Motion Picture Production

MP-481: Guidelines for the Senior Practicum ("Senior Project")

The Senior Practicum is the final requirement for the BFA degree in Motion Pictures and it gives students their last significant and professional caliber production experience at Wright State. Following the junior "thesis film," it allows students to take what they have learned and apply it at the highest level.

MP-481is also an opportunity for students who see themselves as producer/directors to have one more opportunity to make a creative work with all the benefits of the program: free available equipment, crew, talent, and mentoring by faculty. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS WHO SEE CREATIVE PRODUCTION IN THEIR FUTURE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE A SECOND THESIS QUALITY WORK.

However, given that this is an undergraduate program, and that even graduate MFA programs do not demand two thesis caliber works, many approaches to fulfilling this requirement are possible. Each student will consult with Motion Picture faculty to develop an individual plan that meets the requirement.

Some possible ways to fulfill this requirement are:

  • writing a feature-length script,
  • developing a fully-formed feature documentary treatment,
  • producing a film,
  • being a director of photography,
  • art directing or editing a significant production, usually as a Senior Practicum production.

Depending on the complexity and scope of the production, faculty may require work on more than one production to fulfill the MP-481 requirement. Students should feel free to propose ANY other project which they think appropriate to their interests and career goals.

Students considering doing significant craft work on a production should consider taking advanced courses in the particular area. In terms of art direction and design, there are courses available in the design/tech area of the department. In terms of cinematography, there is the advanced course in our program, as well as advanced photography courses available through the university and from other nearby institutions. In terms of editing, there are professional caliber post-production courses available through many institutions in the area. Faculty should be consulted about which avenues of study might be helpful. Next page for further details>

Last updated June 12, 2007