HANDS ON
PRODUCTION
TRAINING

B2100 – Camera I: The first of a two-semester sequence of workshops in image gathering for HD video and 16mm film. Through a series of lectures and production exercises, student will build a foundation in the art and craft of cinematography, and the technical camera and lighting skills needed to execute their fiction or documentary productions. Topics include visual composition and design principles, the 3-demensional field, and the perception of time and space through camera position and lenses. (3 Cr., 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. Status. Coreq: B0100, B2600 or B2700, B2900 or B3000.

B2200 – Camera II: The second course in a two-semester workshop sequence in image gathering for HD video and 16mm film. Students build on the foundation of camera and lighting skills mastered in Camera I, executing increasingly more complex production exercises. Topics include 16mm films and camera, exposure and lighting control, lighting styles and aesthetics, and a comparison between film and HD video. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B0100, B2100, B2600 or B2800, B2700 or B3000. Coreq. B2900 or B3100, B6100, B6200 or B6300.

B2600 – Digital Production / Documentary: Workshop in the fundamentals of creating short documentary films in digital formats. Through a series of production exercises, students master skills in rendering locations visually, interviewing, working with archival elements and capturing unfolding action. (3 Cr., 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. Status. Coreq: B0100, B2100, B2900, B2700.

B2700 – Digital Production Techniques / Documentary: Working in tandem with B2600 – Digital Production / Documentary — this course emphasizes technical aspects of sound and editing in documentary filmmaking through hands-on practical training. Topics also include emerging formats, workflows and troubleshooting techniques in the digital age as well as the relevant theoretical aspects in sound and editing. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. MCA./MFA. Status. Coreq. B0100, B2100, B2600, B2900.

B2800 – Digital Production Techniques / Fiction: Working in tandem with B3000 Digital Production / Fiction, this course emphasizes the technical aspects of sound and editing of narrative fiction filmmaking through hands-on practical training. Topics also include emerging formats, workflows and troubleshooting techniques in the digital age as well as the relevant theoretical aspects in sound and editing. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. Status. Coreq: B0100, B2100, B3000, B3100.

B3000 – Digital Production / Fiction: Using new technologies of cinema, digital video cameras and computer editing, students explore image gathering for and structuring of short fiction projects. This course operates in tandem with B2800 – Digital Production Techniques / Fiction. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. status. Coreq: B0100, B2100, B2800, B3100.

B2900 – Research and Writing for Documentary I: The first of a two-course sequence, exploring the world of documentary film/video-making with a focus on what happens before a single frame is shot. Students will become familiar with the various kinds of research and writing involved in documentary production. Workshops focus on testing the viability of the initial impulse, research strategies, crafting the idea into a visual story, articulating points of view, and legal and ethical considerations. Classes are augmented by a rigorous screening schedule of seminal documentaries. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. status. Coreq: B0100, B2100, B2600, B2700.

B3100 – Fiction Screenwriting I: Focuses on developing meaningful stories into the first draft of a short screenplay. Through a series of written and oral exercises related to plot structure and character development, students pitch, explore, research and write the first draft of a short screenplay. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. status. Coreq: B0100, B2100, B3000.

B3200 – Research and Writing for Documentary II: Students work on conceptualizing, researching, developing, and writing documentary thesis projects. Students will develop such elements as structure, style, point of view, and theme and incorporate them to a written treatment. The resulting project will be produced as a short thesis film the following semester year (maximum length 25 minutes). (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. status. B0100, B2100, B2600, B2700, B2900. Coreq. B2200, B6100, B6300.

B3300 – Fiction Screenwriting II: Beginning with the first draft of a screenplay developed in B3100 – Screenwriting I, students work in teams through a series of workshops, refining their thesis projects in terms of the dramaturgical, directoral and production elements. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: B0100, B2100, B2800, B3000. Coreq: B2200, B6100, B6200.

B5100 – Editing: This course furthers students’ critical and practical understanding of editing in the filmmaking process. Through lectures, screenings, and discussions students are exposed to a variety of methods to organize and refine their work. Three main components will be addressed: Discussions in aesthetics and techniques, advanced technical workshops, and follow-through with all students’ thesis projects (Fiction and Documentary). (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: MCA./MFA. status, B2200, B6100, B3200 or B3300, B6200 or B6300. Coreq. B9100, B7100, B9400 or B9500.

B5300 – Sound Design (Elective): Exploration of the aesthetics and practice of audio as a creative element in media production. Through a series of exercises, students learn to shape the aural environment of voice, music and sound effects to support the dramatic intent of a particular piece. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B5100, B7100, B9100, B9400 or B9500. Coreq. B7200, B9200.

B6100 – Producing: Examines the production process from A to Z, from acquisition of literary rights to delivery of the finished product according to industry standards. Through a series of case studies, students analyze successful models for financing larger independent media projects as well as their thesis films. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B0100, B2100, B2600 or B2800, B2700, B2900, B3000 or B3100. Coreq. B2200, B3200, or B3300, B6200 or B6300.

B6200 – Directing Fiction: Toward the directing of their fiction thesis projects in the following semester, students focus on interpreting the screenplay, use of metaphor, rhythm, development of inner monologues, and shaping performance for camera. Students direct scenes from their thesis screenplays being developed in B3200 – Fiction Screenwriting II. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq: B0100, B2100, B2800, B3000. Coreq: B2200, B3200, B6100.

B6300 – Producing and Directing The Documentary: Workshop examining the unique combination of skills required for the Director/Producer of documentary work. Students film exercises that hone skills in logistics and aesthetics of creative documentary that test the assumptions of the documentary proposals they create in B3300 – Research and Writing for Documentary II as they prepare for their thesis productions. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B0100, B2100, B2600, B2700, B2900. Coreq. B2200, B3300, B6100.

