College of Motion Picture Arts Florida State University

Programs of Study

The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts was created in 1989 by the Florida legislature with the expressed mission to prepare men and women for successful careers in the motion picture industry.

Recognized by the Directors Guild of America for its distinguished contribution to American culture, the college enrolls 30 new students per year and pays for the production of their films, allowing the faculty to maintain the high caliber of education necessary for graduates to succeed in an extremely competitive industry.

These instructors are senior industry members and young, accomplished professionals who work as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, or editors in film and television. Many of them have won national and international awards and honors for their work, including Oscars from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The college offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in narrative filmmaking, which prepares students for careers in screenwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, sound, and editing, and an MFA program in writing for the stage and screen. The narrative filmmaking program requires the completion of 90 credit hours, and the screenwriting program requires 66 credit hours. Both programs take place during six consecutive semesters.

During the first semester of study, all students participate in a common curriculum and take a wide range of courses, including screenwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design. During the second semester, screenwriting students engage in exclusive coursework that focuses on the creation and management of feature-length screenplays. Production students engage in production workshops that support the creation of short films. During the last two semesters of the second year, students culminate their programs by creating a thesis film or a feature-length screenplay. Throughout the program, students engage in various seminars, conferences, and visits from industry professionals in the fields of film, theater, and creative writing.

Research Facilities

Florida State University (FSU) operates the only graduate school in America that owns and makes available to its students professional camera (35mm, Super 16mm) and digital production equipment (RED EPIC and Sony), including grip and camera trucks. Students work in dedicated production offices, shoot on professional sound stages, view their work in screening theaters tuned to industry specifications, and edit their work in nonlinear digital post-production facilities.

FSU's libraries contain more than 10.1 million books, videos, microforms, and databases as well as tens of thousands of full-text electronic books and articles. As a member of the Center for Research Libraries, it also offers access to about 4 million items of research materials including monographs and journals, newspapers, and collections of primary source materials in microform. Smaller libraries within the FSU library system include Strozier Library, a depository for documents from the United States government, the state of Florida, and the United Nations, and Allen Music Library, which includes composers' works, historical sets, books about music, scores, journals, and sound recording

Financial Aid

FSU is the only film school in the country that pays for the production costs of undergraduate and graduate student films, thereby creating a level playing field for students to focus on art, craft, and imagination--instead of fundraising. To ensure that this high caliber of education is available to the most talented student regardless of financial means, the university offers generous scholarships and assistantships, and its tuition costs are among the lowest in the country.

Graduate assistantship stipends average $1870 per semester and may be accompanied by fee waivers varying from $900 to $6000 per semester depending on residency status and availability of funds. The FSU Grant is awarded to degree-seeking students who meet the university's need guidelines. Awards may range from $200 to $1700 per academic year. Students may also borrow up to $6000 annually under the Federal Perkins loan program, up to $138,500 in unsubsidized Stafford loans, or other amounts from private lenders.

Cost of Study

In the 2011-12 academic year, graduate tuition was a bit less than $400 per credit for Florida residents and close to $1000 for nonresidents. All students are required to pay an additional $6 per credit hour for transportation access.

Living and Housing Costs

Students living on-campus can expect to pay $345 to $372 per month for a one-bedroom unit, $370 to $397 for a two-bedroom apartment, and $460 to $589 for a townhouse (air-conditioned units cost more). Meal plans range from $999 for 90 meals per semester to $1649 for unlimited meals. Off-campus apartments cost between $400 and $600 per month; houses cost $1000 to $1300 per month.

Student Group

Each fall, a new class of 24 production students and 6 screenwriting students is admitted, for a maximum of 60 students in the two-year program. Approximately two-thirds of these students are from outside the state of Florida and come from a wide variety of academic and creative backgrounds.

Student Outcomes

Thesis films are widely promoted by the College at regional, national, and international film festivals and competitions -- including those sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Academy of Television Arts and Sciences -- and have won more than 800 awards and recognitions. Students in the writing program graduate with a portfolio of creative work that includes short- and long-form plays, short and feature-length screenplays, and two full-length plays and/or screenplays ready for submission to the film and theater industries.

