Program Overview

Introduction to the Film, Television and Interactive Media Program

The Film, Television and Interactive Media program at Brandeis University is an interdisciplinary major that combines the study of film, television, and interactive media with a wide range of perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, and computer science. Through this program, students learn to analyze film style and content, film history, and film production, as well as gain exposure to the creative aspects of film production, including screenwriting, editing, interactive media, 3D animation, sound design, and digital-media capture.

Why Brandeis?

The Film, Television and Interactive Media program at Brandeis is rooted in an academically rigorous liberal arts environment, providing students with a flexible and interdisciplinary education. The program makes room for students' creativity and area of interest while ensuring their digital and cinematic literacy. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Wasserman Cinematheque and Getz Multimedia Lab, which has 20 editing stations with professional-level editing software.

Academics

The program offers a wide range of courses dealing with the history, theory, cultural significance, and actual craft of film, TV, and media. Some examples of electives include:

• Acting for the Camera
• Bollywood: Popular Film, Genre and Society
• Cinematography
• Classic Hollywood Cinema
• Film Noir
• Introduction to 3-D Animation
• Italian Films, Italian Histories
• Motion Picture Editing

Beyond the Classroom

The program provides students with opportunities to enrich their experience through:

Premieres and Screenings

Students can attend Meet the Artist events, which bring actors and directors to Brandeis to discuss their work.

Study Abroad

Students can study abroad in any approved Brandeis program or enroll in courses at FAMU, the renowned film and television school in Prague, Czech Republic.

Internships

Students are encouraged to pursue internships, with past students working at MTV, the Mark Gordon Co., Bedford Falls Productions, Focus Features, and elsewhere.

Faculty and Student Excellence

The program has a dedicated and diverse faculty, with students learning from distinguished visiting faculty as well. Highly motivated students can elect to pursue an honors thesis, which entails a two-semester-long research or creative project under the supervision of a member of the program's executive committee.

Graduate Study, Careers and Alumni

With a degree in Film, Television and Interactive Media from Brandeis, students are well-prepared to pursue graduate study in the cinematic arts as well as in complementary fields. Alumni have gone on to exciting positions in the entertainment industry, including filmmakers, producers, digital media content producers, and media lab developers. Many successful Brandeis graduates are working in the entertainment industry, including:

• David Crane '79 and Marta Kauffman '78, co-creators, "Friends"
• Loretta Devine, MFA'76, Emmy Award-winning actor ("Dreamgirls," "Grey's Anatomy")
• Tony Goldwyn '82, film and TV actor and director ("Scandal," "Ghost")
• Debra Granik '85, film director and screenwriter ("Winter's Bone," "Down to the Bone")
• Marshall Herskovitz '73, director, producer and screenwriter ("The Last Samurai," "Traffic," "Thirtysomething")
• Debra Messing '90, Emmy Award-winning actor ("Will & Grace," "Mysteries of Laura," "Smash")
• Anand Patwardhan '72, documentary filmmaker
• Rosemary Rodriguez '83, TV director ("Law & Order," "The Good Wife")
• Michael Sugar '95, movie producer ("Spotlight," "Collateral Beauty," "The Fifth Estate")

Undergraduate Advising

Students can contact Professor Paul Morrison to learn more about the FTIM curriculum and what is required to major in this field.

Minor in Film

Students can choose the FTIM minor to complement a major in English, theater arts, European cultural studies, or another field. The requirements for the minor can be found in the University Bulletin.