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Directing for the Screen

The Directing for the Screen module is for focused study and practice of narrative motion picture directing. The centerpiece of the module is an intensive two-quarter sequence in which students create a single 5-15 minute short film partially funded by the University. Filmmakers in the module express their vision through the various crafts – cinematography, editing, directing actors, art direction, sound — and collaborate with others to have the greatest command over the language of the film, asserting a strong directorial voice. Industry professionals on our advisory board and invited guest artists will advise on these short films and offer counsel on career development and professional best practices.  In addition to required core classes in directing (RTVF 397 sequence), students in the module choose to take two courses from a menu of production classes. As a capstone, they will then present a portfolio with completed short films and a written evaluation of filmmaking practice, aesthetic concerns, working methods, goals and experiences, including curricular and extracurricular work. 

Learning Objectives

  • Thorough understanding of various modes of production involved in directing for the screen. 
  • Understand the context of your own work within screen history. 
  • Acquire a mastery of at least one chosen skill among several required to produce high quality works for the screen. 
  • Attain a self awareness about the trajectory of your own body of work. 
  • Complete at least one significant work and multiple minor works for screen and/or stage as part of a portfolio. 
  • Understand the processes necessary for continuing your work in a self-directed fashion after graduation. 

Courses

Directing for the Screen Course Requirements

Co-Curriculars

Opportunities for application and practice on campus: 

Participation in student production groups. 

Opportunities for projects, practica, and internships off campus: 

Local production opportunities and internships. 

Community Building Activities: 

Block cinema, visiting filmmaker lectures, student group screenings. 

Capstone

The Capstone experience for Directing for Screen is a Final Portfolio Review/Defense. Two faculty members from the Directing for Screen Module Committee will review each student’s final portfolio, followed by an in-person defense with the student. The portfolio will include:

1. The student’s Advanced Directing Sequence film, plus one or two other curricular or extracurricular media projects, which may include substantial interactive projects (for a total running time of 15-25 minutes)

2. A director’s statement, focused on the Advanced Directing Sequence film, which addresses the following elements: the project’s origins; the formal cinematic strategies chosen to tell the film’s story; influences by previous individual film directors or aesthetic movements in cinema history; and commentary upon any particular methods of working or aesthetic techniques that the student has developed throughout past projects, or that they wish to develop further in future work.

3. A festival press kit for the Advanced Directing Sequence film, which must include: a logline, a synopsis of the film in approximately 50 words, the director’s statement mentioned above, production stills, and full cast and crew listing. It should also include one or more of the following: a trailer, a “fact page” of details about the film’s production (process, the cast, and crew, the locations), or a brief director’s bio of approximately 50 words, brief bios for key collaborators. Ideally, it provides information of interest to festivals and to publications covering the film, and anyone preparing to interview the director about the film or their work.

In the Defense, each student must be prepared to talk about their work and process, and answer the committee’s questions and criticisms of the films, director’s statement, and press kit. The student will be expected to discuss their plans for future work outside of school, with knowledge of the best venues and support systems for the work, such as appropriate festivals, grants, labs, and production companies.

Sponsoring Department: Radio/Television/Film 

Module Coordinator (main student contact): Spencer Parsons

Committee of Instruction: Spencer Parsons, Kyle Henry, Clayton Brown, Mimi White 

Module Advisor: Catherine Carrigan

How to Enroll 

This module is open to RTVF majors. 

In the junior year, students apply for admission, which will accept 12 students, who will then take the core sequence of RTVF 397-1 (fall) and 397-2 (winter) in their senior year. To apply, students are required to have already completed one elective production course from the menu of 4 options. Students will present a proposal for a short film to be completed in the RTVF 397 sequence and a sample of past work. 

After students have been admitted to the Advanced Directing Sequence, they can contact module advisor Catherine Carrigan (c-carrigan@northwestern.edu) with questions or submit a Module Declaration form.

Module Timeline: 

Students will be emailed in the winter quarter of junior year with instructions for applying to the module. Applications will be due in mid-March. The core course sequence will be completed in fall and winter of the student’s senior year, and the capstone must be submitted for evaluation by the fifth week of spring quarter and completed by the eighth week. Because of this timing, students will only have one opportunity to complete and submit the capstone. 

Grade Policy

Students must maintain a B- average in module coursework. If their average falls below B-, they will not be permitted to submit a capstone.