collegefreak779

I was told about the film production major from a different forum and I was just hoping one of the students at harvard could attest to the quality of the program. also, if anyone knows, does this major offer classes more geared towards television as opposed to solely film.

THANKS!!

nick04

Hey, it's not a major, but a track in the Visual Environmental Studies major. It's not - really not - geared towards putting you in a position where you can go into professional film or TV. It is a very small program, with a strong emphasis on experimental work. There are no TV production courses. It's not even referred to as 'film production' internally.

Don't apply if you're looking for a vocational program, because VES is not that. It is a great program (I loved it!), but *not not not not* vocational. None of the courses are relevant to multi-camera television production. There are no studio facilities on campus.

The major has a lot of great things, but just from the way you phrase the question it sounds like you might be looking for something different. Feel free to PM me if you want specific information, or check out the VES website

Eiffel

"It's not - really not - geared towards putting you in a position where you can go into professional film or TV."

But would it be a helpful major for someone who is interested in Film for grad school at one of the big film schools (USC, NYU, et cetera)?

nick04

It certainly wouldn't hurt. I don't know anyone personally who did that, but there are a few well known directors (Darren Aronofsky for one) who went from VES into an MFA or similar at a film school. There is also a quite large alumni run group that will help interested students make connections in the industry. There are lots of Harvard grads running around Hollywood, but surprisingly few of them actually majored in VES!

Hope that helps

compmom

I thought that Drew Faust announced a new film studies major, in a speech last year about improving the arts on campus. But could be wrong. Also a new drama studies major, and visual arts, as I remember.

nick04

They're two different fields - film studies, and film production. In film studies you write about and study film from an academic perspective, and in film production you learn how to actually make it.

There already exist majors in Visual Arts, Film Studies, and Film Production, all under the umbrella of the Visual Environmental Studies department. The Arts Task force report released last year (which Drew Faust was quoting from) recommends a drama major be established, but this won't be in place for some time (if it happens at all).

sewhappy

There are Harvard students who major in lots of different fields but still go on to careers in film and television via their heavy involvement in ECs.