Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.

Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines of that timeline to pass this thesis course including completion and public screening of finished work or final presentation of craft experience.

SOFA Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.

This is course is an exploration of the feature film form. Students propose ideas for a feature length film and in consultation with the instructor and other students, write a detailed step outline and a substantial portion of the first draft.

This course focuses on the forms and techniques of writing for visual media, particularly the short film. Throughout the course, students develop resources for finding stories and concepts that can be turned into films. Students are responsible for writing a short script of their own choosing and for completing several brief written exercises in areas such as personal storytelling, character development, dialogue, and plot. Scripts written in this class can be used as the basis for films produced in other classes.

This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester.

This course will introduce students to the forms and techniques of writing for visual media, particularly the short film. Students will develop resources for finding stories and concepts that can be turned into films. Students will be responsible for writing a short script of their own choosing and for completing several brief written exercises in areas such as personal storytelling, character development, dialogue, and plot. Scripts written in this course can be used as the basis for films produced in other classes.

This is the second of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester as well as present a final screening of their thesis.

This course is an introduction to all forms of series writing for television and the Internet. Students will choose to write either a one-hour pilot for a dramatic series, or a half-hour pilot and an additional episode for a single-camera comedy series. All students will develop and write a series “bible,” a thorough description of all the characters and the world in which the series takes place as well as how the series may develop with future plotlines.

This course is an introduction to all forms of series writing for television and the Internet. Students will choose to write either a one-hour pilot for a dramatic series, or a half-hour pilot and an additional episode for a single-camera comedy series. All students will develop and write a series bible, a thorough description of all the characters and the world in which the series takes place as well as how the series may develop with future plot-lines.

An exploration of the interconnected careers of the entertainment industry and the city of Los Angeles for a behind-the-scenes look at either film or animation. Students travel during the winter break. During the course students will discuss the industry, city, and their travel. This course has a mandatory travel component and requires an additional travel fee. Permission to enroll is required.

This course is an exploration of the feature film form. Students propose ideas for a feature length film and, in consultation with the instructor and other students, write a detailed step outline and a substantial portion of the first draft.

Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines to pass this course.

This course explores the theories of dramatic structure from Aristotle to the present and applies these theories to current and classic dramatic works. The class also explores dramatic script structure as it is used in dramatic works on stage and screen.