The PSU FILM program requires students to engage with material that presents a wide range of academic and artistic challenges through critical thinking and hands-on practice. Exit competencies in our courses allow students to:
· Develop fluency in formal film terminology.
· Link correctly identified formal choices with the meaning and expressive value of an image or scene.
· Situate films historically and understand the way their temporal and cultural context deepens our understanding of the film.
· Understand the major theoretical approaches in film studies and how they can be used in writing about and discussing films.
· Develop an ability to write well and lucidly about a variety of topics in film studies. Learn and practice the tools and techniques of motion picture storytelling.
· Assume the responsibility of managing all aspects of the production process from development to delivery.
· Demonstrate willingness to modify work based on constructive criticism and the self-motivation to work under minimal supervision.
· Research story background, develop subjects/characters, produce and deliver effective pitches and proposals, create scripts and treatments, develop production schedules and budgets, organize personnel and production elements, and ascertain equipment requirements for a given project.
· Leverage opportunities for nuanced and sophisticated audio-visual storytelling through camera, lighting, and sound recording tools and techniques.
· Edit digital video footage using principles of timing, pacing, and transition within a context to match a given genre and utilize color correction processes to enhance aesthetic and technical qualities of a project.
· Understand the power of editing down ideas, sources, and scripts to create concise and effective work.