Communication Major with a Concentration in Cinema / Digital Media
The concentration in Cinema and Digital Media has three areas of emphasis that students can choose to pursue: Critical Studies, Production (Audio, Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Animation, or Design & Special Effects), and Screenwriting.
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Click here for a sample four-year plan for Cinema/Digital Media majors.
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Note: All Communication majors or any student enrolled in 6 or more units of communication will be assessed a special fee each semester.
*Students must achieve a minimum grade of C- for all major course requirements.
Cinema/Digital Media Concentration Core Requirements (27 units)
COMM 220 Visual Storytelling 3 units
COMM 227 Introduction to Cinema 3 units
COMM 258 Christianity/Artistic Culture 3 units
COMM 273 Visual Technology 3 units
COMM 290 Interpersonal Communication 3 units
COMM 305 Communication Theory and Research 3 units
COMM 450 Internship 3 units
COMM 464C Media Criticism 3 units
COMM 495 Senior Project (A, B, or D) 3 units
Cinema/Digital Media Application Courses (24 units)
Students must choose 24 Communication Application Units for graduation. Areas of emphasis are a guideline to help students narrow their field. Choosing an area of emphasis is not a requirement.
Critical Studies Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 223 Oral Interpretation of Literature 3 units; COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 3 units; COMM 348 Screenwriting 3 units; COMM 351 Documentary/Ethnographic Film Production 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 478 Filmmakers Series (repeatable) 3 units
Production: Audio Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 ; 365 Sound Design 4 units; COMM 433 Scoring for Film and Television 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 462 High Definition Production 4 units; COMM 483 The Recording Studio in Production 4 units; MUSC 136 Music Theory I 3 units; MUSC 220 Introduction to MIDI 1 unit
Production: Cinematography Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 222 Photography 4 units; COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 353 Cinematography 4 units; COMM 441 Special Effects in Motion Pictures 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 462 High Definition Production 4 units
Production: Directing Emphasis: (choose 24 units)
COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 317 Creative Process 3 units; COMM 327 Directing for Film and Digital Media 3 units; COMM 331 Television Advertising 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 348 Screenwriting 3 units; COMM 351 Documentary/Ethnographic Film Production 4 units; COMM 352 Multi-Camera Production 4 units; COMM 365 Sound Design 4 units; COMM 441 Special Effects in Motion Pictures 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 462 High Definition Production 4 units
Production: Editing Emphasis: (choose 24 units)
COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 ; 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 351 Documentary Production 4 units; COMM 363 Motion Graphic Design 4 units; COMM 365 Sound Design 4 units; COMM 441 Special Effects in Motion Pictures 4 units; COMM 442 Non-Linear Editing for Motion Pictures 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 462 High Definition Production 4 units
Production: Producing Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 units; COMM 331 Television Advertising 3 units; COMM 339 Producing for TV and Film 4 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 352 Multi-Camera Production 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; MRKT 360 Principles of Marketing 3 units; MRKT 362 Advertising and Promotion 3 units; BUSN 316 Legal Aspects of the Business Practice 3 units
Production: Animation Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 222 Photography 4 units; COMM 271 Audio Techniques in Production 4 units; COMM 317 Creative Process 3 units; COMM 348 Screenwriting 3 units; COMM 353 Cinematography 4 units; COMM 363 Motion Graphic Design 4 units; COMM 377 Animation 4 units; COMM 457 Game Design and Development 4 units
Production: Design and Special Effects Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 317 Creative Process 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 363 Motion Graphic Design 4 units; COMM 441 Special Effects in Motion Pictures 4 units; COMM 442 Non-Linear Editing 4 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 470 Special Topic 4 units
Screenwriting Emphasis:(choose 24 units)
COMM 317 Creative Process 3 units; COMM 326 History of International Cinema 3 units; COMM 343 Digital Video Production 4 units; COMM 348 Screenwriting 3 units; COMM 459 Film Production 4 units; COMM 478 Filmmakers Series (repeatable) 3 units; ENGL 360 Dramatic Literature: Script Analysis 3 units; ENGL 438 Creative Writing Workshop 3 units
Cinema/Digital Media Courses
COMM 220 • Visual Storytelling (3 units)
An introduction to story structure, this course focuses on envisioning story ideas and developing those ideas into written formats for the screen.
