University degrees: Postgraduate
Course length: 2 years full-time
Cinematography Fellows are challenged to become adept at making fast, informed and inspired creative decisions to harness the visceral power of visual storytelling. Shooting on both digital and film, Fellows have the chance to work on 28 films a year and produce a 35mm visual essay. AFI gives them unprecedented access to lighting workshops and practical seminars taught by master-level cinematographers.
Since the AFI Conservatory began in 1969, AFI alumni have received 34 Best Cinematography Oscar® nominations and seven wins.
An AFI alum from one of our six disciplines has been nominated for an Academy Award® every year for the past decade. Cinematography alumni have been recognized nine times.
AFI also brings your favorite master storytellers to campus to deliver personal, inspiring guest lectures and enlightening seminars. They’ll share their personal experiences and answer your questions about the filmmaking process.
PRN 510: Introduction to Cycle Production — Boot Camp
FIRST TERM
4 CREDIT HOURS
This intensive six-week workshop is meant to introduce Fellows to the AFI Conservatory. There is a focus on narrative storytelling. Classes for all first-year Fellows, orientations into production policies and procedures and discipline-specific workshops will prepare Fellows for both the academic and production work ahead. The production component of this course is the Boot Camp Shoot, a digital video exercise shot in four hours that guides first-year Fellows through Conservatory production procedures. The production teams engage in the processes of development, casting, pre-production, shooting and post-production, resulting in a project three to five minutes in length, to be screened the week following the shoot.
PRN 5111: Cycle Production I
FIRST TERM
4 CREDIT HOURS
Narrative Cycle Project 1 is the first of three collaborative narrative projects that each Fellow will complete during the first year. Narrative Cycle Projects are shot digitally, then edited, evaluated and screened in Narrative Workshop. They cannot run longer than 20 minutes in length, including credits.
PRN 5122 and 5123: Cycle Production II and III
SECOND TERM
8 CREDIT HOURS
This course encompasses narrative Cycle Projects 2 and 3. Narrative Cycle Projects 2 and 3 follow the pattern of Narrative Cycle Project 1. In addition to the above-mentioned required production coursework, other production at the AFI Conservatory may include first-year Cinematography 35mm Visual Essays, as well as other in-class exercises. In all cases, all AFI Conservatory production policies and procedures must be followed. Narrative Cycle Projects 2 and 3 follow the pattern of Narrative Cycle Project 1.
PRN 5211, 5222 and 5223: Narrative Workshop and Analysis I – III
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
6 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
At the end of the production process, all first year Cycle films are screened and reviewed for all first year Fellows, key Production faculty members, and staff. Each screening is followed by a critical analysis of the project, specifically for team members, led by a faculty member. Fellows receive feedback from the first-year class, allowing them to broaden their perspective beyond their study discipline. Team members then adjourn for one-on-one analysis with the NW faculty member.
CIN 511 and 512: Cinematography Workshop: Dramatic Analysis and Cinematographic Leadership
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
Cinematography Fellows cycle projects are the subject of extensive analyses with an emphasis on the aesthetic choices made by the Cinematography Fellow. Technical issues are addressed in general, less in particular. Each weekly session is devoted to two projects. The Senior Lecturer and Cinematography Fellows provide the cycle project Cinematographer with written summaries and insight into the storytelling achievement of the projects screened. Attendance is required and first-year production demands do not interfere with this session.
CIN 521 and 522: The Art and Craft of Cinematography – Studio
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
The primary goal of this course is to emulate production set experience; Fellows learn to prepare for each in-class exercise as they would prepare for an actual shoot. This course requires Fellows’ initiative, preparation and leadership – an integral part of the Cinematographer’s job – and develops Fellows ability to delegate and coordinate the Cinematographers’ crew: Gaffer, Key Grip, Dolly Grip and Camera Operator. During this course each fellow will Co-DP 1 LAB and crew for 13 more, all under the direct supervision of the instructor. The class uses 35mm negative film with print dailies.
CIN 525 and 526: Fellow Research Project I & II
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
Fellows will create two masters level group Research Projects with corresponding class-instruction presentations over the course of the first year. While guided by the instructor, Fellows’ own interests and revelations in the course of active research will determine the final content.
CIN 527 and 528: The Art & Craft of Cinematography – Lecture
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
6 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
The Art & Craft of Cinematography (lecture) is an exploration of how we understand and use the technical tools in cinematography to create our artistic intent. It is concentrated on digital, film, light and optics. In this course you will attain the necessary skills and vocabulary to discuss, investigate, plan and manipulate an image in prep, on set, and in post, at any level of modern production and post-production environment.
CIN 531 and 532: The History of Cinematography
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
The history of world cinematography is presented in this bi-monthly three-hour session, which rotates with the Language of Cinematography sessions. Films of historic cinematographic significance are presented and discussed to illustrate the technical and creative history of the tools of cinematographer’s craft from early days to the digital age. Writing assignments and photographic assignments are used to underscore course insights.
