Film and Digital Media
The Department of Film and Digital Media offers studies in film, video, audio, and new media production, as well as screenwriting, media studies, film theory, media effects, and media management.
The film and digital media major is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in television, cable, film, digital media, and allied fields. Several courses are designed for non-majors who desire an understanding of the role of the broadcast and film media in American society.
The communication specialist major combines courses in communication and film and digital media. This program of study blends a leadership/management/organizational communication focus with the development of expertise in digital media production. Like the communication major, it is appropriate for students with a wide array of career aspirations but is most appropriate for those intending to take advantage of communication expertise in a corporate career track. The requirements for the communication specialist major are listed in the Department of Communication.
Various activities offer laboratory settings in which a student's work is aided, directed, and evaluated by faculty specialists in a particular area of the discipline. These activities include:
- the production of short and feature films by faculty, with students serving in various crew roles to learn how a film set functions, and
- internship programs in film and digital media, including the annual NAB and the semester in New York City programs, which provide students with real-world experience in their chosen field.
Film and Digital Media (FDM)
FDM 1101 New Student Seminar in Film & Digital Media (1)
A New Student Experience course for first-year and transfer students entering as Pre-Film & Digital Media majors. Designed to help students acclimate to college life with a specific focus on the Film & Digital Media major, opportunities for FDM majors, and future career options.
FDM 1197 Practicum in Production (1)
Supervised practical experience in video and/or audio production. May be repeated for three credit hours.
FDM 1198 Practicum in Grip and Lighting Equipment (1)
Co-requisite(s): FDM 1199
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Supervised practical experience and development of proficiency with common grip and lighting equipment and practices.
FDM 1199 Practicum in Video and Audio Equipment (1)
Co-requisite(s): FDM 1198
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Supervised practical experience and development of proficiency with common video and audio acquisition equipment and practices. Cannot be repeated for credit.
FDM 1201 Practicum in FDM Equipment (2)
Supervised practical experience and development of proficiency with common equipment and practices in video and audio production. Cannot be repeated for credit.
FDM 1303 Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
Cross-listed as JOU 1303
The mass media, how they operate, and how they affect society.
FDM 1304 Visual Literacy: Sight, Sound, Motion (3)
Examines how pictures, sounds, and motions communicate sense and meaning in contemporary media. Considers the major aesthetic image elements -- light, color, space, time, motion, and sound -- and how they are used in film, video, and computer media.
FDM 1309 Introduction to Film (3)
Examines and explores representative masterpieces of cinema. Seeks to enhance understanding of the cinematic experience through non-technical discussions and analyses of films. Also considers the times and lives of the filmmakers.
FDM 1V9R Research (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of the instructor
Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
FDM 2351 History of Motion Pictures (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
International and domestic cinema since 1880, focusing on film as an art form and changes due to social, political, economic, ideological, and cultural influences.
FDM 2352 History of Radio and Television (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
Radio and television since 1890, focusing on developments in technology, economics, management, programming, audiences, regulation, and the roles of radio and television in society.
FDM 2360 Production Methods (3)
An introduction to single-camera, multiple-camera, and audio production using basic video and audio equipment.
FDM 2V9R Research (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of the instructor
Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
FDM 3320 Business of Media (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Principles of business theory and practice associated with the production, promotion, and distribution of media, including the broadcasting, cable, recording, satellite, Internet, video game, and cinema industries.
FDM 3321 Media Programming (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Process of media programming, including economic, legal, and audience factors. Analysis of programming practices from organizational and political viewpoints. Class programming project.
FDM 3345 Introduction to Russian Film: Culture and Identity (3)
Cross-listed as RUS 3345
See RUS 3345 for course information.
FDM 3346 Introduction to East European Film and Culture (3)
Cross-listed as RUS 3346
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Study of cinematic traditions, culture and regional identities through the lens of Eastern European Film. May be organized by theme or region chosen by instructor. Taught in English.
FDM 3361 Production Methods II (3)
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Further development of the technical abilities and conceptual approaches to single-camera and multiple-camera digital media production introduced in FDM 2360, Production Methods.
FDM 3371 Writing for Visual Media (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor; not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
A writing course that emphasizes writing for visual and audio presentations, including industrials, commercials, public service announcements, and special events.
FDM 3372 Writing for Media Markets (3)
Cross-listed as JOU 3372
See JOU 3372 for course information.
