Film

The tutorial program in Film combines a broad background in the liberal arts with professional study in film offered by faculty of the internationally recognized graduate program in the School of Film. This is a four-year program of study for exceptional students culminating in a thesis leading to the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts. This program is vigorous and comprehensive and is designed for highly motivated individuals who prefer a more independent, individualized program of study. Students should have a potential for self-motivated undergraduate study within the environment of a graduate film school. Curriculum goals must include breadth of experience, depth in the selected area of concentration, and superior achievement demonstrated by tutorials, coursework and the thesis. Two primary tutorial programs are available: film production and film studies.

Eligibility

An applicant is expected to rank in the top ten percent of her/his high school class and to have a minimum ACT composite score of 30 or a combined SAT score of 1300. Additional admission requirements include submission of a portfolio of recent creative work and a recent substantive writing sample. (Creative writing projects fall into this category.)

Tutorial Program

There are five elements to the tutorial program in Film:

Tutorials: Eight individual tutorials on topics in Film Studies and Film Production are required. Possible tutorial topics in Film Production include all aspects of film and video pre-production and post-production; screenwriting; producing; directing; and special topics in film/video production. Possible tutorial topics in Film Studies include: film theory, criticism, history (including history of experimental, documentary and narrative film and video), historiography, film and society, research methods, and international cinemas.

Liberal Arts education:The nature of the film medium requires a broad background in liberal arts and a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Students are expected to select 12 credit hours of elective courses in history, English, media arts and studies, comparative arts, foreign languages, and other disciplines.

Production and scholarship courses in film: breadth of understanding can often best be achieved through practical courses in film and video production and courses in film scholarship. Because film is a collaborative art, tutorial students will join with other students in appropriate courses.

Minor area of specialization: The student will plan a cognate minor consisting of three courses outside the School of Film. These courses will be chosen according to the individual plan developed by the students with the Director of Studies. Students wishing, for example, to enter careers in producing or arts administration might complete a cognate minor in management, accounting, or business.

Thesis: Each HTC Film student is required to complete a thesis, which may take the form of a completed film, or feature-length screenplay. Students completing a creative project will also to be asked to write an accompanying scholarly paper as part of their thesis.

The topic and scope of the thesis is approved by the Director of Studies and the Thesis Advisor no later than the beginning of Fall Semester in the student's senior year.

The Director of Studies assigns tutors in accordance with the student’s interests and, in consultation with the student, develops an individual plan of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film.

Evaluation

Papers and creative work developed as part of each tutorial are discussed and evaluated by the tutor. The Director of Studies also consults with tutors about the progress and the strengths and weaknesses of individual students so that subsequent tutorials can address problems and build on existing strengths. A description of each tutorial as well as a formal evaluation is filed by the tutor in the college office and School of Film office at the close of each semester.

Application

The deadline to apply for admission is December 1. Please submit all artwork on labeled DVD or video tape; the School cannot accept original artwork.

Further Information

Professor Steven Ross
Director of Studies
School of Film
Ohio University
Lindley Hall 388
Athens, OH 45701-2979
(740) 593-1323
rosss2@ohio.edu