MA Film and Media Production

Overview of our MA in Film and Media Production

The Academy makes the accelerated schedule possible by creating an extended academic year, allowing students to complete three full-length semesters in one calendar year.



 
Throughout the filmmaking MA program each student writes, shoots, directs, and edits eight films, and works on at least 20 more.

ONE-YEAR ACCELERATED MA

The New York Film Academy Master of Arts (MA) in Film & Media Production is a three semester accelerated graduate program. Designed to educate aspiring content creators, it is a hands-on, total immersion, professional course of study. Each student will create eight of their own film media projects in an array of formats and genres. They will work in collaboration on their classmates’ projects on at least 20 more. The capstone of the MA Film and Media Production program is a written thesis paper exploring the ideas and themes that are studied during the course of the entire program. MA students will have opportunities to develop and deepen their thesis papers in the second semester of their studies in Thesis Development class, under the expert guidance of NYFA’s professionally active faculty. Students will then progress to finalize their thesis work in the third semester, in Thesis Review.

Film and media production is constantly evolving in the 21st century — and so is the New York Film Academy’s filmmaking Master’s program. NYFA's filmmaking MA program provides creative visual storytellers with skills to help students pursue their passion. The intensive curriculum challenges students, develops their skills, and teaches students to be adaptive artists. Students will gain experience shooting their projects on the newest in HD, film, and digital equipment, from Canon 5D to Red Dragon, as well as classic film cameras like Panavision and Arriflex.

FILMMAKING MA: SEMESTER ONE OVERVIEW

MA Filmmaking students begin their immersion in film production through a series of intense classes in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and editing. These classes support a number of short film productions that quickly put students’ skills into practice and assist them with developing proficiency in the overall production process. Each student will direct four short film/media projects in the first half of the semester.

Students will also develop their leadership and collaborative skills through fulfilling the essential roles of Director of Photography, Assistant Camera Operator, and Gaffer (Lighting Technician) on the films of their classmates.

Dialogue production is explored in depth in the second half of the semester while classes in directing, screenwriting, and editing continue. The final project of the semester is the digital dialogue film, which students will write, direct, and edit.

Throughout the semester students are immersed in a course about the changing formats of media production in today’s entertainment marketplace. This course prepares them to undertake production of their thesis film in semester two either as a short film or as a new, still developing format, such as webisode, or content for mobile applications.

The combination of these classes will prepare students for the second semester and production of their Thesis Projects.

LEARNING GOALS

• Art, aesthetics, and technique of visual storytelling including directing, cinematography, and editing.
• Fundamentals of film production and digital editing.
• Survey and examination of contemporary media formats and distribution vehicles from a content creator’s perspective.
• Fundamental training in acting and directing actors.
• Immersion in screenwriting craft.
• Develop an ability to collaborate with — and lead — a student film crew.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Write, direct, and edit four short film/media projects.
• Crew as cinematographer, gaffer, and/or assistant camera on approximately 12 additional films.
• Write a short film script with dialogue.
• Write, direct and edit a dialogue film.
• Successfully complete Production Lab exercise.

FILMMAKING MA: SEMESTER TWO & THREE OBJECTIVES

The second semester of the Master of Arts in film and media production program challenges students to develop their craft artistically and technically, and to progress beyond their earlier achievements with the medium. Building upon the filmmaking foundations learned in the previous semester, students continue with their directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and editing classes.

Film Production Lab Two, an intensive in the field production class, provides instruction in all of these areas through a series of “in the field” productions. The development of professional on-set conduct, leadership, and collaborative skills are also rigorously developed in this class.

Branding and marketing is studied at length prior to production of the thesis project. This allows students time to acquire many provisions they need to promote their projects.

The last film project of the filmmaking MA is the Final Film: a single production of up to 15 minutes in length, or multiple shorter media projects. It may be a short film intended for film festivals and distribution which incorporates all of the disciplines instructed throughout the semester, or a new format as studied in the Media and Society class. Current examples include webisodes, branded entertainment, short TV pilots, or commercials. The students’ ambitions and capabilities as evidenced in the thesis project are expected to increase from the first semester projects. Students will also expand their knowledge of production and collaborative abilities through acting as crew members on five of their classmates’ productions.

Intensive classes in post-production assist the student not only with completing the final steps of the filmmaking process, but also with developing an ability to give and receive editorial and creative feedback on their project.

LEARNING GOALS

• Advance in proficiency in the fields of directing, editing, and cinematography.
• Develop an increased ability to produce short films at a higher level.
• Advance in proficiency in collaboration and leadership skills.
• Acquire a comprehension of branding and marketing as required to promote the thesis project.
• Develop an ability to give and receive constructive editorial and creative feedback on a project.

PRODUCTION GOALS

• Direct and edit a thesis project of up to 15 minutes in length (shot on 16mm film, 35mm film, or High Def).
• Develop proficiency with the second semester equipment package.
• Participate as a principle crew member in five fellow students’ films.
• Direct or DP a Film Production Lab Two project.

FILMMAKING MA: YEAR-END SCREENINGS

The thesis project will be presented in a movie theater for an invited audience. Students are responsible for inviting all guests. This public screening is not part of the formal evaluation process, but serves as a celebration of the students’ progress and achievements thus far.