Film and Digital Media
Communications 101
(831) 459-3204
film@ucsc.edu
http://arts.ucsc.edu/film/
Program Description
The film and digital media major at UCSC offers an integrated curriculum involving theory, criticism, and cultural analysis, as well as a production program in the aesthetics and techniques of film and digital media. This bachelor of arts degree program provides students with the theoretical and practical aspects of digital media, film- and video-making, and critical studies. Students are given the critical skills, the theoretical concepts, and the historical knowledge necessary to conduct informed analysis of cinema, television, video art, and new media along with the up-to-date technical knowledge, practical skills, and artistic contexts needed for the production of film, video, and digital media. The major provides a course of study that develops an understanding of moving image and digital media as essential tools of communication and artistic practice.
Students in the general film and digital media major develop an understanding of major movements in world cinema and different aesthetic approaches to the medium, while studying the cultural impact of television and the rise of video and digital art in recent decades. They are also encouraged to demonstrate technical proficiency and creative vision in film and digital media production. Students in the highly selective production concentration devote much of their time to producing films, videos, and digital art, while also studying the histories and theories of these media.
Students in both facets of the major acquire skills in media analysis and production while maintaining a broadly based liberal arts perspective. The UCSC program is interdisciplinary, combining specific theory and practice in film, video, and digital media with study in other areas of the arts, humanities, and social sciences that help students understand the role these media play in society.
As the technologies of film and video merge into digital computer-based moving images and interactive media, and as time-based arts continue to expand into everyday experience, students in the major are uniquely positioned to assume leadership roles in these fields. Graduates of the UCSC film and digital media program have enjoyed considerable success both in the professional world and in gaining admission to top graduate schools in the field.
Students enrolled in film and digital media production classes have access to 16 mm film, audio, video, and digital production and postproduction equipment. Facilities include film, audio, and digital video production and postproduction equipment; audio recording studio, sound stage with green screen; digital nonlinear editing rooms; telecine, film sound, and format conversion rooms; a computerized sound effects library; and student equipment checkout. Additionally, computer laboratories equipped for digital image manipulation, web authoring, and interactive interface design and viewing rooms are available. The critical studies facilities include a film study center for projection and close film analysis and classrooms equipped for high-end film, video, and data projection. The library holdings in film and video history, theory, and literature are complemented by a large collection of films, videos, laser disks, and DVDs, including a diverse range of international feature films, experimental film and video work, animation, silent films, and documentaries.
Some courses offered by the Film and Digital Media Department are restricted in enrollment; admission is based on completion of prerequisites and other major requirements, as well as other courses in critical studies in film and video and related media. Admission to advanced production courses is generally restricted to third- and fourth-year students and is based on the submission of a portfolio of work produced in the introductory production class (course 170) and other production workshops.
Declaring the Film and Digital Media Major
Prior to declaring the film and digital media major, students must have successfully completed two of the required lower-division courses (see the list of specific courses below).
20A The Film
Experience
20B Introduction to Television Culture and Society
20C Introduction to Digital Media
20P Introduction to Production Technique
Students are encouraged to complete the lower- division courses as early in their studies as possible so that the petition to major status is accomplished no later than the first quarter of the junior year. Acceptance into the film and digital media major does not constitute acceptance into the production concentration.
Program of Study
The general film and digital media major requires three lower-division and 10 upper-division courses in residence and satisfaction of the senior comprehensive requirement. Students must include among these 13 courses at least one lower- or upper-division 5-credit course that focuses on diversity (i.e., non-Western; underrepresented ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation). A list of courses satisfying the department’s diversity requirement is available at the department office. Students in the general film and digital media major may apply for admission to the production concentration within the major (see Production Concentration below).
Lower-Division Requirements
20A The Film
Experience, and
two of the following three courses are required for all majors:
20B Introduction
to Television Culture and Society
20C Introduction to Digital Media
20P Introduction to Production Technique
General Film and Digital Media Major
Students must complete the upper-division core curriculum by completing one course from each of the following five groups in film and digital media:
120 Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism
130 Silent
Cinema, or
132A International Cinema to 1960, or
132B International Cinema, 1960 to Present
134A American
Film, 1930–60, or
134B American Film, 1960–Present
136A Experimental
Film and Video, or
136B History of Television, or
136C Visual Culture and Technology: History of New Media
194A Film Theory
Seminar, or
194B Electronic Media Theory Seminar, or
194C New Media Theory Seminar, or
194D Film History Seminar
Five elective courses are to be chosen from the following:
-
up to five upper-division history/critical studies courses in film and digital media;
-
up to two upper-division courses in film and video production (170A, 170B, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178A, 178B);
-
course 150;
-
up to two upper-division courses offered by other departments must be preapproved by the faculty adviser.
Film and Digital Media Major Planners
The following are two recommended academic plans for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the film and digital media major. Plan One is a guideline for students who are committed to the major early in their academic career; Plan Two is for students who are considering the major.
