Screenwriting
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: The course will be an intensive exploration of the basic principles of dramatic writing. Students will have the opportunity to study the practice and theory of storytelling in a wide range of contexts, from the ancient Greeks to contemporary Hollywood, focusing on those elements common to all narratives. Students will concentrate on writing a short 8- to 19-minute screenplay. Each screenplay will be developed under the close guidance of a Professor and will be work-shopped in class. Students will be expected to submit numerous revisions and work through several drafts, until the screenplay is deemed ready to shoot. 

Tools: Preproduction and Final Cut
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: This course is dedicated to both pre-production and to Final Cut Pro training and instruction in the techniques of film editing. Students will develop an understanding of pre-production matters, including budgeting, scheduling, assembling a crew, creating storyboards, rehearsing, and understanding and completing necessary legal paperwork. Students will become comfortable with the interface of Final Cut Pro if they are not already, and move on to more advanced FCP editing techniques for cutting dialogue scenes, action scenes, fight and chase scenes, documentaries, comedy, music videos, multi-camera projects and more. They will talk about the concept of thinking about editing while in the shooting stage. The course will also cover Soundtrack Pro, audio finishing and managing clips and media. 

History of the Short Film 1910-1960
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: Students will acquire and develop an understanding and greater appreciation for the art and history of short-subject film, from its inception in about 1910 to its form in 1960. The class will include a series of screenings of short films, lectures, readings, and group discussions whose aim is to enhance students' analytical skills for a better understanding of film and filmmakers' intentions. In this way, students will engage in a dialogue about the aesthetics, critical values, techniques employed and dynamics of short films from the 1960s to present.

Project Class I: Preproduction and Scheduling
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 6.00
Description: This course brings together the work from all of the courses. With Professor Bob Giraldi acting as producer, students are offered a firsthand opportunity to experience the creation and execution of a short film in the ever-changing world of media production. Students will discuss and analyze international Academy Award-winning short films of various techniques. Each student will be required to examine the challenges of producing a small movie—conceptual screenwriting, casting, location scouting, directing, photography, editing and finishing will be addressed and experienced.

Production: Principal Photography
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: This section of the program is about making your film. We are leaving the theoretical behind and choices will now have to be made. Students will learn to look at their scripts, bearing the production in mind, to see if economies can be made that will not affect the story. They will lie out and plan their shooting schedules, with the aim of creating a tight, efficient and smart approach that will maximize their on-set time. Cinematography will be discussed, and students will short their films. The role of the director as the leader of the cast and crew will be discussed, as well as set protocol and demeanor. 

Editing as Storytelling
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: Students will learn to use editing as a tool to tell stories. With Final Cut Pro, they will arrange and cut scenes to enhance the narrative and performances of the actors in their films, all with the goal of telling "The Story." Real world professional techniques will be taught and applied; examples of these techniques will be shown to students in the form of weekly screenings of short films, commercials and music videos. A working knowledge of Final Cut and basic film techniques are required.

History of the Short Film: 1960-present
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: This course will pick up where the first semester history of film course left off. Students will acquire and develop an understanding and greater appreciation for the art and history of short-subject film, from 1960-present. The class will include a series of screenings of short films, lectures, readings and group discussions whose aim is to enhance students' analytical skills for a better understanding of film and filmmakers' intentions. In this way, students will engage in a dialogue about the aesthetics, critical values, techniques employed and dynamics of short films from the 1960s to present. 

Project Class II: Production
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 6.00
Description: Seamlessly continuing where the first project course left off, this course brings together the work from all of the courses. With Professor Bob Giraldi acting as producer, students are offered a firsthand opportunity to experience the creation and execution of a short film in the ever-changing world of media production. Students will discuss and analyze international Academy Award-winning short films of various techniques. Each student will be required to examine the challenges of producing a small movie—conceptual screenwriting, casting, location scouting, directing, photography, editing and finishing will be addressed and experienced.

Postproduction and Editing
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: Students will collect additional materials needed to support their storylines: stills and documents, film and video archives, background and supporting sequences, etc. Using Final Cut Pro, they will arrange and cut scenes to enhance the narrative, tension and continuity of their films. Music, sound effects and dubs will be added to their films' soundtracks for quality control, realism and clarity. Marketing, submission to film festivals and post-production matters will be addressed. 

Project Class III: Thesis
Duration: One Semester
Credits: 3.00
Description: This final Project course is the culmination of work from all of the other courses. Students will complete their 8- to 18-minute films, under the guidance of their acting producer, Bob Giraldi. All aspects of filmmaking, including editing, finishing, presentation and marketing, festivals and distribution will be addressed. The finished films will be presented at a film festival at the SVA Theatre on 23rd Street.

Graduate students may audit one undergraduate or one continuing education course each semester, to a maximum of two courses per academic year (fall, spring or summer) without additional tuition charge. Courses must be audited during a one-year period and cannot exceed two courses in total. All applicable course fees will be charged. Courses open to auditing are subject to availability.