CIN 5411, 5422 and 5423: Cinematography Cycle Project Mentorship I – III
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
3 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
During the week before they work as Cinematographer of a Cycle Project, Cinematographers meet with a Cinematography Lecturer who is a sounding board for them on all related topics and reviews their plans for their upcoming shoot. The Lecturer will also review the completed projects during office hours and visit sets during production.
CIN 551 and 552: Cinematography Forum
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
NO CREDIT
A significant feature film is presented with the cinematographer in attendance. Usually the film presented is in current release. The visiting cinematographer takes part in a discussion of their work. The forum is presented once a month on a Friday afternoon and attendance is optional for Cinematographers with current production responsibilities.
CIN 561 and 562: The Language of Cinematography
FIRST AND SECOND TERM
4 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
In narrative cinema there are two sensory experiences: sound, primarily through dialogue; and image, through which that dialogue is put into context. Images can convey meaning in silence, or work with or against the dialogue. Cinematographers and their collaborators conjure the complex language of cinema using all the tools at their disposal. To be effective cinematographers, they must master the skills and language of cinematography so their images melt into the whole film. This class will explore in depth the aesthetic, technical and logistic choices available to cinematographers.
CIN 561/562 meets every other week, sharing the same meeting time, and rotating with, History of Cinematography.
This class welcomes Fellows from other discipline as auditors; auditors may not elect this class for credit.
CON 521 and 522: American Approaches to Film
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
An American narrative, live-action screening series of classic and contemporary feature and short films, highlighting the work of each discipline, in order to explore the aesthetic, cultural, historical and social phenomenon of the motion picture arts.
Year One, End-of-Year Review
Upon completion of the End of The Year Review, the Cinematography faculty invites Fellows to continue to the second year. During review, Fellows present a scene (or scenes) from cycle projects two or three, cycle project workbooks and a self-analysis statement. The portfolio review is conducted by several faculty through a formal interview with each Cinematography Fellow in private. The purpose of the review is to help Fellows identify areas of success and areas requiring improvement. The goal of the Review is self-knowledge and personal growth for each Fellow.
PRN 610: Thesis Production — Cinematography
12 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
Building on the first-year production experience, the Cinematography Fellows must successfully fulfill all cinematographer responsibilities on a thesis production — a professionally executed short film or digital video project — which is evaluated by the Senior Faculty. Cinematographers collaborate with project team members under the guidance of thesis faculty mentors. Thesis production teams participate in special development, pre-production and post-production workshops. In addition, teams visit discipline workshop on a scheduled basis over the course of pre-production, production and post-production in order to gain a thorough understanding of the collaborative interdisciplinary creative process. If a Cinematography Fellow is approved by faculty to shoot more than one thesis production, the additional project(s) will be considered an additional thesis requirement for completion of the degree or certificate.
CIN 611 and 612: Advanced Cinematography Workshop
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
4 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
Each Cinematography Fellow is required to produce a 35mm motion picture film visual essay that demonstrates competency in the medium. The visual essay production is guided by the Discipline Head of Cinematography, and the 35MOS visual essay coordinator. This requirement is necessary for the MFA degree, although Cinematography Fellows who are part of more than one thesis team or who have other production responsibilities may petition the Discipline Head of Cinematography to waive this requirement.
CIN 631 and 632: Advanced Production Techniques with Master Cinematographers
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
4 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
As cinematographers, story is what dictates our technical and artistic choices, but mastery of cinematography requires craft as well as art. Each shooting situation requires new skills. With this in mind, guest master practitioners will guide Fellows through their approaches to such principles of craft as interior and exterior lighting, composition, lens selection, color theory, exposure practices, image control, blocking of action, and post production practices, in the context of cinematography as an evolving craft. This course will also be an opportunity to apply the theory and tools learned in the first year under the guidance of a working professional. The guest is the lead cinematographer for the day, and the fellows are his/her crew. The Instructor’s role is multiple: Director, Producer, AD, Production Manager and Moderator.
CIN 670: Internship Practicum
ANY TERM
1–3 CREDIT HOUR(S)
ELECTIVE
The objective of this course is to provide working experience in the film/TV industry as it pertains specifically to the Fellow’s degree/certificate requirements. Specific duties and requirements will be outlined and supervised by the faculty mentor. This internship qualifies an international Fellow for Curriculum Practical Training; approval must be obtained by the international advisor, as well as the faculty mentor prior to enrolling in the course.
CIN 690: Thesis Portfolio — Cinematography
8 CREDIT HOURS
Cinematography Fellows will plan, produce and shoot their thesis project that will demonstrate creative and technical competencies. In this seminar, jointly with Production Design Fellows, each Fellow will formally present their thesis plans and will review their dailies and edits. At the presentation of dailies, each Fellow will review the production experience. In addition, completed portfolio reels will be evaluated by the Discipline Head, during a final exit interview and review. The Discipline Head approves the thesis work as appropriate for graduation.
CON 621 and 622: World Approaches to Film
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
A non-American narrative, live-action screening series of classic and contemporary feature and short films, highlighting the work of each discipline in order to explore the aesthetic, cultural, historical and social phenomenon of the motion picture arts.
CON 631 and 632: HLMS (Harold Lloyd Master Seminar)/ Seminar Series
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL
