Wesleyan Film Department

Musicman23 · 09-07-2009, 08:47 PM

Hey, I'm interested in studying film in college, and I've heard and read that Wesleyan's film department is amazing. I was wondering if anyone had any info/opinion on it

froshdad · 09-08-2009, 07:06 PM

Josh Whedon does:

http://condor.wesleyan.edu/openmedia...whedon_ref.mov

eugene91 · 09-15-2009, 05:46 PM

Wow.. didn't know about Whedon. Practical question, how hard is it to get into film courses if you're not a major? say you want to major in history and take a lot of film too. Is the department so popular that can't happen? Thanks.

Musicman23 · 09-15-2009, 07:50 PM

Even though I'm not in yet...what I've read is that to get into the film major you have to take two introductory film classes your freshman year, so I'm assuming even if you don't want to be in the major you can get into those anyway.

Weskid · 09-16-2009, 07:31 PM

eugene91: If you're not a major, it is still easy to get into the intro classes, as musicman says. It is also fairly easy to get into some of the film classes that are taught by profs in other departments and are therefore cross-listed, and some of those are quite good (there's a German prof who teaches several very good classes on German cinema).

However, most upper-level film classes taught by strictly film profs are restricted to people in the major. There are a few that don't have that as a strict requirement, and just require that you've taken the two intro classes, but I'm pretty sure that in most or all cases, the only way to get in as a non-major is to be a sophomore who is planning on declaring. So, if you really want to take a LOT of film classes here, your best bet is to declare, especially because I'd say only one of the two intro classes (History) is worth taking if you aren't thinking about majoring.

On the upside, plenty of film majors double major, and it has pretty easy requirements (6 of the 10 classes are free electives, which gives lots of flexibility in scheduling), although film classes do take up a lot of time.

To musicman: the film department here really is great. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about it?

Musicman23 · 09-17-2009, 04:10 PM

So I've found pretty much all the information about the Wesleyan film department that I need, and I'm convinced its amazing and its what I want to do. I guess now I'm just more concerned about whether I'll get in...

fendrock · 10-20-2009, 07:07 AM

Weskid, can you tell us more about the opportunities students have to make films?

Weskid · 10-20-2009, 12:00 PM

^^^

Within the major, there a couple of production classes (intro to 35mm, digital, animation, and upper level versions of at least some of these), as well as the opportunity to do a production thesis if you took 35mm or digital junior year.

If you're not in the major, you can still work on these films in support roles (everything from DP to boom operator). The digital class people don't normally need that much help, but the 35mm sometimes do, and senior theses require full crews (and there are normally a lot of them).

Also, there is the film collective, which anyone can join, which is a student group that makes a couple films a year.

fendrock · 10-20-2009, 12:48 PM

Thanks, Weskid, for the response.

My daughter is interested in a film major, specifically production.

She did a high school summer program at Emerson, but felt that wasn't the right crowd for her.

Do you think having a film special interest floor has been a success? Who ends up living there?

Weskid · 10-20-2009, 11:35 PM

[When I said 35mm above, I meant 16mm. Sorry!]

I think Film Hall has been successful, it is certainly one of the most popular program houses/halls in terms of # of applications. The sense I get is that it tends to be a mix of film majors, people who are involved in production but aren't majors, and just regular film buffs. Basically the same as someplace like French hall, which will generally have some majors, some native speakers, and some people who are just taking French on the side. The fact that it is so popular means

I've never lived there or spent a lot of time there, though I know the house manager of the hall this year, and he's a very cool guy. It's just one of many program houses, though -- plenty of film majors live elsewhere, either in other program houses, or in dorms/apartments/senior woodframes.