MCA B7200 - Media Distribution and Marketing: A practical approach to distribution with a concentration on short fiction and documentary films. Students develop strategies for how to get work seen by distributors, festivals and the public. Exploration of different markets including Theatrical Educational, Specialty, Television, DVD, Electronic and new models such as VOD. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr) Prereq. MCA/M.F.A. matriculated status, MCA B5100, MCA B9100, MCA B7100, MCA B9400 or MCA B9500. Coreq. MCA B9200, MCA B5300 or MCA B9303.

B6300 – Producing and Directing The Documentary: Workshop examining the unique combination of skills required for the Director/Producer of documentary work. Students film exercises that hone skills in logistics and aesthetics of creative documentary that test the assumptions of the documentary proposals they create in B3300 – Research and Writing for Documentary II as they prepare for their thesis productions. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B0100, B2100, B2600, B2700, B2900. Coreq. B2200, B3300, B6100.

B9100 – Thesis Project I – Production: The coordinating course for all logistics related to documentary and fiction thesis production. Thesis directors present production packages for critique, create schedules, review permitting, insurance and rights issues, as well as the auditioning process and location scouting. First cuts of thesis films are screened in the final sessions of the course. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B2200, B6100, B3200 or B3300, B6200 or B6300. Coreq. B5100, B7100, B9400 or B9500.

B9200 – Thesis Project II – Post-Production: Culminating course required of all degree candidates in the major. Students complete their thesis production and present at Cityvisions, the annual student media arts showcase. Productions are expected to be original and represent a contribution to the field of media arts. (6 Cr. / 6 Hr.) Prereq. B5100, B7100, B9100. Coreq. B7200, MFA2 Elective.

B9303 – Graduate Internship (Elective): Students gain first-hand knowledge of specific professions in media arts by working in the field under the supervision of a practitioner. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B5100, B7100, B9100. Coreq. B7200, 9200.

B9400 – Advanced Documentary Workshop: Building on the skills acquired in the first year of the MFA program, this course enables documentary students to practice and perfect their craft as they work toward the realization of their thesis projects. The course is run as a workshop in that students prepare initial scenes from their film in which they find weaknesses as well as strengths. These scenes are presented for critique of structure, narrative intent, and technical viability in preparation for possible additional shooting and for first cut screenings for the entire MFA class in B9100 Thesis Project I. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B2200, B6100, B3200 or B3300, B6200 or B6300. Coreq. B5100, B7100, B9400 or B9500. Coreq. B5100, B7100, B9100.

B9500 – Advanced Fiction Workshop: Building on the skills acquired in the first year of the MFA program, this course enables Writing/Directing Fiction students to practice and perfect their craft as they work toward the realization of their thesis projects. The three benchmarks of the course are, 1. Screenplay presentation and discussion, where each student is required to present the project orally in class to receive final feedback in class from faculty and peers, and 2. Workshop, based on a selected scene and 3. Analysis of dailies, prior to presentation to the entire class in B9100 – Thesis Production. (3 Cr. / 3. Hr.) Prereq: B2200, B6100, B3200 or B3300, B6200. Coreq: B5100, B7100, B9100.

B9601 – B9699 – Selected Topics in Media Arts Production (Electives): A series of graduate-level elective courses exploring advanced topics in Media Arts Production. In the rapidly changing field of Media Arts Production these courses explore areas in the field not covered in existing courses. Selected Topics courses will be announced prior to registration for the semester in which they will be offered. Prereq: Permission of Instructor and Program Director.

B9803 – Independent Study; Teaching Media Arts (Elective): Faculty assigned advanced research projects, which fall outside of the scope of existing MFA courses, but are relevant to a student’s specialization in the program. Registration is only permitted by the Department’s MFA Program Director, in consultation with a faculty advisor. Written proposal required. Interested students should consult their program advisors on guidelines for creating proposals (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Prereq. B5100, B7100, B9100. Coreq. B7200, B9200.

B9603 – Films Without Scripts: Film students from CCNY MFA City Film program join with actors from the CCNY Theatre Department and other CCNY Undergraduate BFA Film Students to collaborate on the making of six short films that are presented at the Improfilm Festival screenings at the IFP in Brooklyn during the last week in May. During the semester, using methods created by Mike Leigh, Dario Fo, Keith Johnstone, Augusto Boal, John Cassavettes and others, actors present “caricatures” from all walks of life that are video recorded and posted on a private website. Filmmakers then choose several caricatures to develop into in full blown, in-depth characters. The filmmakers “discover” locations in New York City and start directing structured improvisational moments on live sets. Students work with Professor Campbell Dalglish and a guest acting coach to distill, rehearse, shoot, reshoot and edit until a final deliverable is reached for screening at the Improflm Festival. These stories are real, they are thought provoking, they are risky, and they bear the kind of magic that can only happen when artists interact with life. Four of these films in the last four years have gone on to win international awards. For more info, please click here.

MCA B9604 – Feature Screenwriting: This is an elective course for City-Film MFA students who wish to develop a feature-length fiction project. The instructor will provide guidance in dramatizing the story, which will be told in the script, fleshing out characters and developing the conflict and the resolution. Students give each other feedback on their projects. The course ends with the presentation of the first draft of a screenplay or treatment. (3 Cr. / 3 Hr.) Pereq. B2200, B6100, B3200 or B3300, B6200 or B6300. Coreq. B5100, B9100, B9400 or B9500, Instructor permission required.