COMM 222 • Photography (4 units)
The science of film’s physical and compositional structure, the zone system, the measurement of light,experimentation with filters and exposure; all explored in depth with the still film camera. Lab Fee.
COMM 227 • Introduction to Cinema (3 units)
An introduction to the origination and development of motion picture images, this course offers a historical timeline approach to significant contributions in cinema style and artistic aesthetic.
COMM 258 • Christianity/Artistic Culture (3 units)
Combines film screening, critical analysis and theory to enable students to examine morality, ethics and screen portrayals pertaining to Christianity, gender, and ethnicity. The aim is to motivate students toward personal accountability and responsibility, as well as creative refinement and sophistication when producing media content.
COMM 271 • Audio Techniques in Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. This course is an introduction to recording, editing and mixing sound as an art and science. Students will become acquainted with acoustics, field recording, mixing techniques, psychoacoustics,and the relationship between action and sound.
COMM 273 • Visual Technology (3 units)
An introduction to the technological necessities of the Communication major. This course equips the student for future communication classes regardless of concentration or emphasis. Lab Fee.
COMM 317 • Creative Process—Theory and Practice (3 units)
This course will consider the theory and practice of creative communication. It will focus on creative problem solving strategies and on sharpening communication skills to stimulate higher levels of creativity.
COMM 326 • History of International Cinema (3 units)
An introduction to diverse talents of cinema in many different cultures, particularly major Japanese,Russian, German, Indian, Swedish, French, Italian and Latin American contributions to the world of film over the last century.
COMM 327 • Directing for Film and Digital Media (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 290. An in-depth study of the professional craft of directing. This course offers insight into the development of an actor’s vocabulary, script analysis, handling pressure on-set, conflict management,communicating a vision, and trusting your filmmaking intuition.
COMM 329 • Digital Audio and Video Principles (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. Basic principles of digital video production in narrative and documentary filmmaking. An exploration of story, single camera operation, basic non-linear editing, sound design and film theory. This class includes lectures, screenings and hands-on assignments. Lab Fee.
COMM 339 • Producing for Television and Film (3 units)
Exploration of the role of the independent producer and how a concept is taken through the steps of development, financing, scheduling, production, marketing, and distribution.
COMM 348 • Screenwriting (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 220. This course will focus on the development and creation of an original screenplay. Students will be expected to apply the screenwriting fundamentals learned in the prerequisite course – Visual Storytelling – to their scripts.
COMM 351 • Documentary / Ethnographic Film Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. An introduction to the history of documentary filmmaking, an emphasis on camera frame choices, the interview process, choosing subjects wisely and the gender, historical and cultural significance of creating ethnographic film.
COMM 352 • Multi-Camera Production (4 units)
Students will learn directing, performance, sound, camera operation and placement, casting and "in studio" switching in the multi-camera TV environment.
COMM 353 • Cinematography (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 222. Hands-on intensive training and experimentation with 8mm and 16mm motion picture camera and film stocks, with an emphasis on set production roles and lighting techniques. Lab Fee.
COMM 354 • News, Sports, and Media Broadcasting (4 units)
Prerequisites: COMM 271 and COMM 273. Students will gain performance, writing and producing skills in news anchoring, reporting, interviewing in the sports and broadcast media arena. Important events in broadcasting history, industry terminology and networking in the broadcasting arena will be seen via actual footage analyzed and discussed. Assignments include conducting talk shows, hosting, news team anchoring, and live video broadcast. Lab Fee.
