Cinema
College of Creative Arts
Dean: Keith Morrison
Department of Cinema
A & I Addition 245
415-338-1629
Chair: Jan Millsapps (Acting)
Undergraduate Advisers: Amlin, Goldner, Kasdan, Clark
Undergraduate Office: 415-338-2179
Graduate Coordinators: Ferrero, Holmes, Lewis, Nichols
Graduate Office: 415-338-1700
Faculty
Professors—Bell, Clark, Ferrero, Goldner, Kasdan, Kitses, Kovacs, Levaco, Lewis, R.,
Nichols
Associate Professors—Amlin, Holmes, Trinh
Assistant Professor—Millsapps
Lecturers—Boyle, Cherin, Goodeve, Hess, Laderman, Omori, Simmon, Rickman
Programs
B.A. in Cinema
Minor in Cinema
M.A. in Cinema Studies
M.F.A. in Cinema
Program Scope
The Cinema Department is committed to both theory and practice. Students are encouraged to engage in scholarship and to pursue production in all forms of cinematic expression.
The goal of undergraduate instruction in the Cinema Department is to foster creative, critical, and independent endeavor as part of a liberal arts education.
The B.A. in Cinema offers course work in five emphases: (1) cinema studies; (2) animation; (3) writing/directing; (4) cinema projects; or (5) an individualized emphasis for students interested in combining courses from more than one area within the program. All emphases lead to the Bachelor of Arts in Cinema. The department offers the non-major a
range of introductory courses in both production and cinema studies. A Minor in Cinema is also possible.
The M.A. in Cinema Studies is intended for individuals who wish to pursue research and writing in selected areas of film scholarship. The M.A. provides a foundation in film history, theory, and criticism and prepares the student for further study at the Ph.D. level. A thesis project allows for focused research on a specific topic.
The M.F.A. in Cinema aims to: (1) provide students with rigorous, professional training in cinema production in conjunction with an understanding of cinema history, theory, and aesthetics; (2) inform students about current and emerging production practices, aesthetics, and technologies so that they can become leaders and innovators in
creating the cinema of the future; (3) prepare filmmakers who wish to teach cinema production at the college or university level.
The M.F.A. program emphasizes a knowledge of cinematic tradition, the development of original creative vision, and proficiency in technical crafts. It integrates new processes, aesthetics, and technologies and encourages the development of new modes of expression. Course work emphasizes cinema production, with possible specialization in
animation. Parallel course work in theory and aesthetics is included in years one and two.
Facilities
The Cinema Department is housed in one of the most comprehensive and modern production facilities in Northern California. The state-of-the-art facility includes a 150-seat theatre, shooting stage, editing and post-production rooms for both sprocket and electronic media, sound recording and mixing studios, a media study area, and an animation studio.
Career Outlook
Cinema graduates often work as independent film producers or in varying capacities within the film industry—as producers, directors, cinematographers, editors, sound recordists and mixers, animators, and multimedia artists. Many B.A. graduates continue with advanced studies in either production or theory/criticism. In particular, the M.A. prepares graduates to work in areas of applied film scholarship or to pursue doctoral study in cinema. The M.F.A. degree prepares graduates to work as independent producers, to assume creative professional roles within the film industry, or to teach at the college or university level.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CINEMA
Admission to the Program
No special permission or application is required to declare a major in cinema; however, students should consult with an undergraduate adviser before or immediately after entering the program.
Description of the Program
All undergraduate majors are required to complete at least 45 upper division units in Cinema, including a core of foundation courses in history, theory, and screenwriting. In addition, each emphasis carries its own specific course requirements. Elective units may be drawn from upper division courses offered in Cinema and, by advisement, in related
disciplines.
While access to all classes depends on available space, admission to certain courses within the major requires the satisfactory completion of specific prerequisites. In addition, enrollment in certain advanced production courses is limited by available resources and requires submission of portfolio materials.
