MPI offers three elective courses that enable students to develop and specialize filmmaking skills in their particular area of interest.

• Screenwriting 3
• Film Directing 3
• Production Lab 3
• Feature Lab

Students MUST elect to take at least one of the courses in order to graduate, but must pass their pre-requisites in order to take them. Electives begin in the third semester and continue on through the end of the fourth semester.

The third semester portion of the course focuses on training and preparation. The fourth semester focuses on putting projects into production and skills to practice in out-of-class thesis film productions.

SCREENWRITING 3

This course elective is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in feature film screenwriting. Students are guided through the steps to write a feature length screenplay that includes developing and writing log lines, pitches and treatments. The students learn to analyze story dynamics, the three act structure, plotting, paradigms, character, themes, dialogue and many other screenwriting basics. Students are then required to select one idea to turn into a ten page treatment followed by the first ten pages of their screenplay. Students use this ground work to write a 80 to 90 page script thru the fourth semester as an independent study.

Assignments require students to turn in written work that is reviewed and critiqued by the instructor for revisions and suggestions. A component of this course also includes the business of screenwriting as it pertains to the optioning and selling of their work. Topics include submission formats, query letters, agency solicitation, option agreements and copyright/WGA registration.

4th SEMESTER

Screenwriting 3 continues as an independent study. Students must write a 90- 120 page draft of a completed screenplay by the end of the semester. Students meet with an instructor twice to review written work and make sure they're developing their work properly. In addition students will be required to register proof of copyright of their work with the Library of Congress.

FILM DIRECTING 3

This course is for students that wish to pursue a career as a film director. Students electing this course set about the task of writing, producing and directing a short thesis film project. The thesis film is both a learning tool and for many a resume piece that will carry them into the professional world. Thesis film projects can be of any variety (short narrative, documentary, commercial, psa, or music video). Of the short narrative variety students can produce any genre; comedy, drama, horror, action, suspense, western, biopic, or trailer for a feature film. Students in this course work on developing a script and preparing it for production. Course work includes preparing the director's notebook, blocking out sequences, organizing shot lists, drawing storyboards, determining the pictorial style and the corresponding art direction for the film. Frame forge 3d is taught in the course and used by the students to create an animatic of their film project. These animatics are presented in-class for discussion purposes, planning and critique by the instructor and the class. Students will also be required to conduct read-throughs of their scripts.

Course lectures include an in-depth study on the creative process and editorial decisions. More specifically the impact of how juxaposition, coverage, and shot order has on pacing.

Other topics discussed revolve around the day to day operations of the film director on set. This includes scheduling the day, organizing, making that critical decision to abridge a scene or shot list, working with name talent, preparing the next day, time management on set, working under pressure and how to deal with unforseen problems and delays. As a film goes into finishing one of the key elements is the post audio track. According to a director's perspective, it is equally important as the cinematography. This course discusses the creative workflow in working with a composer and a post audio facility to get the best possible soundtrack.

4th SEMESTER

Once the directing student is "greenlit" for production they can begin shooting their film. Production includes casting, location scouting, rehearsals, propping, shooting, picture editing, audio post, DVD authoring and creating a show reel. Students have until August 31, 2008 to turn in their completed film on DVD or DVCpro tape, their project datafiles and supporting paperwork.

Film projects can be shot on any of the available formats offered by MPI that include 16mm, 35mm, DV 24p, Hi-Definition DVCProHD 1080i/p, 720p, or HDV 1080i/720p or any future format MPI may acquire for student use during that school year.

PRODUCTION LAB 3

This course elective is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in film production and prepares them for their roles as the principle crew for the upcoming thesis film projects. Students are introduced and trained on additional camera systems including an Arri 16SR, Arri 35mm IIC, Eclair 16NPR, Sony XDCam EX1, and introduced to the RED Digital 4k Camera system*. Students are required to pass certification on the 16mm, 35mm and Sony cameras in order to check the equipment out for out-of-class productions. Students are assigned to practice camera assembly, operation and maintenance outside of class. Additional lecture topics include the duties of the camera assistant in a camera prep and on a film set.

The role of the lighting department and gaffer are also further explored. Via lighting demonstrations and exercises, students learn to choose a pictorial lighting style and develop and lighting plan that most efficiently achieves both the desired look and exposure requirements. Topics include: Contrast control, measurement, evaluating existing light, lighting portraiture, lighting multiple-keys and movement, and lighting environments.

Image control requires not only interpretation but the knowledge to execute it. Lecture topics include: Using LUTs, filter types, selection of filmstocks, manipulating the negative with flashing, film processing techniques such as pushing & pulling, cross processing, ENR, color grading in telecine & digital intermediates, and film printing as a means to achieve the desired look.

4th SEMESTER

Production Lab 3 continues as an independent study. Students are required to work as crew on Film Directing 3 thesis film projects and on the Feature Lab project. Students are required to commit to a minimum of 60 hours on thesis film projects over the course of the semester and on no less than two films. They must also enroll in a crew position for the Feature Lab project for no less than 36 hours on set (see page 8) these hours do not count towards hours worked on thesis films or factored in below. Students receive screen credit for every production they work on. Students acting as cinematographer will be granted access to footage of those films for a demo reel. Students are grades on participation and must turn in reports for each production.

FEATURE LAB

Feature Lab is a marquee course for Production Lab 3 students. Feature Lab involves placing students into one of the major production departments (camera, lighting, audio, script continuity, special effects, assistant directing, etc.) where they work under the supervision of an instructional staff. Industry professionals are brought into helm the major departments. Students learn advanced production skills in the course of making the Feature Lab project while either observing or assisting the department heads.

The Feature Lab project is conducted annually in the 4th semester. Production dates are only announced at the beginning of the 4th semester when a production schedule has been determined. The nature and genre of the Feature Lab project is announced in the 3rd semester each year and may vary year to year. Or the same project may be worked on in consecutive years.

The shooting format for this production can change year to year depending on the scope of the project and what format that best serves the interest of the story. Formats may include 35mm, Super 16mm, 4K digital, 2k digital or Hi-Definition formats.

For this course students either report to MPI or "on location" for the filming of the project. Attendance and participation is the primary consideration for grading. Students are also required to turn in a typed six page journal of their experience.

Note: While this course is primarily designed for Production Lab 3 students, any MPI student may elect to take this course. However preference to crew positions are given to Production Lab 3 students.