Table of Contents

http://www.fulbright.no/filestore/Film_72.jpg

• Film and Media Studies Programmes
• Communication Studies Programmes
• Film and Media Production
• Admission to Film and Media Studies and Related Programmes
• Fellowships and Scholarships for Film and Media Studies
• Books
• Further Resources on the Internet

Film and Media Studies are among the most rapidly evolving of academic disciplines at US colleges and universities. As the study of media grows in popularity and significance, these studies may appear increasingly amorphous.

For the sake of generalisation, one can divide "Media Studies" (including the study of film) into three categories: Film and Media Studies, Communication Studies, and Film and Media Production.

 

Film and Media Studies Programmes

Many of the programmes that call themselves Film or Media Studies are humanistic in focus. This type of programme may also be called Cinema Studies. Professors are primarily scholars who study film and media from a critical, theoretical and analytical viewpoint. At many universities, the interdisciplinary nature of these programmes is such that teaching faculty are drawn from a number of other departments, including Comparative Literature, History and Anthropology departments.

Such programmes explore the cultural and historical importance of media, analysing media's place in society and studying media or film history, aesthetics, trends and meaning. Film and Media Studies may culminate in Bachelor's (BA), Master's (MA) and Doctoral (PhD) degrees and many of the students who pursue this form of study are interested in scholarly careers as well as careers in film and media.

 

Communication Studies Programmes

"...the writing and information gathering skills taught to journalism students are an entrée to an increasing number of jobs, both journalism and marketing, as the media comes to include both magazines and Webzines, both broadcasts and podcasts."
Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/07/24/journalism

Communication Studies approach non-fiction media, especially journalism, from both a practical perspective and an anthropological/sociological perspective, combining practice and study. They may be intended to prepare students for careers in broadcast journalism, print journalism, television or radio.

Internships often play a crucial role in Communications programmes, and students are expected to spend a term or more in a workplace environment demanding practical application of their Communications skills as part of their education. Such programmes also facilitate the study of forms of communication, analysing communication in a scientific or psychological way and assessing its legal, cultural and moral implications.

Communication Studies are closely linked to Information Sciences and Rhetorical Studies. They approach media as a subject whose organisation and mechanics are to be analysed. Courses are often taught by media professionals such as journalists, television producers and editors. Other faculty may be professionals in whose careers a thorough understanding of systems of communication is crucial, such as politicians and business people.

Students may pursue BA, MA or PhD level degrees in Communication Studies that they may use to continue in academia or put into practical application in media, business or politics.

List of accredited programs in Journalism and Mass Communication: http://www2.ku.edu/~acejmc/STUDENT/PROGLIST.SHTML

 

Film and Media Production

"At a time when outlets for visual material are multiplying--from satellite and cable networks offering hundreds of channels of programming, to flat-screen displays on buses and in supermarkets, to video-enabled cell phones and mp3 players, and so on--there is an ever-greater demand for video content, and for people who can create eye-catching and entertaining content. Businesses and governments are increasingly dependent on video to disseminate information amongst their clients, employees and constituents. And any web page can contain video and animated material, all visible to millions of people. Grassroots organizations with little or no money can, if they have someone with the right skills, broadcast their message to the world in a powerful way. The ability to make a film is akin to operating a printing press in an earlier era. It is a powerful and valuable skill, whether you use it to express your own, or other people's ideas."
Source: http://filmschoolconfidential.net/index.php?s=2

Students who hope to produce films or other forms of media may work towards Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees within Film and Media Production programmes. They are taught by artists, designers and industry professionals.

Within this larger area of study, students can specialise in animation, computer animation, sound production, special effects and other related skills in addition to directing, screenwriting and cinematography. Students may focus on video, television, feature film or short film production. As with Communication Studies, students in Film and Media Production programmes are frequently expected to find internships within the film or media industry as part of their training. In addition to learning practical skills, students will study media history, criticism, genres and aesthetics.

 

Summary

These three categories overlap one another and in many cases may be interchangeable. For instance, someone who wishes to become a film maker might well approach her or his training from a scholarly, analytical viewpoint while someone who wishes to study media from a humanistic angle might undergo a great deal of practical study.

Degree programmes that describe themselves as Film or Media Studies, Communication Studies or Production Programmes may have courses and subjects of study in common, and within each of these studies one can focus on any of the others.

Please keep in mind that US universities and university courses and programmes differ greatly from one another in any discipline. This is especially true for Media and Film Studies, which are developing rapidly and are in a constant state of flux as the academic importance of all forms of media grows. The best way to discover whether a programme is right for you is to study its course listings and to think about its faculty. Are they professionals or scholars? Is their work artistic, professional or academic? Think about what you wish to do after finishing your education and seek programmes whose courses and professors will help you to accomplish your goals.

The Film School Confidential website includes an interactive overview of MFA programs in film that can be filtered by type (Industry, Independent, Experimental, and Documentary) or ordered by cost and length: http://filmschoolconfidential.net/.

 

Admission to Film and Media Studies and Related Programmes

Given the interdisciplinary nature of all of these programmes, there are few prerequisites for entrance into programmes at any level.

Students who enrol in MA and PhD programmes in Film and Media Studies or Communications come from various undergraduate backgrounds, including History, Government, Women's Studies and Literature, in addition to Film Studies.