Up to seven elective units taken as CR/NC (credit/no credit) may count toward the cinema major. Only one CR/NC unit of a CINE 325 course may count toward the major. Up to six transfer units from two-year institutions or lower division work from other four-year institutions may count toward the cinema major. These courses must be equivalent to
Screenwriting I (355) or Film Production I (310). Lower division courses, CINE 101 and 102, are approved for general education purposes, but will not count toward the major.
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Cinema discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).
All majors must complete the following fourteen units:
Core Courses
Units
CINE 300 Film History I and 3
CINE 303 Film History Seminar 1
CINE 302 Film History II and 3
CINE 303 Film History Seminar 1
CINE 354 Short Format Writing or
CINE 355 Screenwriting I 3
CINE 472 Film Theory 3
Total for core 14
Cinema Studies Emphasis
An emphasis in cinema studies is designed to educate students in film as a medium of art
and communication. Cinema studies courses provide instruction in the history, theories,
and criticism which make up the field of cinema.
Students interested in the cinema studies emphasis should consult with an
undergraduate adviser in order to choose appropriate courses.
Required Courses
Units
Core Courses (listed above) 14
CINE 308 Third World Film or
CINE 401 National Cinema 3
CINE 340 Critical Studies 3
CINE 342 Documentary Film 3
CINE 344 Film Genre or
CINE 408 Film Authors 3
CINE 402 Avant Garde Film 3
CINE 500 Film and Society or
CINE 505 Women and Film 3
Units from approved Cinema electives selected on
advisement 13
Total for emphasis 45
Animation Emphasis
An emphasis in animation provides students with a foundation in the processes involved in developing animated films from initial planning through shooting and post-production. Students work in a variety of techniques, including cel, model, computer, and effects
animation.
NOTE: Enrollment in all animation courses requires consent of instructor. Admission to CINE 360 is limited and requires submission of portfolio materials for review and selection. Contact the animation coordinator for further information about enrolling in these
courses.
Required Courses
Units
Core courses (listed above) 14
CINE 360 Animation I 3
CINE 362 Animation II 3
CINE 365 History of Animation or
CINE 465 Contemporary Animation 3
CINE 366 Animation III 3
CINE 368 Advanced Animation Workshop 3
Units from Cinema electives on advisement 16
Total for emphasis 45
Writing/Directing Emphasis
An emphasis in writing/directing provides students with instruction and practice in screenwriting, working with talent and crews, composing and blocking for the camera, and other processes involved in the production of dramatic films.
Enrollment in advanced writing/directing courses (512/514/516) is limited and requires submission of portfolio materials for review and selection. Contact an undergraduate adviser for further information about enrolling in these courses.
Required Courses
Units
Core courses (listed above) 14
CINE 310 Film Production 3
CINE 316 Film Production Laboratory 1
CINE 455 Screenwriting II 3
CINE 510 Directing I 3
CINE 512 Writing/Directing Workshop I 3
CINE 516 Writing/Directing Workshop Laboratory 1
CINE 514 Writing/Directing Workshop II 3
CINE 516 Writing/Directing Workshop Laboratory 1
Units from Cinema electives on advisement 13
Total units for major 45
Cinema Projects Emphasis
An emphasis in cinema projects provides students with instruction and practice in a variety of filmmaking processes. Course work emphasizes hands-on experience in film production. Students undertake exercises and projects which explore problems of conceptualization and craft, and produce a short 16mm film during their senior year.
Enrollment in advanced cinema production courses (412/414/416) is limited and requires submission of portfolio materials for review and selection. Contact an undergraduate adviser for further information about enrolling in these courses.
Required Courses
Units
Core courses (listed above) 14
CINE 310 Film Production 3
CINE 316 Film Production Laboratory 1
CINE 412 Advanced Production I 3
CINE 416 Advanced Production I Laboratory 1
CINE 414 Advanced Production II 3
CINE 416 Advanced Production II Laboratory 1
Units from Cinema electives on advisement 19
Total units for major 45
Individualized Emphasis in Cinema
The individualized emphasis is designed for students who wish to propose a particular set of courses from various areas within the department (such as studies and production) in order to develop a specialized understanding of cinema. Required courses are the 14-unit core plus one production course. An additional 28 elective units from approved
cinema electives should be chosen in consultation with an undergraduate adviser.
