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FILM-MFA - Documentary Film and Video (MFA)
Overview
Program Overview
Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Film
Situated in the Department of Art & Art History, the Master of Fine Arts program in documentary production provides a historical, theoretical, and critical framework within which students master the conceptual and practical skills for producing nonfiction film and video. The M.F.A. is a terminal degree program with a two-year, full-time curriculum representing a synthesis of film praxis and film and media history, theory, and criticism. Courses provide an intellectual and theoretical framework within which students' creative work is developed. Students proceed through the program as a cohort.
Fields of Study or Degree Options
Fields of study for the M.F.A. degree are offered in Documentary Film.
Admissions Information
Admission
The program requires residency for two consecutive years. The admissions committee seeks applicants who have some work experience beyond their undergraduate years and can articulate why they want to learn documentary film production. The committee looks for evidence of the likelihood of success in a rigorous academic program that emphasizes creative work. The conceptual and technical skills required for documentary work are sufficiently different from fictional narrative to make the Stanford program inappropriate for students interested in fiction filmmaking. The program does not allow for deferred admission or a mid-year enrollment.
Portfolio
The department requires a film or video work for which the applicant has had creative control. The sample work must be well labeled and accompanied by a brief synopsis, running time of the clips, the circumstances of production, and the applicant's role. The admissions committee will view 15 minutes total of work samples, applicants may submit more than project, and should include notes on which portion of their work to view (up to 15 minutes). Work on which the applicant had only a production assistant role is not appropriate for submission. Student work, however, is appropriate for consideration. Applicants who have had only minimal film or video production experience should submit an example of their best creative work in any medium.
Portfolio Specifications—See the department's Graduate Admission web site for portfolio requirements.
Director of Graduate Studies
Free Form Requisites
Residency
Completing two years (six quarters) of graduate work in residence at Stanford.
Units
A minimum of 62 units is required for the M.F.A. degree. In the production core, students are required to conceptualize and visualize their ideas in a series of writing and producing courses that focus on documentary story structure. These courses are taken in tandem with project-based production courses that provide training in the technical and conceptual aspects of cinematography, sound recording, and editing. Discussion of form and content is a signature component of the writing and production courses. The production core is complemented by a series of required film studies courses in documentary plus elective courses in the history, aesthetics, ideology, and theory of all genres of moving image media. All courses, except for FILMPROD core courses, must be taken for a letter grade.
The Department of Art & Art History did not make any changes to graduate degree grade requirements for classes taken in Winter Quarter 2019-20.
The Department of Art & Art History counts any Spring Quarter 2019-20 class in which the student received a final grade of ‘S’ towards graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade.
The Art & Art History department did not make any changes to its policy concerning 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) grades in degree requirements requiring a letter grade for academic year 2020-21.
M.F.A. Thesis Project
In the second year of the program, each student produces a 15-20 minute documentary that constitutes the thesis project. In course Producing Practicum: The Non-Fiction Film, students research and develop their project and write a proposal for submission. A project may not begin production until the written proposal has been approved. Most of the production and post-production occurs (in Winter and Spring quarters) in course and course.
Required Courses
1. Core Production courses; core courses must be taken in sequence:
Units | ||
|---|---|---|
Film/Video Writing and Directing | 3 | |
Nonfiction Film Production | 3 | |
Digital Video | 4 | |
Advanced Documentary Directing | 3 | |
Advanced Video Production | 3 | |
Producing Practicum: The Non-Fiction Film | 4 | |
Documentary M.F.A. Thesis Seminar I | 5 | |
Documentary M.F.A.Thesis Seminar II | 5 | |
2. Core Film Studies courses:
Units | ||
|---|---|---|
Documentary Perspectives I | 4 | |
Documentary Perspectives II | 4 | |
3. Electives (to be chosen in consultation with the student's adviser):
Units | ||
|---|---|---|
Art History—one course | 4 | |
Studio Art —one course | 4 | |
Film Studies—three courses | 12 | |
Choice Elective—one course | 4 | |
Program Policies
External Credit Policies
All work for the degree must be completed in residence at Stanford. A minimum of 62 units is required.
Advising Expectations
For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.
Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
The M.F.A. degree is designed to prepare graduate students for professional careers in film, video, and digital media. Graduates are qualified to teach at the university level. The philosophy of the program is predicated on a paradigm of independent media that values artistic expression, social awareness, and an articulated perspective. Students become conversant with the documentary tradition as well as with alternative media and new directions in documentary. Training in documentary production is combined with the development of research skills in film criticism and analysis. Electives in film studies, art history, and studio art provide an intellectual and theoretical framework within which creative work is realized. The parallel focus on production and studies prepares students for an academic position that may require teaching both film studies and production