First-Year Studies: Finding Yourself In Film: An Introduction to Filmmaking

Students will be immersed in all aspects of the many facets of film production, from screenwriting, directing, shooting, and editing through exhibition. The first semester will focus primarily on the art and craft of screenwriting, where students will learn to think and write like a filmmaker. Students will emerge with a screenplay that they will then produce and direct during the second semester. In addition to written assignments to develop the student’s creative voice, video assignments in the fall will familiarize students with the equipment, techniques, and protocol of filmmaking. Film aesthetics and directing strategies will be explored, using award-winning shorts and feature film clips as examples. Students will form film crews from within the class and will learn the various roles on a film set. Basic production-management skills will be taught, which students will then apply to the making of their own short films.