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Purpose

The MAH in Film and Performance is designed to provide a basic orientation in the core skills of narrative filmmaking (writing/acting/directing) for those students who wish to enter the film industry.  The program will also provide a wide range of internship opportunities for the final semester.
  

Structure of the Program (One year, 3 semesters—Summer, Fall, Spring)

 


Summer Semester:
(16 credit hours)
Two, sequential, six-week summer sessions will provide intensive workshops in writing/acting and directing for film. These are hands-on production workshops with all students involved in writing, directing, and acting in scenes and short productions. Industry professionals will participate in instruction in
all workshops.

First Session
Screenwriting I (4 credit hrs)
Film/Video Production (4 credit hrs)

Second Session
Screenwriting II (4 credit hrs)
Directing for the Camera II (4 credit hrs)

Fall Semester:
(14 credit hours)

There will be one required course in Film or Film Studies and one required course through the Theatre department for the MAH students.  The rest of the classes will be electives.

Spring Semester:
(6 credit hours)

Students are encouraged to apply for an internship in New York or Los Angeles.  Internship opportunities are represented by a wide range of film companies -- from producers and production companies to talent agencies.  On a case by case basis a final project (a short film or film script) will be considered in lieu of an internship.
(6 credit hours)

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How to Apply

 Applicants should apply to the MAH program and indicate their interest in the Film and Performance Concentration. Applications are due by April 1st, however we will continue to review applicants until the program is full. Click here to apply online. Make sure to select Humanities Interdis.- (Concentration Film & Perf.) (MA). Applicants should submit the following documentation with their application:

-2 Letters of recommendation
-Letter of Intent (on application)
-Evidence of creative activity, such as one of the following:
-A video with 2 contrasting monologues or scenes (max. 7 minutes) with a photo.
-A short film under 15 minutes.
-A screenplay for a short film or selected scenes (no feature length scripts).



Here are a few internships companys that student have secured for the spring 2006 semester.

GreeneStreet/NYC
Parseghian/Planco – NYC
Hart/Sharpe – NYC
Emerging Pictures/NYC
Amos Poe/NYC
Focus Features/NYC
MTV Films/LA
This is That/NY
San Francisco Film Society
Sundance Film Institute/LA
Summer 2006 Courses

TH 513 Production Intensive

Instructor: Kerri Kieser
DMS Room 235

Dates:  Four week intensive from June 5th to June 29th.  The course will meet Monday through Thursday from 10am to 12: 45.

Kerri Kieser is a film/video artist living residing in Buffalo, NY while she completes her MFA.  She is constantly exploring through the lens, microphone and pen.  Her work deals with identity and relationship issues.  Locally Ms. Kieser’s work has screened at Squeaky Wheel, Kitchen Distribution and SUNY/Buffalo.

DMS 535 – Narrative Scriptwriting (aka Screenwriting I)

Instructor:  Lamar Sanders
DMS Room 232

Dates:  Two week intensive from May 22nd until June 2nd.
The class will meet from 10 - 1, Monday through Friday on each of these two weeks, with screenings every afternoon from 2 – 5.  Class is canceled for Memorial Day (Monday May 29th).

Required reading:
“The Tools of Screenwriting” by Howard and Mabley
“Poetics” – Aristotle (edited by Ferguson)

Suggested reading for DMS 535 and 536:
“In The Blink of An Eye” by Walter Murch
“Deception” by Philip Roth
“The Writer’s Journey” by Chris Vogler

Lamar Sanders is a New York based screenwriter, director and playwright.  Current screenplays include TICKETS TO RIDE (for TNT) , OUTLAW (for 20th Century Fox) and TIME IN ADVANCE (Universal) ; films include THE KIRLIAN WITNESS and NO IMMEDIATE DANGER which has won over 20 awards. His films have been shown at numerous regional film festivals.  Mr. Sanders teaches film and television at New York University and is the Chair of the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at Tisch School of the Arts (NYU).

DMS 536 – Narrative Filmmaking (aka Screenwriting II)

Instructor:  Amos Poe
DMS Room 232

Dates:  Two week intensive July 31st to August 11th. The course will meet from 10 -1 each day, with screenings every afternoon from 2 – 5.

Writer-Director Amos Poe is one of the leading figures of the No Wave Cinema movement (1976-1985) that grew out of the East Village music and art scene.  No Wave included Jim Jarmusch, Beth and Scott B, John Lurie, among others.  Poe’s films as director include THE BLANK GENERATION, THE FOREIGNER, SUBWAY RIDERS, ALPHABET CITY, DEAD WEEKEND, and FROGS FOR SNAKES. Poe has written numerous screenplays including ROCKET GILBRALTAR, PORT OF CALL and DEAD WEEKEND and has also directed music videos.  Poe currently teaches screenwriting and film production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. 

TH 592 – Directing

Instructor: Kelly Reichardt
DMS Room 232

Dates:  Two week intensive July 10th – 21st. The class will meet from 10 – 1, with screenings every afternoon from 2 – 5.

Suggested reading:
“Film Directing – Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen” by Steven D. Katz
“The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing” by Michael Ondaatje

Kelly Reichardt is an independent filmmaker and screenwriter based in New York. Her films include RIVER OF GRASS and ODE.  Her new film OLD JOY premiered to critical acclaim at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Ms. Reichardt’s work has been shown internationally and in festivals  including the New York Video Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival (etc). She has received numerous awards including Best of the Year in Avant-Garde 2004 (Village Voice). Ms. Reichardt teaches at NYU and Columbia and has been a Visiting Lecturer at numerous colleges around the country.

 


University at Buffalo
The Department of Media Study
The Department of Theatre and Dance