return to Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Film (FILM)
1305 INTRODUCTION TO FILM A required course for majors in film and a prerequisite for all Film courses. The course introduces students to basic concepts of cinematic form and genre; stylistic techniques of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and sound; and aesthetic consideration of form, genre, and style. Lectures, readings, and screenings. Prerequisite: None.
1310 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL STORYTELLING A required course for majors and minors in film. The course introduces students to filmmaking fundamentals of visual storytelling, storyboarding, visual design, and best practices using film production and post-production technology. Lecture. Prerequisite: FILM 1305.
2300 FILM APPRECIATION General education curriculum option for the fine arts requirement. Promotes understanding and appreciation of the art of cinema through study of film style, film history, film genres, and the cultural impact of films. Examines both the theory and practice of filmmaking. Lectures, readings, screenings.
2310 SCRIPT ANALYSIS A required course for film majors. The course covers analysis, formatting, structure, and construction of the motion picture and screenplay. Character creation and motivation are also addressed. Prerequisites: FILM 1305.
2466 FILM PRODUCTION 1 A required course for film majors. Techniques of video production, terminology, and operation of video cameras, lenses, lighting, audio recording, and editing. Production. Prerequisites: FILM 1310 and 2310.
3321 INTERNSHIP Internships provide qualified students an opportunity to integrate professional experience in the filmmaking industry with traditional academic study. Successful internships will expose students directly to professional camera work, editing, writing, producing, and/or sound recording and design, a well as allow students to develop potential career contacts and strengthen his or her resume (3 hrs.). Internships require 120 work-experience hours to be completed and verified. May be repeated for credit. Minimum GPA 2.5. Prerequisite: FILM 3456.
3322 DIRECTED STUDY IN FILM PRODUCTION Students will engage in a filmmaking project or course of study of their own creation. Because there are no scheduled class meetings, students will work independently in consultation with a faculty supervisor. Enrollment requires the consent of the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite FILM 3456. May be repeated for credit.
3350 CINEMA HISTORY 1 A required course for majors in film. History of the motion picture in the silent and early sound era. The events are presented chronologically with screenings of representative films from each decade. The course is international in scope with attention paid to major contributions to cinema from several countries. Topics discussed include the origin of the movies, the acquisition of sound and color, the development of the studio system, as well as trends, movements, and influences. Lectures, readings, discussions and screenings. Prerequisite: FILM 1305.
3351 CINEMA HISTORY 2 A required course for majors in digital filmmaking film. History of the motion picture in the contemporary era. Relevant events of this period are presented chronologically with screenings of representative films from each decade. The course is international in scope with attention paid to major contributions to cinema from several countries. Topics discussed include changes in the national studio systems and the role of independent producers, as well as trends, movements, and influences. Lectures, readings, discussions, and screenings. Prerequisites: FILM 1305 and FILM 3350. [UD UCA Core: D]
3456 FILM PRODUCTION 2 A required course for majors in film. The course provides students with higher-level aspects of the film production process from both technical and narrative points of view. Specific skills learned include computer aided pre-production, exposure control, shot design, three-point lighting technique, audio recording, and professional level non-linear picture and sound editing. The focus throughout will be on the use of these skills in narrative story construction. Production. Prerequisites: FILM 2310 and 2466.
4V92 TOPICS IN FILM PRODUCTION (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours) An elective course for majors in film. Special topics in advanced issues of productions, including but not limited to pre-production, cinematography, directing, and editing. Production. May be repeated for up to nine hours of credit with a change of topic. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4305 PRODUCTION DESIGN An elective course for film majors and minors. The course introduces students to production design and art direction for film production. Topics include understanding basic visual components, the design process, visualization techniques, implementation of scenery and costumes, and the profession of designer. Students are introduced to the impact scenery, light, costumes, and props have in a completely designed production. Lecture. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4311 CINEMATOGRAPHY An elective course for film majors and minors. This course expands students’ understanding of visual storytelling through cinematography. Topics include creative approaches to composition, lighting techniques, digital cinema workflows, and color grading. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4312 CINEMATIC LIGHTING An elective course for Film majors and minors. This course is a practical guide to approaching the creative and technical problems of cinematic lighting. Students will learn how to properly and safely light and support films sets. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4315 FILM THEORY A required course for majors in film. A survey of the literature and films associated with the classical era of film theory (1916-1958) as well as developments from the mid-twentieth century to the present. Topics include formal, semiotic, psychoanalytic, cognitive, Marxist, and identity focused approaches to film theory. Lectures, readings, discussions, and screenings. Prerequisite: FILM 1305 and FILM 3350 or 3351; a student may enroll in FILM 3351 and 4315 simultaneously. [UD UCA Core: I, R]
4320 FILM EDITING This is a project-oriented elective course in non-linear film editing, with an emphasis on classical, continuity editing as a storytelling device. Topics include history, aesthetics, techniques, and technical aspects of editing. Lecture. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4340 DIRECTING THE MOTION PICTURE This course covers basic aspects of directing, including working with actors, blocking and staging, shot creation and composition, visual design, and communicating with a production crew. Lecture/Workshop. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4354 ANIMATION FOR VISUAL EFFECTS An elective course for film majors and minors. This course introduces the student to the art and science of 3D computer animation for pre-rendered and real-time applications. Topics covered include an introduction to planning, modeling, surfacing, lighting, animation, physical simulation, rendering, and compositing 3D renderings for use in film visual effects. Lecture. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4355 VISUAL EFFECTS COMPOSITING An elective course for Digital Filmmaking film majors and minors. This course introduces the student to the art and science of visual effects compositing for film. Topics covered include the visual effects workflow, video and imaging technology, image processing, matte creation, tracking, re-timing, 2D animation, and 2.5D virtual scenery. Lecture. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4356 FILM PRODUCTION 3 A required course for majors in film. The course provides students with advanced instruction in narrative construction, production pre-visualization, production planning, and production management. Primarily through project participation and execution, students will learn the procedures and skills necessary to collaborate on the planning and management of a film production. Prerequisite: FILM 3456. [UD UCA Core: C]
4357 FILM PRODUCTION 4 A required course for majors in film. The course provides students with advanced instruction in film production, editing, sound design, color correction, marketing and promotion, and film financing. Primarily through project participation and execution, students will learn the procedures and skills necessary to collaborate on the filming, post-production, and marketing of a film production. Prerequisite: FILM 4356. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4363 AUDIO PRODUCTION AND DESIGN FOR FILM An elective course for film majors and minors. This is a course using audio to support film production and storytelling. Students will study and implement the elements of sound design to create full soundtracks for film projects. Students will also learn to record and mix production audio using different types of microphones and recording equipment. Lectures, discussion, practical exercises. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4373 DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION An elective course for film majors and minors. An advanced production class on documentary films and documentary filmmaking. Students will be exposed to a variety of documentary films encompassing different subjects and styles and will learn the production process used in the planning, execution, and construction of short format documentary. Lecture/Production. Prerequisite: FILM 2466.
4375 EXPERIMENTAL FILM PRODUCTION This is an elective course in film production, focusing on the creation of non-narrative works, including music videos, essay films, experimental documentaries, fashion films, and works of video art and installation. Students will complete multiple short films over the course of the semester, applying techniques from the history of experimental filmmaking. Lectures will explore significant milestones in avant-garde cinema, from abstract animations of the early 20th century to contemporary interactive gallery installations.
4380 SEMINAR IN FILM STUDIES An elective course for film majors. Various topics related to the theoretical, historical, and cultural understanding of cinema and other forms of moving images. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: FILM 1305 and consent of the instructor.