MINOR IN CINEMA
This program does not lead to a credential or degree, but is intended to give students an opportunity to further their interests in cinema in an organized manner. A minimum of twenty (20) units, planned and approved by an undergraduate adviser, is required.
MASTER OF ARTS IN CINEMA STUDIES
Admission to the Program
The Cinema Department accepts a small number of new M.A. students for the fall semester only.
Application for admission requires two distinct processes: (1) application to the admissions office of the university as specified in this Bulletin, and (2) submission of application materials specifically requested by the Department of Cinema. All applicants
must have a GPA of 3.0 or better in the last two years of their undergraduate studies. Applicants with degrees in areas other than film who show exceptional potential will be considered for admission to the program.
The admission materials specifically requested by the Department of Cinema include:
- A resume (1-2 pages) summarizing the applicant's education, awards or recognition, work experience, travel, languages, and special skills.
- A personal statement (2 page maximum). The applicant should discuss an aspect of film study work already completed and should address the following: What engaged you about it? What conclusions did you reach? In what ways might you further pursue this work? (If a non-film major, applicant should describe an aspect of work done in major area.)
- An example of academic writing (7-12 pages) which illustrates the applicant's ability to make and support a thesis as well as familiarity with scholarly form and expository style. Papers from the film discipline are most useful, but other academic work is acceptable.
- A thesis proposal (2 page maximum). Applicant should describe the general area or, if possible, the specific topic on which s/he would like to write the thesis, and should address the following: What is the issue? What will your perspective be? What importance does this topic have for you?
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's scholarship and potential for success in a graduate program.
All prospective M.A. students may contact the Cinema Department graduate
committee for specific information about the department's application process. Write: Graduate Committee, Department of Cinema, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One: first level proficiency is assessed by means of the written work completed in CINE 721. Level Two: second level proficiency is assessed by means of the thesis proposal normally prepared in CINE 897.
Advancement to Candidacy
Prior to admission, M.A. candidates must have successfully completed three undergraduate film studies courses beyond the introductory level, including one course in film theory (stressing a critical approach or methodology). Deficiences will be identified on admission to the program and should be completed as soon as possible. All deficiencies must be satisfied prior to advancement to candidacy.
Required Courses for M.A. in Cinema Studies
All students must complete at least 30 units, including the following courses. Upper division courses not used to satisfy graduate deficiencies are acceptable as electives on approval by a graduate adviser.
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Cinema discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).
Core Requirements
Units
CINE 700 Introduction to Graduate Study 3
CINE 721 Cinema Aesthetics and Theory I 3
CINE 722 Cinema Aesthetics and Theory II 3
CINE 740 Seminar in Film Theory 3
CINE 745 Seminar in Film History and Criticism 3
CINE 897 Research Projects in Cinema Studies 3
CINE 898 Master's Thesis 3
Elective units selected on advisement 9
Minimum total 30
Enrollment in an upper division or graduate-level Cinema course is required in the semester of graduation. Registration may be in a regular university course, Summer Sessions, or Extended Learning's Open University.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN CINEMA
The 60-unit M.F.A. program is divided into three distinct parts which can be completed in three years, plus time required for completion of a thesis production. During the first year, students build a foundation through the study of technical crafts, aesthetics and theory, and creative conceptualization, enabling them to develop and express themselves in the language of images and sounds. In the second year, the foundation established during the first year is challenged through exploration of different modes of expression, aesthetics, and technologies. Each student conducts research and produces work that
requires original thinking, which the student can apply to other problems, technologies, and ways of seeing. In the third part of the program, students complete an internship and produce a creative work project that is a culmination of previous work and a reflection of the development of the student's creative voice. M.F.A. students are also
expected to gain teaching experience by assisting in production or cinema studies courses in the department.
