Film and Digital Media


101 Communications Building
(831) 459-3204
film@ucsc.edu
http://film.ucsc.edu

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. Students in the highly selective production concentration are encouraged to demonstrate technical proficiency and creative vision in film and digital media production while also studying the histories and theories of these media.

Students in both facets of the major acquire skills in media analysis while maintaining a broadly based liberal arts perspective. The UCSC program is interdisciplinary, combining 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 with digital computer-based moving images and interactive media, and as digitial media continues to expand into everyday experience, students in the major are uniquely positioned to excel 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 into 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 a new digital media lab; audio recording studio, sound stage with green screen; digital nonlinear editing rooms; telecine, film sound, and video 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 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 specific written application requirements. 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 170B) and other production workshops.

Declaring the Film and Digital Media Major

Prior to declaring the film and digital media major, students must complete two of the required three lower-division courses and receive a B- or better in each class. Students may use their third required 20-level course as one of the two courses that require a B- or above in order to declare the major. All 20-level courses must be taken for a letter grade by students who intend to declare film and digital media as their major.

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. Transfer students should consult the Transfer Student section for instructions on declaring the major.

Students who feel that there were extenuating circumstances which prevented them from meeting the requirements for declaring the major may appeal their denial by submitting a letter to the Film and Digital Media Department. The appeal must be filed no later than 15 days after the denial notification was mailed or the 10th day of classes in the quarter of the denial, whichever is later. For further information regarding this process, contact the Film and Digital Media Department.

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 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 highly selective and competitive production concentration within the major (see Production Concentration, below).

Lower-Division Requirements

Students must take the lower-division classes for a letter grade, and they must earn a B- or better in two of the three required lower-division classes to petition for the major.

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 or
132C Gender and Global Cinema
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 or
194E International Cinemas or
194F Film and the Other Arts: Music and Dance or
194G New(s) Media

Five upper-division elective courses are to be chosen from the following:

• up to five additional upper-division history/critical studies courses in film and digital media;

• up to two upper-division courses in film and digital media production (170A, 170B, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178A, 178B);

• course 150 or 151;

• up to two upper-division courses offered by other departments; course substitutions 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.

Production Concentration

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 a committee of 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
151 Film Directing
170A Fundamentals of Digital Media Production
171A Special Topics Workshop: Sound
171C Special Topics Workshop: Found Footage
171D Social Information Spaces
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
178C Introduction to Digital Media Production

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 or
132C Gender and Global Cinema
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 upper-division elective courses from the following:

• up to two upper-division courses in film and digital media production (150, 151, one of the 171 series, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, one of the 178 series);

• at least two upper-division film and digital media history/critical studies courses;

• up to two upper-division critical studies elective courses from another department; course substitutions must be preapproved by the faculty adviser.

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) during spring quarter only. Admission is by application, with review of previous works and evaluation of the proposed final project by film and digital media production faculty.

Transfer Students

All transfer students must earn a B- or higher in both 20-level courses (at least one must be taken at UCSC) in order to declare the major. Appeal procedures are the same as for non-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 provided they have earned a B- or higher in that course. 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 as soon as possible.

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 or
132C Gender and Global Cinema
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 upper-division 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.