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Dean: Raymond Fielding
Established in 1988, the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts (the Film School) is one of only seven university-based film conservatories in the country. In the short time the Film School has been in operation, it has quickly become recognized nationwide as an outstanding film program, offering both a bachelor of fine arts and a master of fine arts degree to those admitted. Both programs provide state-of-the-art film and video equipment and studio facilities for production and postproduction operations. The two programs are served by a completely equipped production center. The Film School funds all student film and tape workshops and productions, including the graduate thesis films and undergraduate senior film productions.
The expertise of the Film Schools faculty reflects the direction and range the school will take in the future. Dr. Raymond Fielding, Dean of the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts, has more than 40 years experience in the film and television industry as a writer, director, producer, editor, manager, and consultant. Dr. Peter Stowell, Director of both the Undergraduate Film School and the Graduate Film Conservatory, is both a screenwriter and film scholar. They are joined by 14 additional faculty members, all of whom are specialists in the areas of writing, directing, photography, editing, electronic imaging, audio recording, and production management.
The program of study leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree is designed to lead students through the complete process of creating short films, while incorporating a well-rounded liberal arts education that includes writing courses. Major courses include screenwriting and storyboarding, directing, camera operation and lighting, sound recording, editing, production management, film history, and theory and aesthetics. It is a limited access major, therefore admission is selective. Students may be accepted into the program at the freshman level or transfer in once the majority of the liberal studies requirements have been completed.
A four-week summer program for film majors is offered in London by The Florida State University London Study Center. This is available to undergraduate students the summer after completing two semesters in the program.
Complete 16mm film and video production and editing facilities, a multitrack recording studio with music-scoring capabilities, screening rooms, a duplication center with on-site engineering and management support, as well as a well-stocked video and laserdisc library, aid in meeting the goals of the undergraduate program-to fully educate students and to help them become integral members of the academic community of The Florida State University, as well as responsible members of the entertainment profession and participants in a creative and professional enterprise.
The program leading to a master of fine arts degree has set the following goals: to provide the creative and technical environment for professional specialization; to ground students in the history of each mediums theory and practice; and to prepare students for careers as artists, managers, producers, and craftspersons in the professional film and video production industries. Students work in production teams on narrative/dramatic films with each film being written, storyboarded, produced, directed, shot, recorded, and edited by graduate students. In addition, students are educated on the financial, legal, distribution, and exhibition aspects of the film business. The graduate program is designed and scheduled as a conservatory. It is meant to create a flexible and disciplined atmosphere where individuals can hone their talents, develop a body of work, and sharpen their capacities to work in teams.
Admission to the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts is limited access, making admission selective and competitive. Approximately fifteen (15) freshmen and fifteen (15) transfer students are admitted each year as apprentice film students. For freshmen, the apprenticeship will last two years; for transfer students, the apprenticeship will last one year. At the end of that period, faculty will invite into the major those apprentices they feel are most suited to the Film School mission. Applicants must make application to and meet the requirements of The Florida State University Office of Admissions, as well as submit separate application to the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts. A student seeking to enter the program must offer an acceptable grade point average and be eligible for admission to The Florida State University. Each applicant must submit a 500 to 1,000 word essay describing his or her background, artistic experiences, creative influences, personal objectives and future career goals. All application materials must be received by the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts by January 31 for the applicant to be considered for admission the following fall semester.
Admission to the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts Graduate Film Conservatory is also of limited access, with 24 students admitted each year. Those students admitted to the first year will serve a three-semester (one-year) apprenticeship. At the end of that period, faculty will invite into the final years thesis cycle those apprentices they feel are most suited to the Film School mission. Prospective students must make application to and meet the requirements of The Florida State University Graduate Admissions Office and submit a separate application directly to the Graduate Film Conservatory. All applicants must submit a 500 to 1,000 word essay describing their artistic work, creative influences, personal objectives, relevant background and career goals, as well as letters of recommendation, a professional resume, and GRE scores. All application materials must be received by the School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts by January 31 for the applicant to be considered for admission the following fall semester.
Students seeking degrees in certain majors, including film, assume any exposure to the particular hazards associated with that major. As protection for our students, the Film School requires that majors present proof of health and accident insurance (name of insurer and policy number) prior to registration in the fall semester each year. Students are expected to maintain this insurance throughout their enrollment in the Film School. Registration will be administratively canceled at the end of the second week of classes for any students failing to provide proof of insurance.