NYFA, BFA, Filmmaking

The Filmmaking curriculum described below runs concurrently with general studies requirements as well as related courses in art and design.

BACHELOR’S OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 1-4

During the first year, students will learn the foundations of the art and technique of visual storytelling, including the requisite skills to write, direct, film, and edit four short films. This accelerated pace of study develops students' basic narrative and visual literacy, two skills that will be central to their success in the filmmaking BFA program. Students will also enter specialized liberal arts and sciences courses, designed to provide a foundation for a well-rounded education while also informing the artistic coursework to be completed throughout the remainder of the degree program.

First year students will focus on mastering the fundamentals of cinema production. Students will film an additional three short films incorporating new tools of dialogue, challenging them to increase their skills in directing actors, writing, editing, and visual style. Liberal arts and sciences courses accompany the filmmaking courses, creating a balanced course load that emphasizes critical thinking and develops college-level writing skills.

First year students improve their production and aesthetic skills. Intensive instruction, demonstration, and group sync-sound directing exercises increase students' comprehension of cinematography, producing, directorial style, editing, and collaborative and leadership skills. These skills will prepare students to direct their intermediate film in the fifth semester.

BACHELORS OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 5-6

Year two of the BFA in filmmaking will culminate in the production of the intermediate film. These productions can be up to 15 minutes in length, produced on double system high definition video or color negative film. This project represents an implementation of all the knowledge learned in the first year of filmmaking school.

Bachelor’s candidates are expected to spend an additional 20-40 hours a week beyond class time on the production of their film projects. Production or practicum hours are considered separate from lab and lecture hours; however, they are still necessary to successfully complete the program. The Academy recognizes, as should the students, that these hours will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Year two students split their time between post-production on their intermediate films and advanced cinematography, screenwriting, and liberal arts classes in foundation studies and natural sciences. Completed projects should show artistic maturity compared with the work of the previous year. Advanced equipment — such as the Red camera — is introduced, increasing capabilities for future projects. A course in critical film studies provides a context for student filmmakers to draw upon as they complete their first feature scripts.

Year two students will be asked to undertake projects of increasing complexity in an on-set mentoring class, where students bring craft and theory together in production exercises. Students will film a spec commercial, and prep work begins on the scripts for students' thesis films.

BACHELOR’S OF FINE ARTS IN FILMMAKING: SEMESTERS 7-9

The overall goal of the third year of the filmmaking BFA program is to challenge students to grow as film artists and help prepare them for thesis film production in semester eight. The production of a music video will broaden students' cinematic abilities as they complete the final draft of their thesis scripts. The advanced directing project will further develop student filmmakers’ ability to create dynamic and realistic performances on set.

Semester eight of the filmmaking BFA program is dedicated to the production of student thesis films. These thesis films are the capstone project of the BFA program, putting into practice the skills acquired throughout the previous seven semesters.

This final semester provides an opportunity for students to complete post-production on their thesis films and expand their knowledge of the entertainment industry. They will also receive instruction on how to produce their own projects outside of a film school environment.