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Czech Republic: Prague Film Production -
Academics
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Students earn a full semester of American University
(AU) credit. These credits are readily transferable
to other colleges and universities. On the program,
students take 12-17 credits (for undergraduates) and
6-9 credits (for graduate students). Following are
descriptions of the courses offered. Courses are taught
in English. A full-time Program Coordinator with knowledge
of and experience in Prague supervises the program.
Academic oversight is provided by FAMU International
and American University's School of Communication
for the Film Production program
Film Production Program
The Film Production program is based at the FAMU Film
School in Prague and operates in conjunction with
the AU School of Communications. The program is devoted
to students who are highly motivated to create their
own Narrative Super 16mm Film Productions. Students
are mentored by FAMU’s award-winning, full-time
faculty from its renowned departments of Directing,
Cinematography and Editing. There is further instruction
by faculty from the Producing, Screenwriting and Sound
Design Departments.
The is divided into two program tracks: Level 1 and
Level 2. Courses are taught directly by FAMU faculty.
The core of the program is the required Film Technology
and Practice course, which is exclusive to students
on the program. This composite course includes regular
mentoring and consultation with members of the faculty
from the directing, cinematography, screening writing,
and editing departments.
Both Levels are required to take a 3-credit course
on Czech language:
Required Course (for undergraduate students
in both Levels):
Czech Language
(3 credit hours)
Students will participate in intensive Czech Language
classes at the beginning of the term to introduce
them to practical Czech and life in the Prague. Students
will then continue to study Czech throughout the term
as part of the course.
*Film Production Level 1*
Prerequisites
- Students are required to have completed an Introduction
to Film Production course, or a Basic Photography
course, or students may submit a portfolio (if courses
not taken), to be considered for this program.
FAMU International Film Production Level
1 provides more beginner-to-intermediate-level
instruction in the technical and aesthetic aspects
of film production. In addition to the Czech Language
course, students choose from various elective film
courses available through FAMU International (see
below list) along with taking a required 6-credit
intensive Film Technology and Practice course which
is the core of the program. The core course for the
Level 1 program is structured differently than the
Level 2 version of the course with a lesser degree
of intensive production work.
*Film Production Level 2*
Prerequisites
FAMU International Film Production Level
2 is a competitive program designed for the
intermediate-level production student, offering intensive
study in film production. In addition to the Czech
Language course, students choose from various elective
film courses available through FAMU International
along with taking the required Film Technology &
Practice core course (see below):
Required Core Course:
Film Technology and Practice
(COMM-584; 6 credit hours)
This composite course includes regular mentoring and
consultation with members of the faculty from the
directing, cinematography, screening writing, and
editing departments all integrated and focused on
developing, shooting, editing and posting a 7 to 10
minute narrative film project on super-16mm. This
time-intensive, team-taught course also includes group
critique sessions with the entire faculty for the
pitching and screening of projects. The primary focus
is learning the specifics of a narrative film. During
production, students collaborate with a professional-level
production manager, camera assistant, sound designer
and color grader. Students will also begin learning
the art of talent selection by working with a casting
agency that will provide professional actors for their
productions during the semester. Students will learn
about the importance of working with the lab, selection
of film stocks for greater cinematic control and the
use of lighting for both interior and exterior productions.
Students also learn the importance of color-grading
and color-correction, graphics, special effects, sound
mixing and design during the Post-Production Process.
There will be numerous consultations and screenings
of both raw footage and rough-cut edits with the Directing
and Editing Faculty during this post-production phase,
which will enhance, and clarify, the students' goals
for their films.
FAMU International Elective Courses
Film Production students in both Levels are able
to take some elective courses at FAMU International
on top of the Film Technology and Practice course
and the Czech Language course. These courses are typically
for 1.5 or 3 credits and include (subject to change):
Film History, Theory and Criticism Seminar
(3 credits)
This course presents the most important trends, moments,
and personalities in World film history up to the
beginning of the Sound Era. Both film style and production
mode will be analyzed. Students watch films in their
entirety or short examples illustrating particular
topics.
History of World Animation (1.5
credits)
Students will gain a deeper knowledge of film animation,
its possibilities and priorities. The course consists
of lectures followed by screenings of select examples
of animated film. Students write short analyses on
special subjects of animation, which are then used
as material for discussion.
