The centerpiece of the curriculum is the Graduate Filmmaking Studio which students take each of the four semesters in the program. The objective is to develop and execute an ambitious thesis film which is festival ready at the end of the two years.
Your thesis film will be your most important asset upon leaving the program. You will be mentored in all aspects of filmmaking so that your film is ready to submit to film festivals. Your film is how you will get a job or gain financing. It will demonstrate what you are capable of. Thesis films are developed through-out the four semesters in the Graduate Filmmaking Studio. Core aspects of the filmmaking process will be covered through workshops and one-on-one mentoring.
This hands-on studio is where good, smart and cool movies are born. Students work in groups, particularly during the first semester. While writing and editing are often solitary activities, production is not. Great films are collaborations and students will be expected to work in teams. Group discussions and critiques are balanced with individual meetings with faculty and visits with guest filmmakers. Class meetings will often include a screening in conjunction with the MD Film Festival. Special emphasis will be placed on ways that filmmakers can build and reach an audience. Students will explore the diverse ways filmmakers are sustaining careers while creating high impact films. Second year students produce a thesis film. Students define their thesis work at the close of the first year.
Graduate Filmmaking Studio I
6 credits
Each of these sessions are part of the Graduate Filmmaking Studio.
Creative Practice
Tuesday 4pm-5:30pm
There is no formula that will make you a creative person, but everyone is inherently creative. Different methods of creative processes will be explored.
Production Basics I
Tuesday 6pm-10pm
Principles of screenwriting is covered. Students write a short screenplay and shot a test scene. Topics include; inciting incident, climax, resolution, major dramatic question, three act structure, and character driven.
Short Screenplay Workshop
Wednesday 10am-2pm
Principles of screenwriting is covered. Students write a short screenplay and shot a test scene. Topics include; inciting incident, climax, resolution, major dramatic question, three act structure, and character driven.
All 1st year students are required to work 40 hours on 2nd year thesis films. Thesis films are in production until Oct 31st.
Graduate Studio II
6 credits.
Preproduction Workshop
Tuesday 4pm-5:30pm
Led by a program alum, topics include; budget writing, legal issues, contracts, copyright, fundraising, crowd funding, look books, loglines, synopsis, casting, locations, art direction, and SAG.
Production Basics II
Tuesday 6pm-10pm
Advanced production techniques. Final project is a test scene for student’s thesis project.
Script or Treatment Workshop
Wednesday 10am-2pm
For students working in fiction, they will have a fully developed script by semester’s end. Those working in nonfiction will have a realized treatment and have begun production. All projects will be assessed by the MFA Filmmaking Directors to determine whether they are ready for production.
Summer
Students will continue intensive preproduction work throughout the summer. Fiction films will be cast, locations secured, props & costumes obtained, production schedule finalized and full crew confirmed. All of these aspects must be completed before the start of the semester at the end of August. If warranted, production is recommended to commence in the summer. Students will have periodic meetings with an alum production supervisor to ensure an optimal production schedule is maintained.
Graduate Filmmaking Studio III
9 Credits
Tuesday 10am-2pm
- Focus on Production, Arriving at a Rough-Cut, and Para-text.
- Workshops in Avid (?) and Premiere Pro to support the editing of the thesis film.
- Selects-cut due by October 20th (or approximate date per calendar year)
- Assembly-cut due November 1st for screening with local filmmakers, professionals, and Filmmakers in Residence in attendance (or approximate date per calendar year)
- Rough-cut due November 20th for screening with First Year Cohort, local Filmmakers, and Filmmakers in Residence in attendance (or approximate date per calendar year)
Graduate Filmmaking Studio IV
9 Credits
Tuesday 10am-2pm
- Focus on Post-Production and Branding
- Fine Cut due by February 5th (or approximate date per calendar year)
- Locked Cuts due by February 20th (or approximate date per calendar year)
- Film Branding Deliverables and Para-text due for Pitch Lab by March 15th (or approximate date per calendar year)
- ProRes file due to Parkway Theater for DCP conversion by March 25th (or approximate date per calendar year)
- Commencement Screening, Family Screening, Final Deliverables to MFA Filmmaking and Decker Library to follow.
