Course Descriptions

This course introduces students to the various roles and responsibilities of the filmmaking team. The fundamentals of production and an introduction to cinematic language are described and implemented through classwork and hands-on filmmaking.

A supervised film project includes development, pre-production, production, and post-production. Mentorship and supervision focus on technical competence, professionalism and realization of content.

This course explores the development of narrative ideas for cinema, the creative aspects of screenplay writing and will give an appreciation and understanding of the screenplay's significance in the film making process. Course elements include analysis of the internal and external structures, the story arc, applying visual components and creation of a story treatment.

This course develops technical skills in photography, video, lighting, audio production and media editing for acting students to apply to their project work and audiovisual communications in the field.

This course explores what a documentary is, the history of documentary film, the techniques used by documentary filmmakers to tell their stories, and how documentary films are developed, produced, and distributed. Students will also develop their own story ideas and direct and shoot a live-action short "in camera" documentary as they establish a basic foundation in documentary cinema arts.

This course is the continuation of ASAS 321 and will focus on a selection of late 20th century and early 21st century stage/film directors. Students will explore the selected director's work through lecture, discussion, in-class scene study and screenings from a cinematic perspective.

This course examines contemporary, cross-cultural queer cinema in the mainstream studio, independent and international film industries and the relationship between queer cinema and the global film communities.

In this course, students explore the development, production, post-production and roll-out strategy of an independently financed, ultra low-budget feature length motion picture. The course is designed around the creative core of a feature film, from development to distribution. Participation, initiative and communication are required and students should be prepared and willing to share their project along the way.

This course provides students with the unique opportunity to enhance and complement their learning experience through an on-location international field school and the use of digital media technology as a means of research and study. In preparation, classes will explore visual storytelling, film language and the techniques used by filmmakers when working on location. Students will research and develop their own story ideas in order to create a digital project within the historical and cultural context of the field school locations, including Indigenous communities.

Working closely with the Acting for Stage and Screen program, the Motion Picture Arts program helps to provide a grounding in the skills required to prepare and perform a role in traditional and advanced technical environments common in contemporary media production. Instruction is by a professional film and television director and a Motion Capture expert, with a special focus on delivering practical experience in virtual space and motion capture performance.