Objectives

The School of Film and Television’s major in Film and Television Production is designed to enable students to express their ideas on the screen-whether that screen is in a theater, at home, or held in one’s hand. Beyond the existing television and theatrical feature landscape, new forms of media empower a single person to be both a worldwide broadcaster and a very selective receiver. Digital technologies have created new ways of working that transcend the traditional distinctions between film and television. The Film and Television Production major combines the best of both of these fields.

Students admitted to this rigorous major become quickly immersed in the art of storytelling for the screen. They encounter and study great works of world cinema, both past and present, and ponder the ramifications of the emerging media of the future. They receive expert hands-on training in writing the screenplay, directing actors, cinematography, sound recording and design, and editing. In the process, each student learns about the challenging relationship between art and technique, and how both serve each other. Students learn the practical aspects of mounting a production: budgeting, location scouting, casting, set design and construction, post production, and the importance of safety in all aspects of what they do. Complete premier state of the art equipment and technology are available 24/7-all in service of story. Through teamwork, students learn an appreciation for all of the artists who labor to serve the story, and the camaraderie that comes from working as part of a crew engaged in a large, collaborative creative enterprise.

Students also learn to find their individual voices, and express their own points of view, on projects driven by their own creative choices. Beginning with their work on a series of short and intermediate films, students forge the fundamental skills of visual storytelling. Each student’s experience culminates with a final project in which advanced students write, cast, direct and edit their own thesis films.

These projects may be entirely from the imagination, or they may document the real world. These finished works are produced and owned by the students, and many are distributed and celebrated far beyond the confines of our campus, through the exciting world of festivals, theatrical, television, and other channels of local, national, and international exhibition.

M.F.A. in Film and Television Production Requirements

M.F.A. in Film and Television Production Guidelines

• Proper sequencing of major requirements is indicated by prerequisites of individual courses and as noted in the outline below. Please consult assigned academic advisor.
• Prerequisite courses (PROD 500, 565, 566 and SCWR 501) must be completed with a grade of B or better. Failure to do so may lead to disqualification from the program.
• Prior to registration for the Thesis Project (PROD 650), the student must come before the Thesis Committee to advance to candidacy based upon the work completed towards this goal. Once advanced to candidacy, the student must take PROD 650 (with the instructor of record) and PROD 670 (with the instructor of record) until the project is completed and signed off by the Thesis Committee and the Dean in order to successfully complete the requirements for the M.F.A. degree. Only passing or failing grades will be assigned to work completed in PROD 650 and PROD 670. No “I” (Incomplete) or “IP” (In Progress) status will be assigned or accepted in lieu of a grade. If a failing grade of “D” or “F” should be assigned, the student is required to retake the course when offered or enroll in PROD 650 or PROD 670 as a tutorial.
• The Thesis Committee form adopted by the School must be obtained from the SFTV Graduate Office and signed by all committee members in order for the student to be advanced to candidacy.
• Students must screen a master copy of the Thesis Project for approval. Upon approval, the master copy must be submitted to the thesis committee to complete the requirements. All Thesis productions are required to have a full card at the end of the credits that reads: This production was done in partial fulfillment of degree requirements at LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY.

First Year

Second Year

Second or Third Year

Third Year