A New Way to Learn Filmmaking
By combining beginning film production and acting classes, students learn how the process works in their first classes. Then they’ll take those learned skills into intermediate and advanced acting and filmmaking classes culminating in work on THEA/DM 255 where students work with faculty to complete an original short film.
Our curriculum is designed specifically with collaborative projects in mind from the very first classes; DM 255 or THEA 235. It’s in the combined class model and specific curriculum that is tied to THEA/DM 255 from beginning to end that serves the student filmmaker/actor.
The hands-on experience is open to both new and old filmmakers, providing a direct opportunity for students to interact with equipment and positions in the narrative film industry.
Project
“Jump Cut”
The Jump: real-world simulation for student actors and filmmakers.
The Cut: merging individual film classes across disciplines together.
Project Jumpcut combines THEA 255 & DM 255 to pull together students from cinematography, editing, & screenwriting courses and let them work directly with acting students in one class with the outcome being one short film that students can use on their portfolio reels.
The practical skills gained working on a “real” film with faculty collaborators provides an invaluable experience to the novice filmmaker and actor. Students are assigned to different specialties each semester, including acting (exclusive to THEA 255), general electric, camera, audio, producing, and directing in order to explore the intricacies of each position on a live set. Each student is interviewed in order to give them the position and experience designed for them.
With student-led scripts, direction, and cinematography, the experience each semester sees student’s visions to fruition. Each film is put into the film festival pool, with each crew member receiving applicable IMDb credits. This class provides an easy way to establish students in the film industry with an impressive and fresh portfolio.