MFA programmes generally ask that applicants submit a portfolio of work related to the programme they hope to enter. Undergraduate experience in Film or Media Production is not generally a requirement, although students with previous experience may be preferred over students who are new to their field. Students should contact individual programmes directly to enquire whether and in what format portfolios should be submitted.

 

Fellowships and Scholarships

General information on financial support for studies in the US:

Bachelorgrad i USA - har du råd?
This article has information on financial support for undergraduate students, including grants and loans from Lånekassen; grants from the Norway-America Association; sports scholarships, and more (in Norwegian).

Mastergrad/PhD i USA - har du råd?
This article has information on financial support for graduate students, including grants and loans from Lånekassen; grants from U.S.-Norway Fulbright Foundation and the Norway-America Association, and more (in Norwegian).

Fellowships and Scholarships for Film and Media Studies

A number of fellowships and scholarships have been instituted in the past several years to further the study and production of film and media. Most of these are intended for individuals pursuing careers in film production but, as new opportunities in media are constantly arising, this may change. Students interested in Media Studies should contact organisations specialising in media for information about funding that may be available to them. In addition, students should contact all of the institutions to which they intend to apply to ask about university-funded scholarships and fellowships, which are becoming increasingly common in media fields. Museums and institutions of higher learning frequently have fellowships available to film and media scholars and professionals. Many US states, such as New York and Massachusetts, also have awards for film and media work specifically for residents of that state.

The organisations listed below provide funding for students interested in film and media. This list is by no means exhaustive, and students are urged to visit the library at the US Educational Advisory Service (EAS) for further funding information relevant to all subject areas and to do their own research into new funding options. Students should contact funding organisations directly to determine their eligibility for awards.

Grand Marnier Foundation Film Fellowships
Website: http://www.filmlinc.com/fellow
Grand Marnier has instituted three $5,000 awards for Film Studies in association with the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City. One award is reserved for a promising film student, one is for aspiring film historians and critics and one is for film students using video as their medium.

Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
Website: http://www.oscars.org/nicholl
This fellowship was designed to support amateur screenwriters of any educational background and is reserved for screenwriters who have never been paid more than $5,000 for their work. The fellowship is awarded based a competition to the writer of a winning screenplay.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowships
Website: http://www.vfma.state.va.us/fellowships2006.html
The Virginia Museum of Fine Art provides fellowships for film makers interested in working in Virginia over the course of a year.

Institute for Humane Studies Film and Fiction Scholarships
Website: http://www.theihs.org
This $10,000 scholarship is intended for MFA students studying film or writing at an accredited university. The Institute for Humane Studies also sponsors an annual journalism competition with prizes of up to $2,500 for young writers (younger than 25) and full-time students.

Women in Film Scholarships
Website: http://www.wif.org/info_page.cfm?id=6
The society of Women in Film provides numerous scholarships for women interested in careers in film and media. Many of the scholarships are for women who wish to study film, communications and other media-related areas at the postgraduate level at accredited US universities. One scholarship is reserved for a mature student entering a postgraduate film programme.

 

Books

The following books about Film and Media Studies may be useful for you. Some of these are available at the Fulbright Office advising center. You may also consider buying some of these from e.g. Amazon.

• Film School Confidential (Karin Kelly and Tom Edgar, 1997): Written for prospective postgraduate film students, this book discusses the various schools offering MFA degrees in film production.
• The Complete Guide to American Film Schools and Cinema and Television Courses (Ernest Pintoff, 1994): This book offers brief descriptions of degree programmes in film, including admissions requirements. It covers all types of programmes related to film rather than merely film production courses.
• Professional Degree Programs in the Visual and Performing Arts (Peterson's, 2001): Includes information on programmes in animation, cinematography, computer animation, computer imaging, digital imaging, directing, editing, film, film and video production, multimedia design, video art and media writing.

 

Internet Resources

The following websites may be helpful to students seeking programmes in Film and Media Studies in the US.

• http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/: An impressive list of web resources related to media, culture, film, and related issues, compiled by University of Iowa Communications Studies Department.
• The Film School Confidential website includes an interactive overview of MFA programs in film that can be filtered by type (Industry, Independent, Experimental, and Documentary) or ordered by cost and length: http://filmschoolconfidential.net/.
• http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite: The University of Alabama's ScreenSite provides comprehensive information on programmes in film, TV and video studies with links to programmes throughout the US and Canada and related articles.
• http://www.afi.com: The American Film Institute's online website, which includes information about the Institute, scholarships and film studies in the US.
• http://www.cmstudies.org: The official website of the Society for Cinema Studies, which is "dedicated to the scholarly study of film, television, video and new media", includes links to articles about Cinema Studies.
• http://www.filmmakerstore.com: This website lists and has links to film schools in the US.
• http://www.rivalquest.com/schools: This site, which calls itself the Academy of Film Schools, provides links to film and media departments throughout the US.
• http://www.filmfederation.net: The official website of the American Federation of Film Producers.

• List of accredited programs in Journalism and Mass Communication: http://www2.ku.edu/~acejmc/STUDENT/PROGLIST.SHTML

Source: http://www.fulbright.co.uk/eas/studyus/subjects/film.html