UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

Peck School of the Arts

Film

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The Department of Film in the Peck School of the Arts offers three integrated tracks of study leading to a BFA in Film, with emphasis on the following:

Film/Video/New Genres
Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production
Photography

All three of the tracks are designed to train media artists and accommodate differing approaches and styles of student learning.

The Film/Video/New Genres Track of the BFA degree in Film is weighted toward production in film, video, and new genres integrated with courses in conceptual studies that emphasize the intersection of theory and practice.

The Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production Track of the BFA degree in Film offers a rigorous course of study in media arts history, theory, and criticism thoroughly integrated with production in film, video, new genres and photography within courses and across the curriculum.

The Photography Track of the BFA degree in Film offers training in photographic image production in a media arts context, integrated with theory/practice courses in moving image, new genres and conceptual studies.

NOTE:

Students in the Photography Track of the BFA degree in Film are required to have a laptop computer and imaging software for all photography classes after they have passed the Portfolio Review. The software must be consistent with that being used in the photography program. It is highly recommended that students pursuing the Photography Track of the BFA degree in Film have a laptop computer while enrolled in Film 350. Film students pursuing other tracks in the BFA degree in Film are also strongly encouraged to have a laptop computer.

FILM BFA DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Film BFA - Film/Video/New Genres Track

The Film/Video/New Genres Track of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film requires 120 credits distributed as follows:

Course of Study. The Film/Video/New Genres Track of the BFA Film major is an integrated course of study in which students realize individual creative projects in film, video, or other media every semester. This is accomplished through a required sequence of six Department Core courses and two Pre-Portfolio Studios, followed by a series of required and elective courses in film/video/new genres, conceptual studies and photography to make up the 66-credit major.

*Admission to the Major. Students are admitted to the Film/Video/New Genres Track as a result of a portfolio review that occurs upon completion of 24 credits of work in the Department Core Curriculum - Film 114 (214), 115, 116, 201 (101), 202 (102) and 210, plus two of the Pre-Portfolio Studios - Film 220 Basic Elements of Filmmaking I, Film 222 Basic Elements of Video, Film 253 Introduction to Photography, Film 255 Introduction to Digital Arts. Portfolio reviews occur once at the beginning of final examination period of either fall or spring semester.

The following outline will serve as a guide in planning a Film BFA major in the Film/Video/New Genres Track. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with their school and departmental advisors as well. All course waivers or changes in the requirements of the major must have the written approval of the department chair.

Film BFA–- Film/Video/New Genres Track Recommended Curriculum**

¹Arts Distribution Requirement. Twelve credits are required in Peck School of the Arts courses outside of the Film Department. Three credits must be taken in three different Arts disciplines: Dance, Music, Theatre or Visual Art. The remaining three credits may be taken in any one of the four disciplines outside of Film.

²Consult your academic advisor in the Peck School of the Arts Student Services Office for electives in the PSOA Core Curriculum and General Education Requirement courses.

^**When pre-portfolio sections other than Film 114 (214), 115 or 116 are over-enrolled, admission is by grade-point average in previous department courses.

Film BFA - Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production Track

The Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production Track of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Degree requires 120 credits distributed as follows:

Course of Study. In the Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production Track of the BFA Film major, students pursue the study of media arts history, theory, and criticism thoroughly integrated with the artistic practice of film, video and new genres. This is accomplished through a required sequence of six Department Core courses and two Pre-Portfolio Studios, followed by a series of required and elective courses in Conceptual Studies, Film/Video /New Genres, and Photography to make up the 66-credit major. All Conceptual Studies courses include an integrated production component of at least 20 percent of the requirements. The philosophical assumption that theory and practice are taught side by side and in dialogue with each other is the foundation of the integrated model.

The integration of theory and practice begins with introductory courses (Film 114 [214], 115 and 210) and the Pre-Portfolio Studios (Film 220, 222, 253, 255) through the use of creative and practical assignments. The three Conceptual Studies Core classes – Film 320 - Structures of Film, Film 455 - Integrated Film/Video Exploration, and the capstone Film 512 - Senior Project in Conceptual Studies – explicitly integrate critical methods with media arts production. Each of the Conceptual Studies electives incorporates creative or practical components consistent with the integrated theory/practice program model.