Students who are interested in the production concentration should seriously consider Plan One in order to be better prepared for application to production studios.
| Plan One | |||
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
| 1st (frsh) |
Film 20A college core gen ed |
low-div Fidm* req gen ed gen ed |
low-div Fidm* req (or alternate) two gen eds (declare major) |
| *film and digital media | |||
| 2nd (soph) |
Fidm critical studies Film 120 gen ed |
Fidm critical studies Fidm critical studies gen ed |
Fidm critical studies Fidm 170A or 170B* gen ed |
| *by application | |||
| Plan Two | |||
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
| 1st (frsh) |
core gen ed |
low-div Fidm req or gen ed gen ed |
low-div Fidm req gen ed gen ed |
| 2nd (soph) |
low-div Fidm req gen ed gen ed |
Fidm critical studies low-div Fidm req gen ed |
Fidm critical studies gen ed gen ed |
Admission to the production concentration is highly selective, based on promise and accomplishment shown in the student’s work. After completing course 170B, students may apply to the production concentration by submitting works to a portfolio review conducted at the end of each quarter. These student works are reviewed by film and digital media production faculty. Application materials and instructions are available at the Film and Digital Media Department Office. Students should note that production courses are in high demand and that faculty workload considerations and equipment resources require a limitation on the number of applicants accepted into the production concentration. Students may reapply a second time if not accepted.
Requirements for the Production Concentration
Students in the production concentration complete the following required upper-division core curriculum (six courses):
120 Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism
170B Fundamentals of Film and Video Production
two of the following production courses:
150 Screenwriting
170A Fundamentals of Digital Media Production
171 Special Topics Workshop
172 Film and Video Studio
173 Narrative Workshop
175 Documentary Video Workshop
176 Experimental Video Workshop
177 Digital Media Workshop: Computer as Medium
178A Personal Computers in Film and Video
178B Advanced Personal Computers in Film and Video
and two critical studies courses—one each from two of the three following groups:
130 Silent Cinema, or
132A International Cinema to 1960, or
132B International Cinema, 1960 to Present
134A American Film, 1930–60, or
134B American Film, 1960–Present
136A Experimental Film and Video, or
136B History of Television, or
136C Visual Culture and Technology: History of New Media
and four elective courses from the following:
- up to two upper-division courses in film and video production (150, 151, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, one of the 178 series);
- at least two upper-division film and video history/ critical studies courses;
- up to two upper-division critical studies elective courses from another department must be preapproved.
Comprehensive Requirement
All seniors in the general film and digital media major or the production concentration may select one of three options to satisfy the campus exit requirement.
- Senior seminar: The senior seminars (courses in the 194 series) are restricted to majors in their senior year and are writing intensive. Students in the general major are required to complete one senior seminar. Students in the production concentration may complete the senior seminar to satisfy the senior exit requirement or as an elective.
- Senior thesis: With prior faculty approval, a student may elect to do a senior thesis (course 195). The student must contact a faculty member at least one quarter in advance to submit a proposal and obtain faculty approval for a senior thesis. The proposal may involve writing a screenplay, expanding on a paper from a previously completed upper-division critical studies course in film and digital media, or writing an original paper in a particular area resulting in a work of substantial research.
- Senior project: A limited number of students in the production concentration are able to participate in the senior project (course 196A or 196B or 197). Admission is by application, with review of previous works and evaluation of the proposal for the final project by film and digital media production faculty.
Transfer Students
Three lower-division and 10 upper-division courses are required for completion of the major. With some lower-division preparation, transfer students should be able to complete the upper-division course work and the major within two years. As preparation, prospective transfer students are encouraged to fulfill at least one lower-division film and digital media major requirement (course 20 series) through UCSC Summer Session prior to their transfer. Transfer students must petition the department to have equivalent lower-division courses taken at their current institution count toward their UCSC major requirements. Students who have completed none of the lower-division major requirements prior to transfer to UCSC, students who are interested in graduating with a double major, and students who must finish general education requirements may need additional time to complete their studies. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to speak with an academic adviser at the department office prior to enrolling in classes in order to determine their status and to begin the declaration of major process.
Minor Requirements
The minor in film and digital media offers a foundation in visual culture and contributes important scholarly techniques of value to other disciplines. Students earn a minor in film and digital media by completing eight courses: two lower-division courses as prerequisites for the minor and six upper-division courses including four from the core curriculum of the general major and two electives. There is no production component in the minor, nor is there a comprehensive requirement.
Two prerequisites
At least two lower-division courses:
20A The Film Experience, and
one of the following three courses:
20B Introduction to Television Culture and Society
20C Introduction to Digital Media
20P Introduction to Production Technique
Four upper-division core courses
Course 120, Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism, and at least three additional courses, including one from each of the following three groups:
130 Silent Cinema, or
132A International Cinema to 1960, or
132B International Cinema, 1960 to Present
134A American Film, 1930–60, or
134B American Film, 1960–Present
136A Experimental Film and Video, or
136B History of Television, or
136C Visual Culture and Technology: History of New Media
Two electives
Any two film and digital media courses other than production studio courses (170A through 178A, 178B, and 178C) that have not been used to satisfy the above core curriculum.