Mission
Mission
The Filmmaking (BA) at Woodbury University empowers students to hone their critical, creative, and professional talents by fostering learning in the history, industry, and practice of film production. Our aim is to cultivate a collaborative environment where students can develop their stories, express their ideas, and master new technologies that will help them succeed in a wide range of fields in the entertainment media industries.
Additional Learning Opportunities
It is the philosophy of the Filmmaking program that students be exposed to both historical and professional aspects of the discipline. Students will become acquainted with current filmmakers and film movements, and they will have the opportunity to experience international approaches to filmmaking during their education. Additionally, through networking with industry practitioners and membership in professional organizations, they are exposed to the operations of professional practice.
Internship/Field Experience
Prior to graduation, students must complete 120 hours of internship or work experience at such places as production or post-production facility, agency or management company, or marketing company. Woodbury’s Career Development Office offers a variety of programs, services, and resources to assist students in exploring careers and securing internships. The faculty works with students individually to develop successful internship search strategies and helps students connect with employers through internship postings, resume collections, on- and off-campus interview opportunities, alumni connections, and employer outreach.
Technology and Computer Requirements
All Filmmaking graduates should be literate in the current media of representation and communication, as demonstrated by the following:
- Proficiency in computer system operations, including communications, upgrades, and management.
- Proficiency in internet research through completion of LSCI 105: Information Theory and Practice, or appropriate equivalent. Bibliographic documentation of database use and citation of web-based sources is required of all Filmmaking students.
- Proficiency in word processing, document formatting, and file management for both print and digital distribution.
- Proficiency in computer-based programs for editing, screenwriting, sound design, budgeting, and pre-production planning.
Media literacy is embedded in the curriculum at all levels, and Filmmaking students are expected to demonstrate these proficiencies through successful completion of their coursework.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
- Film & Media Production
- Recognize and execute key elements of the pre-production, production, and postproduction processes.
- Develop an understanding of the communication, aesthetic, and design principles fundamental to the filmmaking process.
- Attain competency in the equipment and technologies necessary to move from concept to finished film/video project.
- Film & Media Industries
- Recognize the institutional, economic, technological, and regulatory factors that shape the circulation of cultural objects within the entertainment industry.
- Develop practical skills in marketing and producing procedures for film production, distribution, and exhibition.
- Film History & Theory
- Recognize the significance of film and media forms, theories, makers, technologies, and movements that predate the contemporary moment.
- Recognize and gain fluency in the key concepts and theories of film and media studies.
- Evaluate media representations in the context of race, class, gender, sexuality, and other identity formations.
- Core Competencies
- Develop and express ideas through persuasive written communication.
- Communicate verbally for a variety of purposes and audiences.
- Perform quality research by formulating pertinent questions, applying appropriate methodologies, and using suitable reference materials.
- Build sound and effective critical arguments.
- Apply quantitative reasoning skills to understand and create data-driven arguments.
- Professionalization
- Attain practical experience in the film and media industries via an internship or other work experience.
Aesthetics and Design
- Students will demonstrate the aesthetic principles of film.
- Students will demonstrate design principles considered in media production and post- production.
Communication
- Students will demonstrate how film is a medium of communication.
Film Production
- Students will produce work from concept to finished product.
- Students will produce a supervised thesis project.
Film Distribution
- Students will demonstrate marketing procedures for distribution and exhibition.
History
- Students will have functional knowledge of the history of film.
Practical Experience
- Students will serve an internship or have work experience within the film industry.
Assessment Process
Student performance and outcome attainment is evaluated systematically throughout the program via ongoing assessment strategies at the formative and capstone levels. Each year, the program specifies key areas for measured assessment of student learning outcomes that involve programmatic outcomes, as well as core competencies and institutional outcomes. The process provides a vehicle to assure program quality and promotes continuous improvement in student work, teaching effectiveness, and curriculum design.
Capstone
Student work in the BA is evaluated through a research-based, multimedia thesis project.
Students take a two-semester course sequence during their senior year in which they research,
develop, and produce a multimedia project with a focus on the history, aesthetics, and/or industry of moving image media. With guidance from the instructor, students are expected to identify an area of interest, engage in independent research, and determine the scope of a year-long
individual or collaborative project that will serve as a capstone for their study of filmmaking at Woodbury.
Placement Exam Requirements
Filmmaking students who have not received transfer credit for a 200-level math course are encouraged to take the Math Placement Exam, but it is not required. See the Academic Proficiencies and Placement Section of the Academic Journey chapter of this catalog for more information.