Alumni are unusually involved with the College of Motion Picture Arts and actively work to transition graduates into the industry. Every graduate student has the opportunity to be assigned a mentor who coordinates with faculty and staff members to create career plans for students before they leave the program. This provides virtually 100 percent of the college's graduates with meaningful work in the film and television industry within twelve months of graduation.

Location

Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, the state capital, with a population of approximately 185,000 people. The northern Florida location has a landscape and climate that are substantially different from that of southern Florida.

Stretching along the Florida Panhandle, Tallahassee is a place where college town meets cultural center, politics meets performing arts and history meets nature. Heavy forest covers much of the area, with the giant live oak being the chief tree of the clay hills. Five large lakes and the nearby Gulf of Mexico offer numerous recreational opportunities. Students can live in relatively rural surroundings and still be only 20 minutes from the university.

Extensive sports facilities and active city leagues exist in the city, and graduate students' fees cover membership in a state-of-the-art, on-campus recreation center.

Home to the state capital, two major universities and an array of museums, attractions and unique experiences, Tallahassee shares a deep-rooted history and culture with unparalleled nature and outdoor recreation. A fusion of cosmopolitan flair and charming personality defines the spirit of Florida's capital city.

The University

The Florida State University is an internationally-recognized teaching and research institution committed to preparing graduates for the ever-expanding opportunities of a global society.

Designated as a Carnegie Research University (designating very high research activity), Florida State awards over 2,000 graduate and professional degrees each year, and is recognized as a national leader in the number of doctorates awarded to African-American students and in the graduation rate of African-American undergraduates.

Combining traditional strength in the arts and humanities with recognized leadership in the sciences, Florida State University provides unmatched opportunities for students and faculty through challenging academics, cultural discovery, and community interaction. Underlying and supporting the educational experience at Florida State University is the development of new generations of citizen leaders, based on the concepts inscribed in our seal: Vires, Artes, Mores--Strength, Skill and Character.

Florida State University's 15 colleges offer more than 275 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, professional and specialist degree programs, including medicine and law, covering a broad array of disciplines critical to society today. The arts programs--dance, film, music, and theatre--rank among the finest in the world, offering an arts education comparable to leading conservatories.

With its impressive breadth of leading graduate, professional and undergraduate programs, Florida State University is a demanding, intellectually stimulating, yet warm and caring environment for students and faculty.

Applying

To be considered for admission, applicants must complete an online application that includes a current resume, a statement of purpose (500-1,000 words) describing artistic experiences and creative influences, three letters of recommendation, two copies of official college transcripts showing a GPA of 3.0 or higher, GRE scores of at least 1000, and a portfolio or writing samples.

The online application is offered through the Florida State University Office of Admissions and is located at http://admissions.fsu.edu/. Approximately 90 students are invited each year to interview with the Film School's Admissions Committee. The application deadline is December 15th.

The Faculty

Bill Carruth, Filmmaker in Residence (Editing); Mr. Carruth is a third generation film editor with over 40 years experience in the film industry. He began his career working with Verna Fields on "Paper Moon," "Sugarland Express" and "Jaws," and from there, as Film Editor on "Nickelodeon," "Saint Jack," "FM," "Caddyshack," "Night Games," "What Comes Around," "Island of Dr. Moreau," "They All Laughed" and others. He also worked as a Sound Supervisor editing dialogue, ADR, and effects for feature films such as "The Fan," "Maverick," "Executive Decision," "U.S. Marshals," "Assassins," "Lethal Weapon 4," "Conspiracy Theory," as well as TV shows and series including "The Division," "Purgatory," "Atomic Train," "Netforce," "Into The West," "NCIS," "JAG," "Touched by an Angel," "Las Vegas," and "Crossing Jordan."

