Jonathan Sherman

In this course, we consider the collaborative nature of filmmaking and how its various crafts combine to tell stories with perhaps the greatest mass appeal of any artistic medium. We explore dramatic narrative structure, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing and film genres as they have been used and advanced in the history of cinema. In addition to regular class meetings, attendance at weekly film showings is required. This course includes an introduction to film production in which students are expected to write, direct and film short projects in collaboration with their classmates. This course is ideal for first-year students and is required for the major. No prerequisite. Generally offered once a year.

This course explores what is particular about writing for the screen. Through weekly writing assignments, students examine the form and structure of the three-act feature film. Each student works toward an outline of a feature screenplay and writes the first 30 pages. This is a workshop course, so students must always be prepared and ready to participate. This counts toward the screenwriting requirement for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111 or FILM 111. Generally offered every year.

Preston Sturges and Billy Wilder are not considered to be the greatest American comedy writer-directors only because of how funny their movies are. They understood that the best way for mainstream films to deal with serious subjects was not to make dark, heavy films, but to broach these subjects while making the audience laugh. In this course, students analyze how these delicately balanced films were constructed to allow the filmmakers to explore the darker side of life and how filmmakers pushed socially acceptable boundaries while still making commercially viable films for a mainstream audience. This counts toward the film genre course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: FILM 111. Generally offered every third year.

In this course, students learn the process of how a development executive and/or producer works with a writer to develop material. The class has two components: Students endeavor to finish the screenplays they worked on in FILM 231 and work on three scripts currently in development at Hollywood studios and explore how to improve them. This counts toward the film production/screenwriting requirements for the major. Prerequisite: FILM 111 and 231. Generally offered every other year.

This course is designed primarily for students majoring in film, though it is not limited to senior majors. It is also open to non-majors with a significant interest in film directing who have taken many film courses offered in the department. Students make a series of very short films and develop a film project of approximately 10–15 minutes in length. This process involves a deeper understanding of writing, budgeting, producing, cinematography and editing of short films through class exercises. This course will be taught at the Wright Center in Mount Vernon. This counts toward the production course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: FILM 261. Generally offered every year.

This seminar is for senior majors in film. Through this course, senior majors prepare for the completion of their Senior Capstone. Students present their project proposals, develop these projects through collaboration with peers, critique one another's work and utilize feedback to improve their individual projects. Students are expected to provide project schedules and weekly status updates and to meet regular guideposts for project completion. This course culminates in public presentations of the senior projects and oral examinations by faculty in the department. One semester of this course is required for the major, but it may be taken twice for credit.

Individual study in film is reserved for students exploring a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Typically, the course will carry 0.5 units of credit. To enroll in an individual study, a student must identify a member of the department willing to direct the project and, in consultation with him or her, write a proposal. The department chair must approve the proposal. The one- to two-page proposal should include a preliminary bibliography and/or set of specific problems, goals and tasks for the course, outline a schedule of reading and/or writing assignments or creative undertakings, and describe the methods of assessment (e.g., a journal to be submitted for evaluation weekly; a feature-length screenplay due at semester's end, with drafts due at given intervals). The student also should briefly describe prior course work, that qualifies him or her for this independent project. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with the instructor one hour per week and to submit an amount of work equivalent to that required in 300-level film courses. Students are urged to begin discussion of their proposed individual study the semester before they hope to enroll so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the deadline.