The New York Film Academy is proud to offer a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree program in Documentary at our film school at Universal Studios, Los Angeles location. This two-year conservatory-based graduate program is designed to educate talented and committed prospective documentaries in a hands-on, total immersion, professional and supportive environment. The intensive curriculum will challenge, inspire, and prepare candidates for professional work both as an independent Documentary-maker and within the non-fiction film and television business.
The Master of Fine Arts in Documentary is an accelerated, four or five semester graduate program. It offers qualified students a full course of production and study, including the opportunity to produce and direct a feature length documentary in the second year of film school. |
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| Course Contents: |
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In Year One, master students undergo a thorough regimen of class work and film production that lays the groundwork for a professional life in the documentary arts.
In Year Two, master students focus on a major Documentary project their experience. In fulfillment of the thesis production requirement, students have three choices. While these requirements differ in the length of time required for completion, they are equivalent in scope and content. |
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| First Year: |
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| Semester One |
| Learning Goals: |
| Art, aesthetics, and technique of non-fiction filmmaking including directing, 16mm cinematography, editing |
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| Fundamentals of digital video production and digital editing |
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| Fundamentals of story |
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| Fundamental training in production |
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| Fundamentals of the New Media landscape |
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| Production Goals: |
| Produce, direct and edit two short documentary films and a series of V-logs |
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| Crew as Cinematographer, Sound Recordist, and/or Assistant Camera on approximately 8 additional films |
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| Research, create a beat sheet or shooting script for, produce and begin production on a 10-minute social issue documentary |
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| Semester Two |
| Learning Goals: |
| Advanced documentary craft including directing, producing, production and editing |
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| Fundamentals of HD video production |
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| Fundamentals of non-fiction television |
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| Production Goals: |
| Edit and post-produce 10-minute social issue documentary |
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| Create, pitch and format an original documentary or "reality" series |
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| Collaborate on a 5 to 10-minute "taster tape" or "pitch pilot" |
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| Research, produce, direct and edit a short independent documentary of students own choosing |
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| Second Year: |
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All Year Two master students must complete a series of highly specialized classes, participate in multiple documentary productions, deliver a thesis film of their own creation, and complete all graduation requirements in order to successfully complete the program and graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in Documentary.
Thesis Option B students will require a mandatory paid fifth semester of study. |
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| Year Two Objectives |
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| Learning Objectives: |
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| After Year One, MFA in Doumentary students will engage in a series of advanced lectures, seminars, and hands-on workshops. Classes will consist of: |
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- Feature Project Grantwriting
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- Advanced Approaches to Documentary
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- Master’s Seminar: Industry Perspectives
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- Applied Documentary Studies
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- The Business of Non-Fiction
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| Production Objectives: |
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| Students are expected to research, develop, pre-produce, and package a feature length documentary or Docu-series for industry sale and/or production, and complete one of the following production requirements: |
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Thesis Option A: Short Form Thesis Film and Feature or Docu-series Prep.
Students may choose to direct and edit a short form Thesis Film of up to 40 minutes in length, and prepare a feature length Documentary or Docu-series of their own creation for production. |
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| Thesis Option B: Feature Length or Docu-Series Production & Collaborate in a Key Crew Position on a Short Form Thesis Documentary. |
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| Duration: |
2 years |
| Tuition Fees: |
USD 15,000 per semester |
| Eligibility: |
Candidates for admission to the MFA program must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a post-secondary institution. |
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| Location |
Newyork City |
Universal Studios - Hollywood |
| Intake |
Sep 14, 2009 - Aug 21, 2010 |
Sep 14, 2009 - Aug 21, 2010 |
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