Topics in Avant-Garde Film (3 credits)
The course shows students the evolution of avant-garde
film during the 20th Century: Different strains in
avant-garde film movement (i.e. cinéma pur,
non-objective film, surrealist film, formal film,
structural/material film, found-footage film, assemblage
and collage film etc.) with the aim to illustrate
voluminous possibilities of the film language (filmic
devices, film technique, methods of montage or animations
etc.) of non-narrative cinema. Every lesson is accompanied
by many examples, screened on VHS.
Analysis of the Director's Technique
(1.5 credits)
The course shows students the way that experienced
directors handle some of the most common film situations,
such as introduction of the main character, first
and last shot in the film, chasing scene, four persons
talking around the table, a man is getting out from
the car and etc.
Script Analysis (1.5 credits)
This course analyzes films from a dramaturgical perspective
aiming to demonstrate dramatic structures, narrative
techniques and genres, examining the process and craft
of screenwriting. Films are examined as a temporal-spatial
art. Functions of suspense, mystery, and dramatic
irony are also explored.
Visual Theory (3 credits)
This course explores how photographs are constructed,
analyzing the use of various aesthetic and design
elements and the effects of these on the viewer. The
format is lecture/seminar, and students will be given
practical as well as theoretical assignments. Slide
and video presentations support the content of the
lectures.
Principles and Technology of Photography
(1.5 credits)
This course provides a better understanding of the
technical and scientific aspects of photography and
cinematography. It combines lectures with experiments,
tests, and practical demonstrations. Subjects will
be treated from the standpoint of technique rather
than science.
Producer's Craft (1.5 credits)
The course looks at an overview of the recent history
and current development of the European television
industry; the work, art, and alchemy of television
programming; and how to recognize and analyze all
major contemporary programming trends.
Acting Studio (1.5 credits)
This is a practical course for directors, producers,
scriptwriters, cinematographers or editors, to understand
the actor's craft. Students proceed from exercises
and various improvisation to a given text, a dialog
and a monolog. At the end of each semester you will
perform your piece in front of the camera and then
assess your work on the video.
Animation Seminar and Practicum
(3 credits)
An introduction to the art of animation. Students
will gain an understanding of animation aesthetics,
concepts through a series of exercises, discussions
and screenings and they will complete a variety of
short projects designed to acquaint them with the
main elements of animation, culminating in the production
of a short animation project. Screenings and discussions
will play an important role. Drawing skills are not
necessary but welcome.
Documentary Photography (1.5 credits)
The course provides an insight into daily practice
and theoretical background of a documentary photographer.
Students learn among other things about differences
between reportage and documentary, art driven and
scientific approaches, explore how people are connected
with themselves and the outside world, and what influences
making of "personal documentary" in a long
run.
Cinematographer's Influence (1.5
credits)
This course gives explanation of cinematographer's
craft in the fields of exponometry, processing and
other postproduction technologies. It analyses the
use of various exponometric (photometric) methods
and their effectiveness on the aesthetic of cinematographic
image. It is in a lecture/seminar format and students
are given theoretical and practical assignments.
Circulating Within the Postmodern Cinematic
Image (3 credits)
This seminar is a select assessment of seven major
films from the post war era with special emphasis
given to those cinematic moments that might teach
and train us in new non-dominatory viewing strategies,
in new creative ways of circulating, and in new non-sadistic
ways of engaging with the most basic element of cinema:
the image. Film criticism and film philosophy from
Leo Bersani-Ulysse Dutoit, Gilles Deleuze, Erik Roraback,
Steven Shaviro, and François Truffaut will
be employed toward this end. All films are either
in English or have English inter-titles or sub-titles.
Clips from other films and special features from the
DVDs will also be shown.
Central European Cinema (3 credits)
A broad-based study of Central and Eastern European
cinematic history of Romania, Hungary, Macedonia and
former Czechoslovakia.
Practical Analysis: Directing (1.5
credits)
Focuses on the methods in which experienced directors
handle some of the most common film situations. Students
will learn some basic rules on directing these types
of situations. They will also gain awareness of different
directing styles and their development during over
the course of film history. Also covered is the art
of film directing and language in an atypical and
concise light.
Theory of Acting (1.5 credits)
This course keeps in mind the needs of the film artist
in her work with actors, offering explanations into
the actor's process. "Theory" is considered
those assumptions implicitly guiding the actor's performance,
assumptions which vary depending (in part) on the
training an actor receives. This course aims to cover
essentials of theories (some historical but most contemporary)
in order to help film directors communicate effectively
with actors from varying pedagogical and cultural
backgrounds.
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