FDM 3373 Screenwriting (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Development of skills in writing a feature film screenplay. Topics include theme, plot, characterization, dialogue, story structure, filmic time, filmic space, filmic motion, script format, and script revision. Students will generate their own feature film idea and complete a first draft screenplay.
FDM 3374 Television Writing (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Analysis of various television production formats such as half-hour sitcoms, one-hour dramas, and two-hour movies-of-the-week. Students will generate an original script idea for an existing television program and complete a first draft teleplay.
FDM 3V9R Research (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of the instructor
Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
FDM 4306 Chinese Cinema, Literature, and Culture (3)
Cross-listed as CHI 4306
Pre-requisite(s): CHI 3301 or consent of instructor
Examines the cultural, social, and political aspects of contemporary China through film and literature. Combines critical analysis and cultural appreciation to provide a comprehensive understanding of China's artistic, cultural and symbolic space.
FDM 4313 Diffusion of Innovations (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An introduction to old and emerging theories which explain the spread of innovative ideas and technologies among members of a society, emphasizing the role of communication processes and the special problems for diffusion in communication technology.
FDM 4314 Digital Media Technologies (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Analysis of the technical foundations of communication media, the interrelationships among the various media technologies, and the impact of these technologies on media management, content, distribution, and consumption.
FDM 4315 Sports Media Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor; not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
Overview of the sports broadcasting industry and the preparation, process, and people involved. Includes discussion of on-air talent, production, operations, sales, and marketing.
FDM 4340 Media and Society (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Roles of the media in society and their relationship with other societal institutions. Impacts of the media upon society, responsibilities of the media, and restraints imposed upon them.
FDM 4341 Electronic Culture (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An examination of the issues at the intersection of modern media technology, philosophy, and contemporary culture.
FDM 4342 Art and the Moving Image (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An examination of the cinema as an art form in the context of other artistic media (such as painting, music, etc.).
FDM 4343 Film and Media Theory (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. The artistic potential of motion picture and television production, including major film theories and visual aesthetics. Dramatic narrative (fiction), documentary (non-fiction), and non-narrative subjects will be analyzed.
FDM 4344 Film Criticism (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
A survey of the history of film criticism and different approaches to the analysis and critical evaluation of film. The works of major critics are analyzed and their approaches use to write film criticism.
FDM 4346 History of the Documentary (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Covers the international history of documentary film, with special emphasis on the major philosophical and stylistic approaches of the genre.
FDM 4347 Communication and Culture (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An examination of the reciprocal functions of communication and urban culture as they continue to shape and define each other. Specific areas of inquiry vary each semester. May be repeated once with a different topic (maximum six semester hours).
FDM 4348 Religion and Film (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. A critical, historical, and topical study of the relationship of religion and cinema, with a specific focus on Christianity and film.
FDM 4351 Sports Media Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor; not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
Overview of the sports broadcasting industry and the preparation, process, and people involved. Includes discussion of on-air talent, production, operations, sales, and marketing.
FDM 4360 Pre-Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Explores different aspects of pre-production with emphasis on the individual departments that make up the production process.
FDM 4361 Audio Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to pre-Film and Digital Media students. Advanced audio techniques for media productions, technical and conceptual aspects of sound design. Emphasis on sound/image relationships in film and video, and the interface between traditional analog and digital audio technologies. Includes recording, editing, and mixing of audio sources in the creation of original sound tracks.
FDM 4362 Short Film Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361
Not open to pre-Film and Digital Media majors. Advanced short narrative digital cinema production with emphasis on storytelling, theme, and mise-en-scene.
FDM 4364 Interactive Media (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Interactive media elements and authoring systems, emphasizing the integration of computer technology in the development of interactive media messages.
FDM 4365 Lighting and Cinematography (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Advanced film and video production with emphasis on the techniques, equipment, and theories involved in lighting and cinematography. Emphasis on the role of the cinematographer or director of photography.
FDM 4366 Post Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Advanced film and video production with emphasis on the techniques, equipment, and theories involved in editing film and video. Emphasis on the use of computer-based non-linear editing systems.
FDM 4367 Film and Video Direction (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. In-depth investigation into the history, theory, and basic concepts of film and video direction; script preparation; story-boarding; blocking actors and staging the camera; sound; and editing. Projects include directing and shooting short videos.