Admission to the Program
The Cinema Department accepts new M.F.A. students for the fall term only. Application for admission requires two distinct processes: (1) application to the admission office of the university as specified in this Bulletin, and (2) submission of application materials
specifically requested by the Department of Cinema. All applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of their undergraduate studies. Applicants with degrees in areas other than film who show exceptional potiential will be considered for admission to the program.
The admission materials specifically requested by the Department of Cinema include:
- A resume (1-2 pages) summarizing the applicant's education, awards or recognition, work experience, travel, languages, and special skills.
- A personal statement (4-page maximum). The applicant should discuss his/her aspirations, influences, aesthetics, and goals as a filmmaker, and should include comments on: the areas of film s/he would like to concentrate on, how theory informs his/her practice as a filmmaker, and the goals s/he intends to pursue upon completion of the M.F.A.
- An example of creative work, such as films, videos, photographs, prints, paintings, or slides. Applicants with no experience in the visual arts may send other evidence of creative achievement such as scripts, novels, plays, short stories, poems, or musical compositions. Applicants are encouraged to send a range of materials. For example, an applicant who has produced a video tape may also include other creative work such as photographs or poetry.
- An example of academic writing (7-12 pages) which illustrates the applicant's ability to make and support a thesis as well as familiarity with scholarly form and expository style. Papers from the film discipline are most useful, but other academic work is acceptable.
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's creativity and intelligence as well as to the quality of past work and potential of future achievements.
All prospective M.F.A. students must contact the Cinema Department graduate committee for specific information about the department's application process. For further information about the M.F.A., departmental procedures and activities, production costs, and other advising matters, write: Graduate Committee, Department of Cinema,
San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco CA 94132.
Completion of the Degree
To complete the degree, each student must satisfy the university and Cinema Department requirements stated in this Bulletin. In addition to successful completion of the course of study, each student must meet departmental requirements that include a progress review at the end of the first year, a formal presentation of second year research, and a documented public screening of the student's creative thesis project.
Under certain circumstances up to 24 units of graduate credit from a M.A. program in film production may be applied toward the M.F.A. Before any such request is considered, all admission requirements must be met and all previous course work must be reviewed and approved by the Cinema Department graduate committee and the dean of the Graduate Division.
Enrollment in an upper division or graduate-level Cinema course is required in the semester of graduation. Registration may be in a regular university course, Summer Sessions, or Extended Learning's Open University.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One: assessed by means of the written work completed in CINE 721. Level Two: assessed by means of the thesis proposal normally prepared in CINE 770.
Advancement to Candidacy
Applicants must meet all general university requirements for advancement to candidacy. Prior to advancement, all candidates must have completed two courses in cinema studies beyond the introductory level. One of these courses must be in film theory, stressing critical approach or methodology.
Required Courses
All M.F.A. students must complete 48 units of required classes and 12 units of electives. First and second year courses must be taken in sequence.
Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Cinema discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).
First Year
Units
CINE 701 Creative Process I 3
CINE 702 Creative Process II 3
CINE 710 Production Practice I 6
CINE 712 Production Practice II 6
CINE 721 Cinema Aesthetics and Theory I 3
CINE 722 Cinema Aesthetics and Theory II 3
Total 24
Second Year
CINE 724 Cinema Theory I 3
CINE 726 Cinema Theory II 3
CINE 760 Cinema Laboratory I 3
CINE 762 Cinema Laboratory II 3
Total 12
Internship and Thesis:
CINE 765 Internship 3
CINE 770 Seminar in Film Production Research 3
CINE 780 Graduate Film Production II 3
CINE 894 Creative Work Project 3
Total 12
Elective units selected upon consultation with a
graduate adviser from upper division skill/craft
courses, animation courses, graduate film studies
seminars, and approved courses from related
disciplines. 12
Total for degree 60