COMM 363 • Motion Graphic Design (4 units)
This advanced course introduces students to title and motion graphic design for film, High Definition, and digital media. Techniques include layer-based compositing, interactive menu design and special effects.
COMM 365 • Sound Design (4 units)
Prerequisites: COMM 271 and COMM 273. This course is an exploration into the orchestration of the diagetic and non-diagetic sound elements created for a film.
COMM 377 • Animation (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. The history, technique and creation of animation, this course includes flip book, clay, collage, drawing workshops, traditional cell animation, flash animation and an introduction to 3-D. Students do not have to "know how to draw" in order to take this course. Lab Fee.
COMM 433 • Scoring for Film and Television (4 units)
The industry and process of developing scores for film, television and digital media. Topics include historical evaluation, composition and recording techniques, introduction to royalties, clearance, and copyrights.
COMM 441 • Special Effects in Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273; COMM 353 or COMM 363 or COMM 377 . The history, theory and technique of special effects for motion pictures and digital media. Students will learn the process of optical illusions, compositing video material, working with mattes, rotoscoping, motion tracking, color matching, using models and miniatures, and keying techniques for special effects in films and digital media. Lab fee.
COMM 442 • Non-Linear Editing for Motion Pictures (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. This course offers a comprehensive approach to the theory and practice of editing motion pictures. The course will begin with the basic fundamentals of editing technique, progress through the foundations of the industry standard programs Final Cut Pro and Avid, and offer advanced digital solutions by the end of the semester. Lab Fee.
COMM 450 • Internship (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Must have consent of instructor and Department chair. Must be in junior or senior standing. Students may seek a position which relates to their major with a cooperating business in the communication industry. Students are required to work fifty hours for each academic unit hour received. A weekly report to the supervising professor is required. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
COMM 455 • Communication Teaching Internship (1-6 units)
Prerequisite: Open to juniors or seniors with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Must have the consent of the instructor and the Department chair. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The teaching intern helps an instructor in planning and conducting a course and/or research session. This course may be taken for 1-3 units per semester. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
COMM 457 • Game Design and Development (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273 and COMM 377. An introduction to game design and development with a focus on 3D content creation, programming, and asset production. This course also focuses on the skills, mechanics and ethical aspects of mind/game play.
COMM 459 • Film Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273 and COMM 343 or COMM 353. This course is an in-depth practical application of story development, the pitch process, fundraising, producing, cinematography, non-linear editing for film, sound design, and scoring in order to create one 16mm color film where each class member serves a particular crew position. Lab Fee.
COMM 462 • High-Definition Production (4 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273, COMM 343 or COMM 353. An in-depth exploration of 24p and High Definition digital video technologies, cameras, and editing processes introducing students to a professional workflow for film and commercial projects. Lab Fee.
COMM 470 • Special Topic (1-4 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Study of a special topic in the areas of Communication Studies and TV and Film. May be repeated for credit. May include a lab requirement and lab fee.
COMM 478 • Filmmakers Series (3 units)
Prerequisite: COMM 273. A forum and guest lecture series featuring important directors, producers, screenwriters and artists who have created a lasting artistic, ethical, social, or cultural impact on the industry. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 units.
COMM 480 • Individual Studies (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and Department chair. May be repeated for credit.
COMM 483 • The Recording Studio in Production (4 units)Prerequisite: COMM 271 and COMM 273. Hands-on-training in recording studio operation and production technique for film and digital media.
COMM 495A • Senior Project: Film
Prerequisite: Senior standing and approval of professor. The student writes, directs, or serves in a production role (cinematographer, editor, production sound, sound designer), on a faculty approved film, video, documentary,animated film, or commercial project bringing it to final form for festival distribution.
COMM 495B • Senior Project: Reel
Prerequisite: Senior standing. The student refines and finished the extent of their production experience on DVD as a business card for the professional world.
COMM 495D • Senior Project: Script or Publication
Prerequisite: Senior standing and approval of professor. The student creates a three-act polished screenplay or publication for distribution.