MP-481: Guidelines for the Senior Practicum ("Senior Project") - page 3
Suggestions and information for students considering certain of the available options:
Producing Option
A student who wishes to PRODUCE needs to be an active participant in the project, finding locations, crew members, resources, and so forth. Depending upon the contract of collaboration, the producer may be responsible for raising or providing some amount of the finances needed to make the project. The senior producer is urged to take accounting or business courses from the School of Business, as well as the Senior Seminar.
Directing Option
A student who wishes to DIRECT needs to either produce as well, or find a producer to collaborate with. A director is expected to attend to all appropriate preproduction activities, particularly script and casting, as well as direct the production from beginning to completion.
Director of Photography Option
A student who wishes to be DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY characteristically be involved in preproduction, contribute to the script's shot breakdown, be involved in storyboarding, take test footage, and oversee lighting of a significant project. The DP is urged to take MP-436 Cinematography.
Art Direction Option
A student who wishes to be ART DIRECTOR is urged to take courses from the design/tech area, including at least one graphics course. The Art Director should be in charge of the look of the project, including sets, props, costumes, hair, and makeup. During production the art director is urged to plan his or her work with renderings and to document his or her work with still photographs.
Feature Screenwriting Option
A student who wishes to write a feature is urged to have taken MP-436 Screenwriting. Generally, this option will require a short synopsis, scene outline, and two drafts. For the purposes of this option, a full-length script is defined as 100-120 pages in proper script format, never more. If the script is an adaptation, it cannot be approved unless the student first provides proof that the student has acquired a legal option from the author.
Feature Documentary Treatment Option
A student taking this option must work with faculty to define the research, preproduction and sample shooting needed to create a viable documentary treatment, one that is substantial enough to use as part of a serious fundraising proposal. The student should have taken as many courses in documentary as possible and availed themselves of additional documentary opportunities. This student will be required to turn in a thoroughly researched documentary treatment and prepare at least one grant application for appropriate funding agencies, such as the Ohio Humanities Council or the Ohio Arts Council.
"Miscellany" Option
This option entails any other effort that does not fall within those options already described. Because this option is more free-form and lacks specific guidelines, it is imperative that the student describe the project very coherently, making sure also to describe how and why this project specifically relates to the future career goals of the student.
Last updated January 13, 2010