Hollywood. It’s one of the most influential businesses since the Industrial Age. It’s where the movies that change the world—for good and bad--are made. It’s an epicenter for the formation of American popular culture and the port of departure from which this culture is exported to the world.
For students at the L.A. Film Studies Center (LAFSC), Hollywood is a place to be explored, engaged and critiqued; as a city, an industry and a calling. A semester at LAFSC is time and space reserved for academic and experiential inquiry, using the city as the primary text for research.
Core Courses
HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION WORKSHOP (4 credits)
Students work collaboratively in groups to create a festival-ready piece, including all the legal documentation and rights to enable the finished production to qualify for festival submission. The course offers students the opportunity to make a motion picture production using Hollywood locations, resources, and protocol. Students participate in a competitive vetting process of scripts, pitches, and meetings much like the process of the professional industry. For, example, those who want to direct submit reels for review by a selection panel. This course operates as a community-building experience in which all students participate in at least one key role in the production process. The course also offers small group tutorials for each student’s production position. The workshop environment is specifically designed to meet the needs of both novice and experienced students. The major emphases of the course are the importance of each contribution to a production, the process of production, and effective production management. This course compliments the more specialized, skill-focused elective courses and is taught by professional, experienced Christian filmmakers with credits in the Hollywood industry.*Please Note: A $250.00 lab fee will go towards the production cost of the films, which may include, location fees, special equipment rental, film and/or video stock, lab processing and transfer, expendables, meals, etc.
Instructors: John K. Bucher Jr., MA Communication/Film, University of Colorado; Jeremy Casper, MA Communication/Film: Directing & Cinematography, Regent University
Possible credits: Communication, Art, Business, English/Writing, Elective
Hollywood Production Workshop Syllabus
THEOLOGY IN HOLLYWOOD (3 credits)
This course will provide students with basic theological underpinnings for their lives as entertainment artists and professionals, or as consumers. Discussions, screenings and readings will seek to place the student’s work of entertainment creation in the context of the Christian’s call to serve and spread the Gospel to the whole world.1. We will consider the intersection of cinema, entertainment, art and theology through 21st century culture, cinema and the culture of Hollywood. Various approaches to film criticism will be considered as well as a minor emphasis given to film history, out of which 21st century cinema arises. The goal is insight into the relationship between film and theology and the creation of entertainment with spiritual depth and artistic rigor.
2. We will consider the ethical issues that define the entertainment industry, the engagement and meaningful response of believers in Hollywood seeking to be “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.”
3. Finally, we will consider the spiritual challenges of living as an apostle in the entertainment arena and explore this vocation and call.
Instructor: Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, MDiv Philosophical Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Possible credits: Biblical Studies/Theology, Philosophy, Ethics, Sociology, Communication
INTERNSHIP: INSIDE HOLLYWOOD (6 credits)
Students participate in an internship experience in some aspect of the Hollywood film or television industry. These are nonpaying positions primarily in an office setting such as development companies, agencies, producer’s offices, etc. Students work 20-24 hours a week throughout the entire length of the semester.Supervisor: Christine Krebsbach, MA Communication/Film: Producing, Regent University
Possible credits: Communication, Art, Business, English/Writing, Elective
Elective Courses
MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION (3 credits)
This is an intense, hands-on course in short film production. Students individually write, shoot, direct and edit their own projects. Visual storytelling is achieved through developing skills in directing, cinematography and editing. The course is designed to enable both novice and advanced students to develop their integration of story with technical skill. The course is taught by professional, experienced Christian filmmakers with credits in the Hollywood industry.
Instructors: John K. Bucher Jr., MA Communication/Film, University of Colorado; Jeremy Casper, MA Communication/Film: Directing & Cinematography, Regent University
Possible credits: Communication, Art
PROFESSIONAL SCREENWRITING (3 credits)
This is a course in contemporary screenwriting, including an understanding of dramatic structure, character and dialogue development, and the writing process. Students complete a full-length screenplay for a feature film or "movie-of-the-week." Whether novice or advanced, students are expected to develop and improve their skills. Emphasis is given to the role of Christian faith and values as they relate to script content. The course is taught by a working, credited Christian screenwriter.
Instructor: Kris Young, MFA Screenwriting, University of California at Los Angeles, Kris also teaches screenwriting at UCLA.
Possible credits: Communication, English/Writing, Elective
PROFESSIONAL ACTING FOR THE CAMERA (NEW FALL 2010, 3 credits)
An advanced workshop in the practice and process of acting for the camera aimed at students who have a desire to pursue acting as a career. Instruction includes an overview of current camera acting techniques and thorough discussion of the art of acting. The class primarily consists of acting scene work with all scenes being filmed and critiqued on the big screen. Students will also be required to pursue roles in student and independent films. Several class sessions throughout the course will be devoted to the business of acting for film and television in the Hollywood entertainment industry with an emphasis given to developing the materials and relationships necessary for a successful career.INDEPENDENT STUDY (3 credits)
This course may be setup by special request and arrangement. In order to be considered students may submit a portfolio and a project proposal. Students with approved projects will be appointed a mentor who is a professional in the Hollywood industry to supervise the project. Projects could include further development of a portfolio or reel, critical research, or a senior thesis project.
Please Note: The Independent study option is not guaranteed and is intended for students with experience in a specific area of cinema or those needing to complete a senior project for graduation. The number of independent studies offered each semester will be determined by LAFSC faculty, the availability of a suitable mentor and approval from your school’s film/communications department head.
