OVERVIEW:

The tutorial program in Film combines a broad background in the liberal arts with professional study in film offered by faculty of the internationally recognized graduate program in the School of Film. This is a four-year program of study for exceptional students culminating in a thesis leading to the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts. This program is vigorous and comprehensive and is designed for highly motivated individuals who prefer a more independent, individualized program of study. Students should have a potential for self-motivated undergraduate study within the environment of a graduate film school. Curriculum goals must include breadth of experience, depth in the selected area of concentration, and superior achievement demonstrated by tutorials, coursework and the thesis. Two primary tutorial programs are available: film production and film studies.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

An applicant is expected to rank in the top ten percent of her/his high school class and to have a minimum ACT composite score of 30 or a combined SAT score of 1300. Additional admission requirements include:

 

TUTORIAL PROGRAM:

There are five elements to the tutorial program in Film:

Tutorials: Twelve individual tutorials on topics in Film Studies and Film Production are required. Possible tutorial topics in Film Production include all aspects of film and video pre-production and post-production; screenwriting; producing; directing; and special topics in film/video production. Possible tutorial topics in Film Studies include: film theory, criticism, history (including history of experimental, documentary and narrative film and video), historiography, film and society, research methods, and international cinemas. The thesis is also taken as a tutorial.

Liberal Arts education:The nature of the film medium requires a broad background in liberal arts and a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Students are expected to select 15-18 elective courses in film, history, English, telecommunications, comparative arts, foreign languages, and other disciplines.

Production and scholarship courses in film: breadth of understanding can often best be achieved through practical courses in film and video production and courses in film scholarship. Because film is a collaborative art, tutorial students will join with other students in appropriate courses. In the second year each student will select her/his area of specialization within one of two overall areas: (1) film studies or (2) film/video production.

Minor area of specialization: The student will plan a cognate minor consisting of four courses, or 16 credit hours, outside the School of Film. These courses will be chosen according to the individual plan developed by the students with the Director of Studies. Students wishing, for example, to enter careers in producing or arts administration should complete a cognate minor in management, accounting, or business.

Thesis: Each HTC film student is required to complete a thesis. This may take the form of a completed video, feature-length screenplay, or a major research thesis. The School of Film Committee (Director of Studies, Director of the School and two tutors) oversees the program. The Director of Studies assigns tutors in accordance with the student’s interests and, in consultation with the student, develops an individual plan of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film.

 

SAMPLE CURRICULUM:

Freshman Year

Fall Quarter
Freshman Honors Seminar: HC 250A or HC 250B
Freshman English Comp
Introduction to Film: 201
Tutorial
Film Symposium

Winter Quarter
Introduction to Film: 202
Tutorial
Film Symposium
Film Practicum: 790
Cognate
Elective

Spring Quarter
Introduction to Film: 203
Tutorial
Film Symposium
Cognate
Elective

Sophomore Year
In the second year the HTC student attends classes with the first year MFA students.

Fall Quarter
Production I: Film 511
Digital Editing: Film 581
Screenwriting I: Film 542
Tutorial
Film Symposium

Winter Quarter
Production II: Film 512
Directing: Film 575
Sound I: Film 525
Tutorial
Film Symposium

Spring Quarter
Production III: Film 513
Screenwriting II: Film 545
Digital Editing II: Film 582
Tutorial
Film Symposium

Junior Year

Fall Quarter
Film Studies I: Film 515
Tutorial
Junior Composition
Film Elective
Film Symposium

Winter Quarter
Art of Editing: Film 682
Tutorial
Film Symposium
Film Elective or Cognate

Spring Quarter
Theory and Criticism I: Film 451
Tutorial
Film Symposium
Film Elective

Senior Year
Thesis: Each student is required to complete a thesis in his/her fourth year. This may take the form of a completed film or video, a feature length screenplay, or completion of the MFA post-production or cinematography track. The HTC academic thesis paper must accompany the project.

Fall Quarter
Thesis Tutorial Hours
Film Electives
Cognate Classes

Winter Quarter
Thesis Tutorial Hours
Film Electives
Cognate Classes

Spring Quarter
Thesis Tutorial Hours
Film Electives
Cognate Classes

Film electives can be taken in the first, third and fourth years only.

Advanced Film Electives: Complete 20 credit hours from the following:

Independent Study: Film 492
Media Arts Management: Film 544
Documentary Production Seminar: Film 614
Cinematography I and II: Film 650, Film 651
Motion Picture Compositing: Film 680
Graphics INT/ADV (Integration/Advanced) Compositing: Film 681
Film History I: Film 431
Film History II: Film 432
Film History III: Film 433
Film Studies II: Film 516
Master Class: Film 770, Film 771, Film 772
Film Symposium: Film 501
Theory and Criticism II: Film 452
International Film Seminar: Film 633
Advanced Screenwriting: Film 643
Producing: Film 665
Film Topics Seminar I, II, III: Film 571, 572, 573EVALUATION

Papers and creative work developed as part of each tutorial are discussed and evaluated by the tutor. The Director of Studies also consults with tutors about the progress and the strengths and weaknesses of individual students so that subsequent tutorials can address problems and build on existing strengths. A description of each tutorial as well as an informal evaluation is filed by the tutor in the college office and School of Film office at the close of each quarter.

 

THESIS:

Tutorial students prepare and defend an original thesis during the fourth year. This may be either a written thesis or a studio thesis resulting in a film, video or screenplay. The topic and scope of the thesis is approved by the School of Film Committee no later than the end of Fall Quarter in the third year of the student’s program. The thesis should reflect the student’s interest in his or her chosen area of concentration.

 

APPLICATION:

The deadline to apply for admission is December 15. Please submit all artwork on labeled slides or videotape; the School cannot accept original artwork.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

For more information about this program, contact:

Professor Jeanette Buck
Director of Studies
School of Film
Ohio University
Lindley Hall 388
Athens, OH 45701-2979
(740) 593-1323
buckj@ohio.edu