In fall 2010, the School of Visual Arts (SVA) will pioneer the first ever graduate program devoted exclusively to the short film. Long overshadowed by its more glamorous sibling, the feature film, the short film is integral to the existence of an evolving and pertinent film industry, particularly as a conduit for the emerging filmmaker. In fact, many established and successful directors, including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese, first began by making short films (1:42:08, Amblin' and The Big Shave, respectively). It served as a way for them to develop their abilities as filmmakers, and gain entrance into the industry.
Today, for the first time since the 1930’s, the short film has become a hot commodity. The shifting and changing media landscape has made short films one of the most relevant and malleable mediums available to filmmakers. Indeed, television, the internet, and mobile devices have all generated a market for shorts that goes beyond film festivals. What’s more, the widespread use of digital media and editing equipment has made the genre an economical and accessible way to articulate and experiment with ideas that might otherwise be deemed too challenging or untenable.
SVA's MPS Live Action Short Film program, chaired by Bob Giraldi, is a one year, 36 credit program, in which students will develop the intellectual and practical tools for filmmaking, including the conception of an idea, pre-production, photographing, editing, and marketing the final product.
The program places an emphasis on the filmmaker as collaborator. Students will develop a familiarity with every tool of filmmaking, and work with one another as directors, writers, crew members, and editors. This collegial way of working is an excellent model for both a supportive artistic atmosphere and a professional filmmaking environment. The course of study ultimately culminates in a competitive, thesis-based short film festival, hosted by SVA at their West 23rd Street theater.
The MPS Live Action Short Film program celebrates the truly independent art of filmmaking, honoring first-time filmmakers, instructing them about the history of short film, and outfitting them with the creative, technical, and critical tools needed to impart their artistic visions.
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I seems like this program was designed with full-time students in mind. What about people with day jobs? can we be accommodated in this program?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you commented! This program was actually designed specifically for working professionals. The classes run Monday through Thursday, in the evenings. I'm working right now to finalize the schedule, but it looks like they will be from 6pm-9pm, and we may have a couple of Saturday workshops in the course of each semester.
ReplyDeletePlease come to our information session at SVA on Saturday, November 7th. You can register here: http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/gradopenhouse/app
i signed up for the discussion session! this sounds great.
ReplyDeletewhat kind of portfolio will we have to present in applying? i am a graduate of the illustration program, and i am a writer as well, but i want to learn short film making. will you guys let in other artists as well as film majors?
Absolutely! We welcome writers and artists who might lack filmmaking experience, but have a vision for a short film.
ReplyDeleteYOu can apply either with time-based media (video) OR with 10-20 images on a CD; The images should express the concepts of a central theme. A brief written commentary may accompany the images. Essentially, if you don't have a video, you can still apply by telling a narrative with still images-- drawings, photos, paintings, digital art, etc.
I look forward to seeing you at the info session!