Requirements
Requirements for the Producing Concentration:
Producing concentrates must fulfill all general requirements for the first year, including writing, directing and producing “8-12” projects, and participating in “Crit Week.” Screenwriting becomes an elective after the first year.
Producing concentrates must complete Role of the Producer (R6027), Producing the Short Film (R6028), Business of Film (R6004), Feature Film Development (R6003), Feature Film Financing (R6007), Pre-Production (R6034), Case Studies in Producing (R6035) and Producing Thesis Advisement (R8992).
Upon completion of two years of course work, producing concentrates work on the production of two non-thesis projects, and produce a thesis (see thesis and non-thesis guidelines).
To be eligible for graduation, Producing students must submit their two completed non-thesis projects (with necessary paperwork) to the Producing supervisor by December 1st of the third (3rd) year of study. (See guidelines for non-thesis projects).
Producing concentrates must participate in an industry internship of at least one semester. Weekly written reports must be submitted to a faculty advisor, who will evaluate the internship at the end of the semester.
Upon completion of sixty (60) credits of course work, the internship requirement and approval of the non-thesis projects, a student concentrating in Producing will file a thesis intent form with the program supervisor. This form will declare the nature and format of the thesis. The thesis must be completed and submitted no later than April 15th of the third (3rd) year of study.
The Producing supervisor will act as thesis advisor for all Producing concentrates. Any other Producing Professor (including adjuncts) can act as 2nd reader. At the time of filing the thesis intent form, the student should submit the name of a second reader who has agreed to act in that role.
A schedule of advisement meetings will be set up and adhered to by the student and the thesis advisor. The schedule will vary depending on the nature of the thesis.
At the time of submission, the thesis project must be in a state where it can be screened for an audience. After submission of the project to the thesis advisor and 2nd reader, a thesis “defense” will be scheduled and advertised to the faculty and students of the division. (see thesis guidelines)
Non-Thesis Guidelines for Producing Concentrates:
In order to graduate, Producing Concentrates need to have worked on the production of at least 2 “non-thesis” films. The producing student can also be the writer on the films, but cannot also be the director. Upon completion of each “non-thesis” film, the student must submit a DVD of the completed film, along with the student producer’s evaluation of their role on the film. These should be submitted to the student’s adviser.
Thesis Guidelines for Producing Concentrates:
Before commencing on a thesis, Producing Concentrates must get approval on a thesis proposal, which must be signed by the thesis adviser (must be a full-time faculty member), and a second reader. Approval cannot be given until all of the course requirements and other requirements have been fulfilled. The student must submit DVD’s of their non-thesis films, and documentation of the completion of all course work with their thesis proposal.
Thesis Film:
The student must produce a thesis film. The student producer can also be the writer on the film, but cannot also be the director. There cannot be more than one credited producer on the film. This film must also be the thesis film of a Columbia Director, or if not, the film has to satisfy the following qualifications:
The film must have been substantially developed by the Producing Concentrate and he/she must have been involved with it from its inception.
The student has to get approval from the thesis adviser, who will be evaluating whether he/she has exhausted all possibilities of having the film be the thesis project for a Columbia Director and/or a non-thesis project for a Columbia director.
In no case can the student producer be a “producer for hire” for a non-Columbia director.
In all cases, in order for a thesis film to qualify for graduation requirements, and for designation as a Columbia Film (for festival purposes), there must be an on-screen credit that says “Produced in partial fulfillment of the MFA Degree in the Columbia University Graduate Film Division.”
Upon completion of the film, the student must submit a DVD of the thesis film, and a complete production notebook that clearly shows the student’s involvement in the process of producing the film. These should be submitted to the student’s adviser.
In addition, each producing student will be required to present his or her thesis to interested students and faculty, at which time the producer will screen the finished film, describe the process of producing it, and answer questions from the audience.