OVERVIEW:

The BFA in Film Production is an 81-hour pre-professional major providing an immersive, conservatory-style educational experience for students pursuing a career in the film industry. Hands-on instruction in pre-production (writing, producing), production (directing, cinematography, production design), and post-production (editing, sound, visual effects) provides students foundational concepts and practical skills which are reinforced through their work on short films. Film studies courses emphasize critical and analytical thinking through the study of global film culture, history, and aesthetics.

BFA in Film Production students will rotate through “below-the-line” (technical) and “above-the-line” (creative) roles on two short film production cycles, leading to a final thesis film cycle where seniors choose an area of emphasis (directing, cinematography, producing, production design, editing, sound). By the time of their graduation, every BFA in Film Production student will be ready to enter the workplace with nearly 30 student film credits for their resumé.

BFA vs. BA:

The BFA in Film Production is offered alongside WKU’s BA in Film. The BFA in Film Production is an intensive pre-professional program which gives students numerous opportunities to make films without taking non-film courses concurrently. This option would be good for a student pursuing a career in the film/television industry. The BA in Film is a flexible liberal arts program giving students a breadth of knowledge through film electives and minor/double major options. This option would be good for a student who has a general interest in film, wants the option of double majoring, or intends to continue on to graduate school. 

The BFA in Film Production does not allow for a minor or second major.

CURRICULUM:

Students applying for the BFA in Film Production must take 12 hours of Film core curriculum their first year (FILM 100, 201, 202, 250) and submit to a portfolio review during their second semester seeking admission. Twenty-four students per academic year will be selected for admission into the program based on the quality of their creative portfolio, their professionalism in class and on set, and their scholastic work.

The BFA in Film Production requires 81 semester hours. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this major or fulfill prerequisite requirements for any major in the School of Media. After admission, students must follow a prescribed class schedule to ensure completion of the program in four years (including the first year of core courses), as outlined in the four-year plan.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to a portfolio review, students applying for the BFA in Film Production must meet the following academic requirements:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of coursework applicable to a baccalaureate degree; 
  2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5; 
  3. Completion of ENG 100 with a grade of ‘C’ or better and 15 additional hours in the Colonnade Program; 
  4. Completion of the following courses with a grade of ‘C’ or better: FILM 100, FILM 201, FILM 202, FILM 250. 

Students who are not selected for the BFA in Film Production or opt-out of the portfolio review process will have the option of pursuing the BA in Film if they meet the BA in Film’s admission requirements.

After admission into the BFA in Film Production, students must follow a prescribed class schedule to ensure completion of the program in four years. Colonnade courses may only be taken during the semesters in which they are listed below. This schedule is designed to eliminate overlap between semesters with film production cycles and semesters with Colonnade courses. Colonnade courses may also be taken during the winter or summer terms.

Refer to the University undergraduate catalog for more information. Course Descriptions may be viewed at http://www.wku.edu/undergraduatecatalog