Program Overview

Film, MFA

The MFA in Film is a two plus year program that includes dedicated Tracks in Directing, Screenwriting, Producing, and an Independent Track, with production periods culminating in a feature screenplay, a 20-minute or feature MFA thesis film, a screenwriter’s portfolio, or a feature producer’s package, which includes serving as producer on a minimum of three films. Faculty Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Alan Kingsberg, Magdalene Brandeis, Perry Blackshear, Jennie Allen, Stewart Thorndike, Simone Pero, Lenny Crooks, Niav Conty, Karen Offitzer, and Jordan Roberts, along with top industry professionals, guide participants through the essential elements of independent film production and TV Writing. Hands-on, experiential, in-depth, project driven.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A current résumé
• A statement of purpose. Describe in a page or two why you are interested in this opportunity, how you would benefit, and what makes you a particularly deserving candidate.
• Your specialization: Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Independent Track (add to bottom of personal statement)(If Television Writing, select Television Writing MFA).
• Video Pitch. You have probably seen people pitching for donations on a crowdsourcing site. In this case, you can pitch to us anything you want: yourself as a candidate, a project you want to work on, or something else that is exciting to you. The video pitch should be creative, polished, inventive. We want you to win us over here! SUGGESTED LENGTH: 3 MINUTES
• Directing and Producing Video Samples. Directing candidates only (not required for Screenwriter, Television Writer, or Producer candidates): Please include a link (or links) to up to 4 video samples of work to which you made a significant contribution. Be clear about what role you played: producer, writer, director, editor, production designer, cinematographer, etc. You may submit links for more than one piece but the total running time should not exceed 15 minutes. If you submit an excerpt, please describe the full work. Unless you are applying as a cinematographer or production designer, the entirety of your video sample should not be in the format of a professional reel but should also show us the substance of your work. (A reel might accompany another sample). In lieu of video, you may submit up to ten photographs, design samples, or photographs of your artwork.
• Written materials: (All written materials may be uploaded in the Additional Supplemental Materials section)
  • All Candidates: The Scene. Write a short, 2-3-page scene inspired by and using one of these words that have no English language translation. We prefer a scene with two characters where one character wants something from the other and that you do NOT explicitly use the word you have chosen.
    • Glas wen (Welsh) A smile that is insincere or mocking. Literally, a blue smile.
    • Yuputka (Ulwa) The phantom sensation of something crawling on your skin.
    • Iktsuarpok (Inuit) You know that feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if they’re there yet? This is the word for it.
  • All Candidates: The Logline. Write an extended log line or a paragraph describing a project you’d like to realize with us. Attach this logline to the bottom of your scene.
  • Screenwriting, Television Writing and Directing Candidates: The Writing Sample. Please include a writing sample of up to 10 pages. This can be a complete short film, web episode, play, short story, or an excerpt of a feature screenplay, a TV Script, a webisode, a sketch or series of sketches. If you choose to submit an excerpt, please include a few lines describing the full work.
  • Producing Candidates: The Writing Sample. Please include a writing sample of up to 10 pages, including an excerpt of a feature screenplay critiques, production program notes, and/or literary criticism of a chosen screenplay, or excerpts of a film or screenplay you have acquired or produced; or a brief statement describing your view of the role of Producing in today’s platform agnostic film industry.
• Proficiencies. Directing Candidates Only
  • Please include a list of technical proficiencies in: camera, lighting, editing, and any related skills. This may be listed below the logline

Degree Requirements

The MFA in Film requires a minimum of 45 credits. In addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, the following are required:

Required Core Courses: 19 credits

• FLM 500 - Introduction to Graduate Studies 3-4 credits
• FLM 501 - Film Tools 3 credits
• FLM 537 - Production I 3 credits
• FLM 638 - Directing I 3 credits
• FLM 650 - Screenwriting Workshop I 3 credits
• FLM 660 - Acting Workshop for Filmmakers 3 credits (SOUTHAMPTON)

Experiential Option: 3 credits

• One or more of the following Experiential options:
  • FLM 591 - Independent Project 1-3 credits
  • FLM 690 - Professional Internship 1-3 credits
  • OR
  • FLM 550 - Teaching Practicum 3 credits

Required MFA Project & Thesis: 6 credits

• FLM 691 - MFA Project 1-3 credits (SOUTHAMPTON)
• FLM 692 - MFA Thesis Paper 1-3 credits (SOUTHAMPTON)