FDM 4369 Producing (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper level standing or permission of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Current film and television industry practices, including analysis of literary material, industry structure and economics, pitching, deal-making, and distribution.
FDM 4370 Production Workshop (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Workshop course in which students rotate through various positions while working on a short or feature-length film production.
FDM 4372 Advanced Post-Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 4366 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Focuses on developing advanced skills in the process, technique, and technologies of professional post-production workflow for a feature film.
FDM 4373 Advanced Screenwriting (3)
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Workshop course for advanced writers of narrative fiction screenplays emphasizing discussion of student work.
FDM 4374 Acting for Film & Digital Media Majors (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An introduction to basic acting technique for film and media productions. Students employ character analysis, basic object exercises, and other acting tools.
FDM 4375 Advanced Digital Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361, FDM 4365, and consent of instructor; not open to pre-Film and Digital Media majors
Develops proficiency in producing, directing, and editing of advanced digital content using single camera and multi-camera studio techniques. Covers pre-visualization, visual effects compositing, digital audio, and postproduction. Emphasis on bringing ideas from conception to realization in a professional setting.
FDM 4376 Producing the Short Film (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Develops the skills needed to be a producer, assistant director, post-production supervisor, and script supervisor. Emphasis on their responsibilities within the phases of film production.
FDM 4380 Topics in Media History (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. In-depth investigation of important historical eras in the development of various media, for example, cinema, television, radio, and gaming. May be repeated twice under different topic not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4381 Topics in Media Management and Technology (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Examines media management issues and the impact of technological innovations on a wide range of media industries including broadcasting, Internet, telecommunication, cable, satellite, video game, and digital cinema. May be repeated twice under different topics, not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4382 Topics in Media Storytelling (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Examines a selected topic in film, television, radio/audio, games, or other form of digital media storytelling. May be repeated twice under different topics, not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4384 Topics in National Media (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An aesthetic, cultural, and/or historical examination of a selected national mass medium, for example, Japanese Cinema, British Television, or French New Wave Cinema. Focuses on directors, films/programs, movements, and cultural contests of national media. May be repeated twice under different topics not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4388 Topics in Media Production (3)
Pre-requisite(s): FDM 3361 or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Advanced media production with emphasis on one particular aspect of production. Topics covered may include cinematography, experimental film or video collaborative projects, documentary, studio drama, narrative, and other topics. May be repeated twice under different topics not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4396 Topics in Media Genres (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing or consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An analysis of major media genres (in film, television, gaming, and other media). Methodological issues in genre criticism will also be addressed. May be repeated twice under different topics not to exceed nine credit hours.
FDM 4397 Topics in Contemporary Cinema (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Upper-level standing
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. An academic examination of current cinema. Topics covered may include contemporary world cinema, contemporary American cinema, artists/directors, philosophy, history and other topics. May be repeated once with a different topic.
FDM 4V03 Internship in Electronic and Film Media (1-6)
Pre-requisite(s): Undergraduate: fifteen hours in major; graduate: consent of graduate director
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. Designed to fit the needs and interests of the individual student. Interns may select activities in a broadcast station or network, wire service, film production hours, corporate communications department, advertising agency, or in other appropriate organizations. Internships must be approved by the division director (undergraduate) or graduate director (graduate) and are carried out under the supervision of the division director. May be repeated for a total of six semester hours provided the professional setting is different. Graduate students will be limited to three hours credit.
FDM 4V30 Seminar in Electronic and Film Media (1-3)
Pre-requisite(s): Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students
Study of a current topic in electronic media and/or film, including directed research and reading. May be repeated once with different topic.
FDM 4V85 Special Problems in Telecommunication (1-3)
Pre-requisite(s): Fifteen semester hours in Communication Studies (CSS or FDM), and consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. A conference course designed to give individual students opportunities for additional work in their area of concentration in the film and digital media division of the department. One to three hours may be earned a semester. May be repeated once with change in content.
FDM 4V98 Electronic and Film Media Workshop (3-6)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Not open to Pre-Film and Digital Media students. A directed project to a detailed individual or group radio, television, or film production including preproduction, research and concept development, production, post production, and planning for distribution. May be repeated once in a different semester for a total of six semester hours.
FDM 4V9R Research (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of the instructor
Undergraduate research undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.