72 SUMMER 2019 MOVIEMAKER.COMMOVIEMAKER.COM
raphy, sound design, short film
production), film and television
screenwriting, creative produc-
ing, entertainment management,
and film and television studies,
while ensuring that students
receive a broad education across
other fields. Students declare
their film and television major no
later than the second semester
of the sophomore year. Although
certain departmental courses are
required of all majors, students
may tailor their curriculum to fit
their interests and career goals.”
COMEDY WILD CARD:
Emerson College
(Boston, MA)
Dubbed “the first degree of its
kind in the country”, Emerson’s
BFA in Comedic Arts is a good
choice for moviemakers who are
also mirth makers.
The school promises to “foster
“well-rounded triple-threats:
writers, performers and produc-
ers who are awake and aware,
and whose comprehension of the
world affords them the ability to
comment through humor.”
Whether it’s screen, stage or
print, all aspects of comedy are
studied including its “historical,
cultural and theoretical dimen-
sions as a global art form."
The school, based in a city
famous for generating comedic
genius, has partnerships
with Funny or Die and
Upright Citizens Brigade.
It also recognizes the impor-
tance of L.A., offering a semester
at its campus there and hosting
an annual L.A. film festival.- Extensive Exceptional Tra
ining: University of Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia, PA) - Esteemed Theory and Criticism
Training: Yale University (New Haven, CT) - Internships and Other Opportuni-
ties: Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY)
U.S. SOUTHWEST
PAGE-TURNING SCREENWRITING TRAINING:
University of Texas at
Austin’s Radio, Television
and Film Department
(Austin, TX)The school offers a BS in Radio,
Television, and Film, along with
MFAs, MAs, and PhDs. It professes
that its MFA Screenwriting pro-
gram is “one of the most afford-
able, unique and successful pro-
grams of its kind in the country”.
The faculty is made up of
working screenwriters who
have sold screenplays to HBO,
Warner Brothers, New Line
Cinema, Walt Disney Studios,
Dimension Entertainment, MGM,
National Geographic, Paramount
Pictures, Sony Entertainment,
The Disney Channel, Lionsgate,
and Happy Madison Productions.
Students have won the 2017
Humanitas Prize in Screenwrit-
ing and the Academy Nicholls
Fellowship in 2014 and 2010.
They have placed highly in
other screenwriting competi-
tions, including the Austin Film
Festival and HBO Access Writing
Fellowship.
Past students have interned inL.A. at companies such as
Miramax and Disney and locally
at the Austin Film Festival and
with filmmakers Richard Linklater
and Terrence Malick.
Associate chair of the
RTF Department, Professor
Richard Lewis, says: “Educat-
ing students on the landscape in
which they’re operating is really
crucial for their success. Students
need to move beyond thinking,
‘I have this creative vision and
surely people will flock to see
it.’ They should also think about
where this movie or show is going
to sell and who is going to see it.”
Recent Screenwriting MFA
alumna Kat Craft, who is signed
to CAA and is an HBO Access
Writing Fellow of 2017, says:
“The faculty helped me develop
and refine my voice, while also
teaching me the ins and outs of
feature and television structures.
I wouldn’t have been able to
write the scripts I wrote with
them on my own. This program
really prepares you to write a lot
at a high quality. I loved that the
screenwriting faculty basically
has an open-door policy, and they
are always happy to discuss your
ideas and stories with you.”ACCELERATED INDUSTRY ACCESS:
Arizona State University
(Phoenix, AZ)How about working on
a Hollywood film set for a semes-
ter? ASU’s Film Spark Feature
Film Internship Initiative opened
the door for 85 students and 15
recent alumni to learn feature
filmmaking first-hand, on set
with an Oscar-winning cast and
crew. That’s really being thrown
in at the deep end and experienc-
ing the bustle of what the future
holds for hopeful filmmakers.
ASU also hosts a Film Career
Boot Camp led by working
filmmakers in its base in
Santa Monica, CA, along withindustry pro weekend semi-
nars. The school offers three BA
degrees in film, as well as two
minors in film and media produc-
tion.- Focused Cinematography Train-
ing: Oklahoma City University
(Oklahoma City, OK) - All-Encompassing Production
Training: Southern Methodist Uni-
versity (Dallas, TX)
U.S. MIDWEST
DIRECTING TRAINING FOR AUTEURS OF TOMORROW
Columbia College Chicago
(Chicago, IL)The Cinema Art and Science
BFA allows its majors to spe-
cialize in one of eight areas:
Directing, Cinematography,
Cinema Visual Effects, Editing
and Post-Production, Producing,
Production Design, Screenwriting
and Sound for Camera.
For the Directing specializa-
tion, students will take courses
covering cinema directing,
acting, screenwriting and script
supervising. Optional courses
include those dealing with light-
ing, editing, assistant directing
and directing comedy. The first
year sees a two-pronged approach
via Cinema Notebooks, a critical
analysis course, and Cinema Im-
age and Process, which focuses
on applying theory to filmmaking
technique. There’s also the chance
to take an in-depth 15-week
course in L.A. in your specializa-
tion.- Page-Turning Screenwriting
Training: University of Michigan
(Ann Arbor, MI) - Esteemed Theory and Criticism
Training: Northwestern University
(Evanston, IL)
U.S. SOUTHEAST
MAGICAL ANIMATION TRAINING
University of Central
Florida School of Visual
Arts and Design
(Orlando, FL)The Emerging Media programs
at UCF’s School of Visual Arts
and Design blend art, storytelling,ASK THE ALUMLARKIN SEIPLE
Cinematographer of Luce,
Childish Gambino’s
“This is America,”
Swiss Army Man, and
Cop Car
Emerson CollegeWhat’s one area of focus that every film
school program shouldn’t be without?
Creative writing—not screenwriting, but pure
short story work. It’s the best practice for any
story craft and a great way to find your voice.
What advice do you wish someone had
given you when you were a film student?
When I graduated one professor said, “You
paid X amount of money to meet 10 people
that will determine the rest of your career.”
Find collaborators you want to work with in
the future. It’s not a competition, it’s about
finding the people that can inspire you and
that you can inspire.