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The Digital Cinema Production Arts BFA at Southern Oregon University offers student filmmakers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a chosen production or story development craft while contributing to the creation of a significant undergraduate thesis project in a year-long Capstone sequence. While pursuing their BFA degree, each student will also attain additional certification in their chosen focus area.

The BFA is a restricted program with an additional portfolio application and technical skills demonstration requirement beyond the general admission requirements of SOU. Freshmen students interested in the BFA will typically be admitted first as a BA or BS major in Digital Cinema before they are eligible to apply to the BFA program, while transfer students who have completed at least 36 college credits may apply directly for BFA admission from their transfer institution. Specific portfolio and technical demonstration requirements will depend on the student’s Capstone focus area. Please contact the Communication, Media & Cinema program for full BFA admission requirements.
BFA concentration areas include:

• Directing Scripted Narrative for the Screen: Students collaborate with actors in SOU’s Theatre program to learn about performance techniques and cultivate their distinct directorial voice utilizing the visual language of cinematography and editing. Each student directs a thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Screenwriting & Story Development: Students learn to write short scripts as well as long-form projects for film and television. Each student completes a long-form screenwriting thesis for their Capstone project.
• Producing & Production Management: Students learn the nuts and bolts of film budgeting and scheduling, the business aspects of the entertainment industry, and the secrets of crowdfunding, while also taking several core classes from SOU’s elite Business program. Each students either produces a thesis short film or serves as a production manager or assistant director on a thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Documentary Production: In this interdisciplinary concentration, students learn documentary conventions and technical skills while exploring a subject area of their choice. Special attention is paid to the ethics of documentary filmmaking. Each student completes a thesis documentary short film for their Capstone project.
• Cinematography & Production Technology: Students learn several technical areas of film and television production, with particular focus on camera operation and lighting techniques. Students work as a cinematographer or in a similar technical role on a thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Media Post-Production: In this comprehensive interdisciplinary concentration, students master computer-based post-production skills, including digital video editing, sound editing and design, color grading, compositing, motion graphics, and visual effects. Students work as an editor, post-production supervisor, or in a similar post-production role on a thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Sound Design: In this interdisciplinary concentration, students explore sound design in numerous contexts, including for film, theatre, and virtual environments. Students work as a sound designer on a thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Animation & Motion Design: In cooperation with the Emerging Media & Digital Arts program, this concentration offers students the opportunity to combine their filmmaking skills with digital animation. Students will direct an animated thesis short film for their Capstone project.
• Scenic & Environmental Design: In cooperation with SOU’s famed Theatre program, this concentration offers students the opportunity to explore production design, art direction, set design, and prop construction for film, television, and theatre. Students will work in the art department of a thesis short film for their Capstone project.