Formative Assessment Experiences
Student performance and achievement in Filmmaking is evaluated systemically throughout the program via ongoing formal and informal assessment strategies. The department specifies four key areas for measured assessments that include both formative and summative benchmarks and involve multiple forms of evaluation. These processes provide a vehicle to assure program quality and promote continuous improvement in the effectiveness of teaching, the level of student work, and the design of the curriculum. Evidence of learning is assessed through the progress portfolio review at the end of the second year of study. This process documents student progress and is required for entrance into upper- division studios.
Progress Portfolio Review
At the end of the sophomore year, students are required to submit a portfolio of their work. The portfolio should demonstrate sufficient development of the knowledge and skills of narrative filmmaking, and the ability to integrate that cumulative knowledge and skill into original, creative, and meaningful films. Faculty members review these portfolios.
Summative Assessment Experiences
Student work is also evaluated through the thesis project, which assesses the pre-production, production, and post-production methodologies used.
In order to illustrate required professional and filmmaking competencies before graduation, students must successfully complete their Thesis Project.
Thesis Projects are designed to provide student’s the experience of developing and completing a filmmaking project and demonstrating their ability to address knowledge gained in the previous years of study.
Students must partake in a self-initiated filmmaking project through a rigorous level of work that includes a high degree of critical thinking, skill, and craft.
Program Specific Academic Standards
A minimum grade of “C” is required of all Filmmaking studio courses. Students receiving a grade below a “C” must successfully repeat the studio prior to enrollment in the succeeding studio. It is strongly recommended that students take no more than 12 studio units in a single semester.
Curriculum Summary
Program Major Curriculum
Filmmaking Track
| Unit Type (UT) |
Number of Units (U) |
| Major (MA) |
69 |
| General Education (GE) |
50 |
| Unrestricted Electives (UE) |
6 |
| Minimum Total Units Required |
125 |
Creative Producing Track
| Unit Type (UT) |
Number of Units (U) |
| Major (MA) |
63 |
| General Education (GE) |
53 |
| Unrestricted Electives (UE) |
6 |
| Internship (IN) |
3 |
| Minimum Total Units Required |
125 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
First Year
Fall Semester
| FILM 110 | Film Production 1 | 3 |
| FILM 220 | Editing | 3 |
| WRIT 113 | First-Year Academic Writing | 3 |
INDS ___
| Interdisciplinary Core Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| FILM 115 | Cinematography | 3 |
| FILM 200 | Screenwriting | 3 |
| FOUN 108 | Drawing Workshop for the Moving Image | 3 |
| MDST 120 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| LSCI 105 | Information Theory and Practice | 1 |
____ 2__
| Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Second Year
Fall Semester
| FILM 101 | Film History | 4 |
| FILM 140 | Sound | 3 |
| FILM 215 | Directing | 3 |
____ ___
| Social Science Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| FILM 203 | Acting | 3 |
| FILM 210 | Film Production 2 | 3 |
| WRIT 313 | Advanced Academic Writing | 3 |
____ ___
| Art History Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Ethics Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Filmmaking Track
Third Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
| FILM 304 | Pre-Production | 3 |
| FILM 310 | Documentary | 3 |
| FILM 401 | Entertainment Marketing | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Art History Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Natural Science with Lab Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Type:
FILM 304, FILM 310, FILM 401, and Film/Media Elective: MA.
Art History Elective and Natural Science with Lab Elective: GE.
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| FILM 482 | Thesis 1 | 3 |
| FILM 420 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| FILM 401 | Entertainment Marketing | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| General Education Elective | 3 |
____ 3__
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
FILM 482, FILM 420, and Film/Media Elective: MA.
General Education Elective and Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective: GE.
Spring Semester
| FILM 483 | Thesis 2 | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ 3__
| Upper Division General Ed. Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
FILM 483 and Film/Media Elective: MA.
Upper Division General Ed. Elective: GE.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Creative Producing Track
Third Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
| FILM 304 | Pre-Production | 3 |
| FILM 310 | Documentary | 3 |
| FILM 401 | Entertainment Marketing | 3 |
____ ___
| Art History Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Natural Science with Lab Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
| FILM 400 | Pitching | 3 |
| FILM 420 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| General Education Elective | 3 |
____ 3__
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
FILM 400, FILM 420, and Film/Media Elective: MA.
General Education Elective and Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective: GE.
Spring Semester
| FILM 425 | Short Form Production & Producing | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Film/Media Elective | 3 |
____ 3__
| Upper Division General Ed. Elective | 3 |
____ ___
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Type:
FILM 425 and Film/Media Elective: MA.
Upper Division General Ed. Elective: GE.
Unrestricted Elective: UE.
Program Minor Curriculum
Pick four of the following courses: