SEMESTER ONE OBJECTIVES

Learning Goals:

Production Goals:

SEMESTER TWO OBJECTIVES

Learning Goals:

Production Goals:

First and foremost, a filmmaker is a storyteller. Film directors are confronted with a number of visual, dramatic, and technical challenges. During the first two months of Year One, students begin to work through these challenges. Students are encouraged and empowered by instructors to artfully tell their stories.

From the first day of class, students are immersed in a hands-on education. They rapidly learn the fundamental creative and technical skills they need to make a film. All students participate in an intensive sequence of classes in Film Directing, Screenwriting, 16mm Camera Technique, Lighting, Digital Editing, Directing Actors and Production Workshop.

Students extend and deepen their in-class learning by producing their own short 16mm films. Working in crews of three or four, each student writes, produces, directs and edits four

films, the fourth being up to 10 minutes in length. In addition, each student fulfills the essential roles of Director of Photography, Assistant Camera Operator, and Gaffer (Lighting Technician) on the films of the members of his/her crew. Thus, each student has the extensive hands-on experience of working on sixteen short films in the first two months.

During the third month, students receive intensive instruction and hands-on experience in digital video and digital editing. Each student directs a series of digital projects (two exercises and one short film, all shot on DV 24P cameras). Following this production period, students’ time will be devoted to Screenwriting, Directing Actors and Applied Film Studies. The combination of these classes will prepare students for the second semester and production of Year One Final Films.

The second semester of Year One challenges students to develop their film craft artistically and technically, and to progress beyond their earlier experiments with the medium. It is designed to enable students to create a fully conceived Year One Final Film, a short film of up to 15 minutes in length. This film may be shot on 16mm film, 35mm film, High Definition video or on 24p digital video, depending on each student’s personal aspirations, creative decisions, and budget. Each student comes to the second semester with a script for his/her thesis film project, as written in the Screenwriting portion of the first semester. These projects are the primary focus of the second semester. They are used in many of the classes as a basis for learning. The Semester is divided into three distinct phases. The first is devoted to intensive hands-on instruction, demonstration, group sync-sound directing exercises (using students’ thesis scripts), individual consultations, and pre-production (including casting, rehearsal, and location scouting).  The second phase of the semester is the production period during which each student directs his/her

own film, and crews on his/her classmates’ films. The third part of the semester is devoted to post-production. During this phase students edit digitally, receive instruction and critique, screen rough-cuts of the films, receive feedback, and finish their films for a final screening of all Year One Final Films. The Year One Final Film will be presented in a movie theater for an invited audience. Students are responsible for inviting all guests. This public screening is not part of the formal evaluation process.

The instruction period consists of a sequence of classes in advanced directing, directing actors, hands-on camera, cinematography, sync-sound recording, producing, director’s practicum, sync-sound editing, and sound design. All instruction and film exercises are geared towards helping students complete their individual projects. The scripts students wrote during the end of the first semester will be used in many of the classes for learning purposes and to improve the scripts.

All Year Two master students must complete a series of highly specialized classes, participate in multiple film productions, deliver a thesis film of their own creation, and complete all graduation requirements in order to

successfully complete the program and graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking. Thesis Option B students will require a mandatory paid fifth semester of study.

YEAR TWO OBJECTIVES

Learning Objectives:

After Year One, MFA in Filmmaking students will engage in a series of advanced lectures, seminars, and hands-on workshops. Classes will consist of:

Production Objectives:

At the beginning of Semester Three, master students must form a thesis committee and determine which Thesis Option they will pursue over the course of Year Two (and Semester 5 for Thesis Option B). Students must meet regularly (at least once per week) with thesis committee members in order to ensure compliance with New York Film Academy standards, and to seek assistance in the realization of their respective creative visions. In this semester, students will also begin developing feature length film scripts that will either be polished and pre-produced (by

students who follow Thesis Option A and Thesis Option C) or produced, directed, and edited (by students who choose to pursue Thesis Option B). Semester Three classes are infused with an emphasis on perfecting craft, exposing students to emerging media and technology, and exposing them to the realities of the film industry and the business of filmmaking. The focus of the semester is on “professionalism”. It is designed to prepare MFA students for their thesis projects as well as for a life in the industry after graduation.

In Semester Four, master students devote the majority of their time to their thesis requirements. Faculty meets one-on-one with students in an extensive series of advisements to assist them and coach them through the

successful completion of thesis requirements. Thesis Option C master students will have to remain involved during an additional (fifth) semester, tuition free, in order to complete full-length feature film direction thesis project.

Thesis Option B master students will direct and edit their feature length thesis films in a fifth semester held at the end of Year Two. This semester is reserved entirely for Production and Post Production of these projects, and extensive consultations with faculty and the thesis committee in order to ensure the timely and creatively sound delivery of each film. Thesis Option B master students will be required to pay for a fifth semester.

At the end of Year Two, Semester Four (for master students who chose to direct short form thesis films), and at the end of Semester Five (for students who chose to direct feature length thesis films), a final celebratory screening will be held. The thesis films will be projected in large format in an open screening for friends, family and invited guests. Students are responsible for inviting all guests. This public screening is a learning experience in itself, but is not part of the formal evaluation process.

The Graduation Committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the full body of work of each candidate prior to the awarding of the Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking. The Graduation Committee is appointed by the Director of Education and consists of the New York Film Academy Registrar, the Thesis Committee Chairperson, and several instructors specializing in a diverse range of fields of study applicable to filmmaking. That committee ensures that each candidate has been

adequately prepared for graduation, the standards of the Academy have been upheld, and that the awarding of a degree is warranted. The Registrar ensures that the student has fulfilled all financial obligations to the school and academic requirements for the entire program. Student transcripts showing the awarding of the MFA degree will be withheld until the graduate meets all financial obligations.

In order to graduate, students must successfully complete every course of study with a “Satisfactory” grade or better. Students must also adhere to the Academy’s Attendance Policy and Code of Conduct. Additionally, students must successfully complete and submit all thesis requirements in a timely manner and receive a “Satisfactory” grade or higher for the thesis production requirement.

Satisfactory completion of 80 Semester Credits is required for graduation from the New York Film Academy Master of Fine Art in Filmmaking Degree Program.  A paid fifth semester is required to successfully complete 80 Semester credits for Thesis Option B. All 80 Semester credits must be undertaken at the New York Film Academy as scheduled.

These units satisfy semester contact hour requirements. As this is a post baccalaureate degree program, no general education units are required. Candidates for admission to the MFA program must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a post-secondary institution recognized by the United States Department of Education. Candidates who possess a Bachelor’s Degree

from a New York or California State approved school will also be considered for admission. No particular major or minor is required as a prerequisite for admission, but applicants with a strong background in storytelling, and/or the visual arts are preferred. The New York Film Academy Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Filmmaking is an accelerated, four or five semester conservatory-based, full-time study graduate program. With the exception of the choice of 1 elective and the thesis requirement, the MFA in Filmmaking does not provide for multiple tracks of study. All classes are mandatory. This is a highly specialized program, and there are no majors or minors. The MFA is a full-time study program only. Classes are Lecture, Seminar, and/or Studio based. As is customary in visual arts studies, Lab and Practicum instructional hours are treated as studio hours. The degree may not be obtained in less than four semesters for Thesis Option A and C, or less than five semesters for Thesis Option B. Students who elect to direct feature length films are required to register for a paid fifth semester of study in order to complete their thesis requirements.