Select one Track from the following: 17 - 21 credits

Directing Track

• Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  • FLM 505 - Film Management I: Production Development 1-3 credits
  • FLM 508 - Editing I 1-3 credits
  • FLM 509 - Cinematography I 3 credits
  • FLM 510 - Film History I 3 credits
  • FLM 525 - Topics in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 576 - Film Workshop 1-6 Credits.
  • FLM 639 - Directing II: Advanced Directing 3 credits
  • FLM 670 - Directing Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 637 - Production II 3 credits
  • FLM 669 - Advanced Tools 3 credits
  • FLM 680 - Art Direction Workshop 3 credits

Producing Track

• Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  • FLM 505 - Film Management I: Production Development 1-3 credits
  • FLM 506 - Film Management II: Literary Management 3 credits
  • FLM 510 - Film History I 3 credits
  • FLM 530 - Directed Readings in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 575 - Adaptation Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 525 - Topics in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 576 - Film Workshop 1-6 Credits.
  • FLM 637 - Production II 3 credits
  • FLM 680 - Art Direction Workshop 3 credits
  • CWL 530 - Forms of Scriptwriting 3-4 credits

Screenwriting Track

• Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  • FLM 505 - Film Management I: Production Development 1-3 credits
  • FLM 510 - Film History I 3 credits
  • FLM 520 - Film History II 3 credits
  • FLM 530 - Directed Readings in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 575 - Adaptation Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 525 - Topics in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 576 - Film Workshop 1-6 Credits.
  • FLM 651 - Screenwriting Workshop II 3 credits
  • FLM 652 - Screenwriting Workshop III 3-6 credits
  • CWL 530 - Forms of Scriptwriting 3-4 credits
  • With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above).

Television Writing Track

• Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  • FLM 505 - Film Management I: Production Development 1-3 credits
  • FLM 510 - Film History I 3 credits
  • FLM 526 - Topics in TV Writing 1-4 credits
  • FLM 536 - Forms of TV Writing 1-6 credits
  • FLM 575 - Adaptation Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 525 - Topics in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 576 - Film Workshop 1-6 Credits.
  • FLM 651 - Screenwriting Workshop II 3 credits
  • FLM 652 - Screenwriting Workshop III 3-6 credits
  • CWL 530 - Forms of Scriptwriting 3-4 credits
  • With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above).

Individualized Track

• Select six or more of the following (17-21 credits):
  • FLM 505 - Film Management I: Production Development 1-3 credits
  • FLM 506 - Film Management II: Literary Management 3 credits
  • FLM 508 - Editing I 1-3 credits
  • FLM 509 - Cinematography I 3 credits
  • FLM 510 - Film History I 3 credits
  • FLM 520 - Film History II 3 credits
  • FLM 525 - Topics in Film 1-3 credits
  • FLM 526 - Topics in TV Writing 1-4 credits
  • FLM 530 - Directed Readings in Film 1-3 credits
  • CWL 530 - Forms of Scriptwriting 3-4 credits
  • FLM 536 - Forms of TV Writing 1-6 credits
  • FLM 575 - Adaptation Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 576 - Film Workshop 1-6 Credits.
  • FLM 608 - Editing II 3 credits
  • FLM 609 - Cinematography II 1-3 credits
  • FLM 637 - Production II 3 credits
  • FLM 639 - Directing II: Advanced Directing 3 credits
  • FLM 640 - Film Design Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 651 - Screenwriting Workshop II 3 credits
  • FLM 652 - Screenwriting Workshop III 3-6 credits
  • FLM 669 - Advanced Tools 3 credits
  • FLM 670 - Directing Workshop 3 credits
  • FLM 680 - Art Direction Workshop 3 credits
  • With permission of MFA Director, one additional course from Creative Writing and Literature (CWL 510 or above, 4 cr.).

Residence Requirement

This program is normally completed in three years of full-time residency. Three credits must include Southampton residency, FLM 660 - Acting Workshop for Filmmakers , (or course substitution, pending approval from Director).

University Requirements

The granting of master’s degree is based upon the completion of any special departmental requirements in addition to the items listed below:

Courses and Grade Point Average

A student must maintain a 3.0 overall grade point average

Registration

Degree candidates must be registered in the program granting their degree. Students must be registered for the semester in which they intend to graduate. Spring (May) and Fall (December) candidates must register for at least one graduate credit; Summer (August) candidates may register for zero credits in either summer session, but it still must be graduate level.

Time Limits

The time limit for the MFA is three years for full-time study and five years for part-time study. A student’s full- or part-time status is based on registration, and the time-limit may be modified if enrollment switches between part- and full-time. The student may petition for an extension of time limit for the degree. Such requests must be filed before the limit is exceeded and must contain a significant justification.