BFA in Production
Highlights of Course of Study
- Students learn in intensive workshops with accomplished industry professionals.
- The majority of instruction is provided in one-on-one settings and in small groups with a six-to-one student to faculty ratio.
- Students are trained in both production fundamentals and screenwriting.
- The Film School pays the production costs of student films.
- Students learn to work with professional equipment and facilities.
- Students write and direct a minimum of two short films and one documentary, and serve as producer, cinematographer, editor, and production designer on other short films.
- Students are provided with industry mentors upon graduation.
- Students graduate with creative works ready for submission to the film festival circuit.
Description of Curriculum
The curriculum in production combines courses in film production with a liberal studies core.
The students are directed through the program in such a way that they begin by making short video projects, both narrative and documentary, progressing to 16mm films, and culminating with a senior thesis project. Production expenses are paid by the Film School.
The goal of the program is to produce educated and creative filmmakers, helping them become responsible members of the entertainment profession. The purpose of the film program is to furnish the conceptual framework, the professional training, and the working environment for eventual participation in a profession that is a powerful influence in our culture.
The major courses include producing, directing, screenwriting, editing, cinematography, sound, film history and aesthetics.
Students who are admitted as transfers into the film major are required to have already met a significant portion of the FSU Liberal Studies requirements. Therefore, those students will begin the curriculum with the third semester.
Course Listings by Semester
First Semester - 15 Hours (Fall)
- ENC1101 or higher English
- LS Mathematics
- LS History/SS or Humanities/Fine Arts
- LS Humanities/Fine Arts or Natural Science
- FIL2001 Intro to Film (strongly recommended)
Second Semester - 16 Hours (Spring)
- ENC1102 or other second English
- LS Mathematics
- PHY1075C (strongly recommended)
- LS History/SS or Humanities/Fine Arts
- LS Humanities/Fine Arts
Third Semester - 16 Hours (Fall)
- FIL2110 Screenwriting I
- FIL2423 Filmmaking I
- FIL2533 Film Editing
- FIL3516 Film Camera & Lighting
- FIL3922 Film Genres & Filmmakers
- FIL4972 Production Management
Fourth Semester - 12 Hours (Spring)
- FIL3363 Documentary Filmmaking
- FIL3433 Filmmaking II
- FIL3922 Film Genres & Filmmakers
- FIL3932 Special Topics: Production and Post-Production
Fifth Semester - 7 Hours (Summer)
- FIL3363 Documentary Editing
- FIL3971 Thesis Film Support
Sixth Semester - 15 Hours (Fall)
- FIL3132 Screenwriting II
- FIL3922 Film Genres & Filmmakers
- FIL3932 Special Topics: Post-Production
- FIL4434 Filmmaking III
- FIL4474 Cinematography
Seventh Semester - 15 Hours (Spring)
- FIIL3932 Special Topics: Advanced Cinematography
- FIL4112 Screenwriting III
- FIL4434 Filmmaking III
- FIL4567 Advanced Editing
- FIL4539 Advanced Sound
Eighth Semester - 5 Hours (Summer)
- FIL4973 BFA Thesis Film
Ninth Semester – Hours Vary (Fall)
- Any remaining required LS courses
- FIL4970 Thesis Defense
- FIL4973 Thesis Film
- Electives
**All film students must maintain a minimum "B" average in all major requirements.**
HONORS IN THE MAJOR
The undergraduate Film School offers a program of Honors in the Major to film students in their junior and senior years. The program encourages talented students to write a feature length screenplay (or undertake independent and original research) as part of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. For requirements and other information on Honors in the Major, please view the "University Honors Program and Honor Societies" chapter of the FSU General Bulletin online at: http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin.