Film Video Production, page 3
School of Cinema-Television

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts degree with a Film/Video Production track requires a minimum of 40 units in cinema-television at the 400 or 500 level. A thesis is not required for the M.F.A. degree; however, course work involves participation in major film/video productions.

Graduate Preparation Production Courses

In addition to the 40 units, students are required to take 12 units of prerequisite courses (CNTV 507x Production I and CNTV 508x Production II) in their first year. These courses provide intensive preparation considered necessary for graduate education in production.

CNTV 507x Production I is designed to introduce the fundamental principles of motion picture production. The course provides instruction, projects and readings in directing, cinematography, editing, sound design and production management. Each student makes five 8mm non-dialogue films using his or her own equipment. Students must provide their own Super 8 camera, tripod, projector, viewer and splicer and approximately $500 for film and processing. A tape recorded is highly recommended. CNTV 507x is taken concurrently with 501 and 528 in the first semester.

In CNTV 508x Production II, students working in crews of two produce two non-dialogue 16mm film projects whose primary goal is to communicate effectively through sound/image relationships. Each student directs and prepares the soundtrack for the project he or she has written and is cinematographer and editor for his or her partner's project. It is mandatory for students to form their own partnerships. Most equipment and materials are provided by the school, but there are other expenses associated with the projects made in CNTV 508x. Approximately $1,000 should be budgeted by the student for the purchase of personal equipment, supplies, transportation, props, and so on. CNTV 508x is taken concurrently with 502 and 529 in the second semester.

Students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in 507x and 508x in order to continue in the Master of Fine Arts program. Students who earn lower than a C (2.0) in any required CNTV course may retake the course once with the approval of the departmental committee. CNTV 507x and 508x are preparatory courses and will not count toward the total 40 units required for the degree.

Students who do not satisfy the degree requirements after repeating a CNTV course will be disqualified from the program.

Three-Year Requirements for the M.F.A. in Production

Year One, First SemesterUnits
CNTV 501History of the International Cinema: Silent Film2
CNTV 507xProduction I6
CNTV 528Screenwriting Fundamentals2

Year One, Second SemesterUnits
CNTV 502History of the International Cinema: Sound Film2
CNTV 508xProduction II6
CNTV 529Intermediate Screenwriting2

Year Two, First and Second SemestersUnits
CNTV 506Visual Expression2
CNTV 546LProduction III (non-directing capacity)6

Eight units from the following:
CNTV 484Advanced Multi-Camera Television Workshop2 or 4
CNTV 531Planning the Produc-tion (prerequisite to develop a CNTV 546L project)2
CNTV 532Intermediate Directing (prerequisite to qualify to direct a 546L project)2
CNTV 533abWriting the Feature Script4-2
CNTV 534Intermediate Production Design 2
CNTV 535Intermediate Editing 2
CNTV 537Intermediate Cinematography2
CNTV 538Intermediate Producing 2
CNTV 539Intermediate Graphics 2
CNTV 540Intermediate Sound 2
CNTV 542Intermediate Electronic Imaging2
CNTV 543Intermediate Computer Animation2
CNTV 551Planning the Advanced Production (prerequisite for CNTV 586L and 581)2
CNTV 552Advanced Directing2
CNTV 553Advanced Screenwriting4
CNTV 554Advanced Sound2
CNTV 555Advanced Production Design2
CNTV 556Advanced Editing2
CNTV 557Advanced Cinematography2
CNTV 558Advanced Producing2
CNTV 559Advanced Graphics2
CNTV 563Advanced Computer Animation2
CNTV 568Advanced Electronic Imaging2
CNTV 572Practicum in Directing Actors for Film2-4
CNTV 574Advanced Seminar in Directing Actors for Film2

Year Three, First and Second SemestersUnits
CNTV 546LProduction III (director or different crew position), or6
CNTV 553*Advanced Screenwriting, or 4
CNTV 581Individual Production Workshop, or6
CNTV 586LProduction IV6
CNTV electives

Four units from the following critical studies courses:
CNTV 464Film Genres4
CNTV 469Film Style Analysis4
CNTV 510Case Studies in National Media4
CNTV 511Seminar: Non-Fiction Film/Video4
CNTV 518Seminar: Avant-garde Film/Video4
CNTV 564Seminar in Film Genres4
CNTV 567Seminar in Film and a Related Art4
CNTV 569Seminar in Film Style Analysis4

*CNTV 553 Advanced Screenwriting (4 units) can be taken in lieu of CNTV 586L or 581 (6 units). However, students choosing this option must make up the additional two units from CNTV elective courses.

CNTV electives

A minimum of six units of CNTV electives (eight units if CNTV 553 is selected) at the 400 and 500 level is required.

Grade Point Average Requirements

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in all USC course work toward the master's degree (not including CNTV 507x and CNTV 508x). Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.

Time Limit

Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master's degree at all times. The time limit for completing all requirements is three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is invalidated and will not be applied toward the degree.

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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu