Master of Fine Arts Digital Cinema

Lead Faculty: Mr. Edward Alyn Warren, III

The Digital Cinema MFA program provides graduates with an in-depth study of digital motion picture production and post-production and a foundation in film history. Graduate candidates develop technical skills in digital cinema production, the ability to critically evaluate film and video projects for practical and commercial outcomes, and a critical acumen in the area of film, visual communication and media studies. The curriculum covers screenwriting, digital cinematography, lighting, directing, production management, non-linear editing and post-production workflow, producing and distributing.

The program focuses on developing filmmakers well versed in all aspects of low budget, independent narrative and documentary style filmmaking and prepares graduates to work in a variety of production capacities in the following fields: commercial or industrial film and television, digital entertainment media and communication, educational or instructional media production.

The MFA-DC program consists of five core courses and six production courses with concurrent studio practica. In addition, depending upon their thesis project and professional interests, student's select one elective in film studies and one specialization to be completed prior to taking the 4-course thesis sequence. Graduate candidates will complete the program with a professional digital cinema portfolio reel and an original digital short tailored to their interests, needs and desire for career development.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Critique the creative works of others orally and in writing using relevant critical models and professional vocabulary
• Evaluate both orally and in writing professional and theoretical issues and processes pertaining to movies and aspects of digital filmmaking based on recognized industry models and standards
• Incorporate independent research from primary and secondary sources into sustained analysis and interpretations screenplays, films, and television programs
• Generate an original narrative screenplay that incorporates standard industry format and such narrative structural elements such as premise, complex characters, story arcs, natural dialog, and other dramatic and genre conventions.
• Create a polished draft of an original screenplay or a documentary production treatment with a coherent structure and compelling storyline that engages and sustains the interest of a discriminating audience
• Generate the standard industry documentation required to effectively communicate and collaborate with a production team during the development, production, editing and distribution of a professional motion picture
• Generate original digital motion picture sequences using current cinematic theory and techniques to support the thematic concepts and story objectives of a script
• Construct digital motion picture sequences using current visual and sound editing techniques and theory that engage and sustain the interest of a discriminating audience
• Implement post-production workflow processes to capture, edit, finish and export digital video assets to appropriate distribution media
• Create an original short motion picture based on an original concept with a coherent storyline that is significant and complex enough to engage and sustain the interest of a discriminating audience and is suitable for distribution or submission to a film festival.

Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the University graduate admission requirements listed in the catalog under general information for graduate degrees.

Students in the hybrid program are expected to possess or have reliable access to a high-speed Internet connection including an email account outside of National University for course projects and assignments. The hybrid program also requires access to a digital still and video camera. Students also need to have access to a DVD rental service.

Given the nature of digital cinema production and editing, students must have personal access to a computer that meets the system requirements for professional digital video editing software currently available. AVID Media Composer is used for the low-residency post-production course and students are expected to have a working knowledge of that software interface at the time of the residency. (Always check the manufacturer's web site for system requirements before purchasing software. Students may need to upgrade their computer or components to meet those specifications.) The students should also have an external FireWire 400 or 800 (IEEE 1394) hard-drive for media storage, to possess or have access to a digital still camera, a digital video camera (for MDC 660, 651, 652, and 653) with manual controls, a tripod, a basic lighting kit, and non-linear editing software. The following software is required: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet Explorer) or comparable software capable of outputting PDF documents, a variety of standard browser plug-ibs (i.e. Javascript, Flash, Shockwave, QuickTime, etc.), Adobe Photoshop Elements (or equivalent photo image processing program), Apple QuickTime Pro and the above mentioned AVID Express Pro or a comparable digital video editing software package, and a script writing program such as CELTX. A digital scanner is also recommended.

Program Prerequisites
It is recommended that students have had undergraduate courses or experience in some of the following areas: communication, film, literature, media studies, graphic design, multimedia arts, history, philosophy, psychology or sociology. For more information contact the program lead faculty advisor.

Degree Requirements (81 quarter units)
To receive a Master of Fine Arts, students in the Digital Cinema program must complete at least 81 quarter units of graduate work, of which a minimum of 63 quarter units must be taken at National University. Students can transfer up to 13.5 quarter units at the graduate level from a regionally accredited institution in the areas of communication, film, media studies, or production, provided the units have not been used to satisfy the requirements of an awarded degree. Students wishing to transfer credits into the program should contact the program lead faculty advisor. Refer to the section in the graduate admission requirements for additional specific information regarding application and matriculation.

Core Requirements  (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
MDC 650 - Producing Digital Cinema
MDC 660 - Narrative Structure in Film
MDC 661 - Cinematic Design and Grammar
MDC 662 - Sound Design & Production

Workshops and Studio Practica
(3 courses; 13.5 quarter units; 3 studio Practica, 6,75 quarter units)
MDC 651 - Digital Cinematography
   (Prerequisite: MDC 661) (Co-requisite: MDC 651P)
MDC 651P - Cinematography Practicum (Co-requisite with MDC 651)
MDC 652 - Digital Video Editing (Co-requisite: MDC 652P)
MDC 652P -  Digital Editing Practicum (Co-requisite: MDC 652)
MDC 680 - Screenwriting I
   (Prerequisite: MDC 660) (Corequisite: MDC 680P)
MDC 680P - Screenwriting I Practicum (Co-requisite: MDC 680)

Production Sequence
(4 courses; 18 quarter units; 1 studio practicum, 2.25 quarter units)
MDC 653 -  Film Directing Process
   (Prerequisites: MDC 651, MDC 660, and MDC 662)
MDC 683 - Directing and Production Mgmt (Prerequisites: MDC 650, 651, 652, 662, and 653) (Co-requisites: MDC 683P and 688)
MDC 683P - Production Mgmt Practicum (Co-requisite with MDC 683)
MDC 688 - Digital Cinema Production
   (Prerequisite: MDC 651 and 653) (Co-requisite: MDC 683)
MDC 689 - Digital Cinema Post-Production
  (Prerequisites: MDC 650, 660, 652, and 662)

Specialized Study
(1 course; 4.5 quarter units and 1 studio practicum, 2.25 quarter units)
MDC 670 -  Producing Documentaries
   (Prerequisite: MDC 650 and 683) (Co-requisite: MDC 670P)
MDC 670P - Documentary Practicum (Co-requisite: MDC 670)
or
MDC 681 - Screenwriting II
  (Prerequisite: MDC 680) (Co-requisite: MDC 681P)
MDC 681P -  Screenwriting II Practicum (Co-requisite: MDC 681)

Thesis Sequence
MDC 692 - Thesis Project Proposal
   (Prerequisites: all other MDC core and workshop courses)
MDC 693 - Thesis Project Production (Prerequisite: MDC 692)
MDC 694 - Thesis Project Postproduction (Prerequisite: MDC 693)
MDC 695 - Thesis Qualification Review (Prerequisite: MDC 694)

Electives (1 course, 4.5 quarter units)
To complete the program, students can select electives from any of the following courses or apply for an equivalency substitution with another graduate level course in media studies, media production, art or literacy criticism, narrative or dramatic writing or theory.

ENG 665 - Film Theory
ENG 666 - Film History: The Silents
ENG 667 - Film History: American Films
ENG 668 - Film Genre Studies
ENG 669 - World Film
ENG 685 - Great Directors: American
ENG 686 - Great Directors: International

Program Information

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Program Locations

• Los Angeles Campus

Related Downloads

• Careers in Digital Cinema