*Admission to the Conceptual Studies Track: Students are admitted to the Conceptual Studies Track after completing the Department Core Curriculum (Film 114 [214], 115, 116, 201 [101], 202 [102], 210); two of the Pre-Portfolio Studios (220, 222, 253, 255); Film 320 and the Conceptual Studies portfolio review.

The following outline will serve as a guide in planning a Film BFA major in the Conceptual Studies Track. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with their school and departmental advisors as well. All course waivers or changes in the requirements of the major must have the written approval of the Conceptual Studies coordinator and department chair.

Conceptual Studies Portfolio Review - - Prerequisites: Film 114, 115, 116, 201 (101), 202 (102), 210, 320, plus 6 cr. of Pre-Portfolio Studios (Film 220, 222, 253, 255). One project from a pre-portfolio studio, a writing sample in electronic form and a copy of current academic transcript submitted for review by faculty at beginning of final examination period of either fall or spring semester.

¹Arts Distribution Requirement. Twelve credits are required in Peck
School of the Arts courses outside of the Film Department. Three
credits must be taken in three different Arts disciplines: Dance,
Music, Theatre or Visual Art. The remaining three credits may be
taken in any one of the four disciplines outside of Film.

²Consult your academic advisor in the Peck School of the Arts Student Services Office for electives in the PSOA Core Curriculum and General Education Requirement courses.

^**When pre-portfolio sections other than Film 114 (214), 115 or 116 are over-enrolled, admission is by grade-point average in previous department courses.

Film BFA - Photography Track

The Photography Track of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Degree requires 120 credits distributed as follows:

Course of Study. In the Photography Track of the BFA Film major, students pursue the study of still photography in a media arts context, integrated with the theory/practice of film, video, new genres and conceptual studies. This is accomplished through a required sequence of six Department Core courses and two Pre-Portfolio Studios, followed by a series of required and elective courses in Photography, Conceptual Studies, and Film/Video/New Genres production to make up the 66-credit major.

*Admission to the Photography Track: Students are admitted to the Photography Track after completing the Department Core Curriculum (Film 114 [214], 115, 116, 201 [101], 202 [102]), 210); two of the Pre-Portfolio Studios (Film 253, plus one of 220, 222, or 255), Film 350 or 352, and the Photography portfolio review.

The following outline will serve as a guide in planning a Film BFA major in the Photography Track. Students are encouraged to consult regularly with their school and departmental advisors as well. All course waivers or changes in the requirements of the major must have the written approval of the Photography coordinator and department chair.

Film BFA–- Photography Track Recommended Curriculum

Photography Portfolio Review--Prerequisites: Film 114, 115, 116, 201 (101), 202 (102), 210, 320, plus 6 cr. of Pre-Portfolio Studios (Film 253, plus one of 220, 222 or 255). Includes photographs from capstone project in Film 350 or 352, ten additional photographs of student's choice, one project from a pre-portfolio studio (Film 220, 222, or 255) and a copy of current academic transcript submitted for review by faculty at beginning of final examination period of either fall or spring semester.

¹Arts Distribution Requirement. Twelve credits are required in Peck School of the Arts courses outside of the Film Department. Three credits must be taken in three different Arts disciplines: Dance, Music, Theatre or Visual Art. The remaining three credits may be taken in any one of the four disciplines outside of Film.

²Consult your academic advisor in the Peck School of the Arts Student Services Office for electives in the PSOA Core Curriculum and General Education Requirement courses.

^**When pre-portfolio sections other than Film 114 (214), 115 or 116 are over-enrolled, admission is by grade-point average in previous department courses

Electives: At the present time, the following courses are among those available for elective credit for the three tracks (Film/Video/New Genres, Conceptual Studies in Media Arts Production, and Photography) of the BFA Film Degree:

Courses

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Film