Malcolm Spaull, Administrative Chair
(585) 475-2779, mgscdm@rit.edu
Program overview
The BFA degree program in film and animation is for students who recognize the moving image as an expressive force uniquely important to modern life. The school will develop students’ production skills and acquaint each with film, video, and animation as creative media.
Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes production, with students beginning their first quarter working in 16mm film and animation and continuing with production work every quarter until they graduate. Students may choose to specialize in motion pictures, video, or traditional or computer animation. The school’s goal is to prepare students who are able to produce, creatively and practically, their own independent work and/or fulfill professional production responsibilities in any medium suitable to their interests and abilities.
Through lectures and laboratories, students develop individual skills in moving-image communications and learn the aesthetic principles governing the art. Technology and technique are never taught as an end in themselves but in terms of learning to use the tools necessary to achieve a creative goal in relation to the audience.
Students in the film and animation program produce several short films or animations by working through all phases of production: scripting, production planning, budgeting, shooting, editing, and sound design. Students further their learning of visual and sound artistry through hands-on experience with camera and sound equipment. Film, video, and animation projects are designed by individual students. A wide variety of styles and intentions is expressed in the department’s work.
Utilizing research, critical thinking, creativity, and a range of problem-solving principles, students are taught to address complex motion imaging workflow issues within the constraints of time, space, budget, and technology. Graduates of the BS program will enjoy a variety of career opportunities, from feature film and television post-production to imaging equipment design and essential motion imaging technology research and development.
Film and animation, BFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 2065-201 | Introduction to Film Production | 4 |
| 2065-202, 203 | Digital Production I, II | 8 |
| 2065-206 | Story and Structure | 2 |
| 2065-216 | Fundamentals of Computer Imaging | 3 |
| 2065-221 | Materials and Processes of Moving Image | 2 |
| 2065-222 | Film Language | 4 |
| 2065-263 | Single-Frame Motion | 2 |
| 2065-331 | Introduction to Animation | 4 |
| 2065-342 | Scriptwriting I | 3 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| 1720-050, 051 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 2065-344 | Post-production Processes | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Production Emphasis: | ||
| 2065-316 | Production Processes | 5 |
| 2065-324 | Live-Action Pre-production | 3 |
| 2065-343 | Scriptwriting II | 3 |
| Film/Video Production Workshop | 4 | |
| Film Animation History and Aesthetics | 12 | |
| Film/Animation Electives | 9-12 | |
| Animation Emphasis: | ||
| 2065-352 | Animation Pre-production | 4 |
| 2065-427 | 2D Computer Animation | 4 |
| 2065-457 | Introduction to 3D Modeling Animation | 4 |
| 2013-211, 212 | Foundation Drawing | 6 |
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| 2065-333 | Animation Production Workshop | |
| 2065-447 | Experimental Animation Workshop | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| 2013-213 | Foundation Drawing | |
| 2013-231 | 2D Design | |
| 2013-241 | 3D Design | |
| Film/Animation History and Aesthetics | 6-8 | |
| Film/Animation Elective | 3-4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 2065-413 | Senior Project Seminar | 1 |
| Open Electives | 8 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Production Emphasis: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| 2065-387 | Writing the Short Film | |
| 2065-376 | Dramatic Structure for Film/TV | |
| Choose one of the following: | 8 | |
| Production Workshop: Documentary/Experimental/Fiction | ||
| 2065-387 | Writing the Short Film | |
| Film/Animation History and Aesthetics | 6-8 | |
| Film/Animation Electives | 8 | |
| Animation Emphasis: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| 2065-361 | Introduction to 3D Computer Animation I | |
| 2065-478 | 3D Computer Animation II | |
| 2065-332 | Advanced Animation Tools | |
| 2065-363 | Scriptwriting for Animation | 3 |
| 2065-437 | Advanced Animation Workshop I | 4 |
| 2065-438 | Advanced Animation Workshop II | 4 |
| Film/Animation History and Aesthetics | 3-4 | |
| Film/Animation Electives | 6-8 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Open Elective | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 9-12 | |
| Production Emphasis and Animation Emphasis: | ||
| 2065-507, 508, 509 | Senior Project 1, 2, 3 | 12 |
| 2065-512 | Senior Forum | 2 |
| 2065-513 | Career Preparation | 2 |
| Film/Animation History and Aesthetics | 3-4 | |
| Film/Animation Electives | 9-12 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184-195 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
Admission requirements
For information on undergraduate admission, including freshman and transfer admission guidelines, please refer to the Undergraduate Admission section of this bulletin.
Portfolio guidelines: Please see portfolio guidelines listed in the introductory section for this college for specific instructions on portfolio submission for applicants to the film and animation program. The review committee is looking for work that is original in concept and content. It does not necessarily need to be motion media, but should be visual or aural. Examples include films/videos, photos, drawings, paintings, sculpture, stop-motion puppets, scripts, storyboards, and original music.
An inventory sheet or table of contents should accompany portfolios.Videos should be on mini-DV, DVCAM, VHS, DVD, or DVDROM. The movie files on a DVDROM must be in QuickTime or MPEG2 format. No AVI or other digital video architectures files. NTSC or ATSC (HD) only. Still images should be on DVDROM or CDROM in jpeg or tiff format. Slides in 35mm format are acceptable, but they must be presented in sleeves. No boxes or carousel trays will be accepted. Sound design should be no longer than 10 minutes in length and must be presented in CD format.
Writing policy
The School of Film and Animation has a minimum writing requirement within each of its degree programs. A copy of the school’s official writing competency policy may be obtained from the department or from the Office of Academic Student Services.
Additional information
Graduate programs
The School of Film and Animation offers and MFA degree in in animation with options in 2D animation, 3D animation, scriptwriting, and live action production. The program is described in the Graduate Bulletin, available from the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services at www.rit.edu/programs/grad/.
Summer session
The School of Film and Animation offers a limited selection of courses during the summer quarter. These range from beginning courses to those requiring a substantial background. For information on summer courses, please e-mail the school: sofa@rit.edu.
Memberships
The school maintains memberships in a number of professional organizations: Animation World Network, College Art Association, Rochester Audio Visual Association, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, University Film and Video Association, Siggraph, and BEA. The school also is a certified Apple Training Center for Professional Applications.