Paul Cohen, Filmmaker in Residence (Distribution and Marketing); BA, Hofstra University. Mr. Cohen is an independent motion picture executive who has created a number of successful distribution and production companies including Analysis Films, Masada Productions, Moonbeam Productions, and Aries Films. He has acquired and marketed a wide range of successful films often recognized as cinematic gems and contemporary classics. These include Abel Ferrara's "Bad Lieutenant," starring Harvey Keitel, "Mephisto," the 1981 Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language Film, "My Brilliant Career" directed by first-timer Gillian Armstrong and starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill, "The Chosen" starring Maximilian Schell, and Luchino Visconti's "The Innocent." Mr. Cohen's motion picture selections over the years have garnered Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe, a Spirit Award, Italy's Donatello and France's Cesar, as well as other award recognitions for their quality. His cinema acquisitions have played in film festivals across the country and around the world. Additionally, Mr. Cohen has served in the capacity of Executive Producer on a number of independent productions. He serves as the Director of The Torchlight Program established by The Film School to enhance the education of students through instruction in current and emerging business practices of the motion picture industry.

Tim Long, Filmmaker in Residence (Screenwriting) and Area Head of Screenwriting; BA, Columbia College. As a writer, Tim Long has had projects in development at New Line Cinema, The Donners' Company, MTV Films, Paramount Pictures, Sony, and Universal Pictures. In addition to writing the original screenplay for the feature film "Slaughter," released theatrically by Lionsgate, Mr. Long's other screenwriting credits include; "Shanghai 1920," which was shot on location in China, and starred John Lone ("The Last Emperor," "The Moderns," "The Shadow"). He also wrote the original screenplay "Undeclared War," which starred Olivia Hussey ("Romeo and Juliet," "Lonesome Dove") and was directed by Ringo Lam ("Maximum Risk," "City on Fire"). He has well over a decade of graduate level teaching experience, overseeing the story development and writing of more than four-hundred short films, among them numerous Student Academy Award winners. His writing students have gone on to be represented by ICM, CAA, and the William Morris Agency. Mr. Long is a highly regarded screenplay consultant, named among the top six consultants in the country by "Creative Screenwriting Magazine."

Victor Nunez, Filmmaker in Residence (Directing); MFA (Film), UCLA. Regarded as a national treasure in American independent cinema, Nunez is a producer, director, writer, and cinematographer whose credits include "Gal Young Un," "Ruby in Paradise," and the recent IFC release "Coastlines." Actor Peter Fonda won the Golden Globe, the New York Film Critics Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of the title role in Nunez's feature film "Ulee's Gold." Nunez is a Founding Board Member of the Independent Feature Project and the Sundance Film Institute and a member of the Writers Guild of America.

Valerie Scoon, Filmmaker in Residence (Producing); BA, (American History and Literature), Harvard. Ms. Scoon is a producer and creative executive with extensive industry experience. She worked as the Director of Development for television and film at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Pictures where she served as the key creative executive developing such major motion pictures as Spike Lee's "Malcolm X," Oprah Winfrey's "Beloved" and "Their Eyes Were Watching God," Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story, "The Secret Garden," and most recently, "The Great Debaters." Additionally, Ms. Scoon has worked as a creative executive developing feature films at Warner Brothers Studio, a story analyst at Creative Artists Agency, and as the associate director of news and public affairs at PBS. As president and CEO of True Visions Productions, she currently develops and produces films and documentaries for theatrical release.

Correspondence and Information

College of Motion Picture Arts

University Center A3100

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2350

United States

Phone: 888-644-7728

Fax: 850-644-2626

E-mail: mfainfo@film.fsu.edu

Web site: http://www.film.fsu.edu

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Film Production Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
• Writing Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 30
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Required and thesis project
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied273
• Accepted32
• Acceptance Rate11%
• Enrolled30
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $30
• Application Fee - International $30
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline December 1st December 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesGRE (for MFA in writing), minimum GPA of 3.0, film/video experience
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 550 paper based, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$9,474
• Out-of-state tuition *$16,236
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsDecember 1
• Types of financial support availableTeaching Assistantships, Federal Work-Study, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students63
• Female Percentage30%
• Male Percentage70%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students63
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino12%
• Black / African American9%
• White / Caucasian75%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian2%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown2%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty12
• Full-time Percentage83%
• Part-time Percentage17%
• Female Percentage33%
• Male Percentage67%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchProducing, screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported