Seattle Film Institute to Offer Graduate Degrees -- October 2010

For Immediate Release:

Seattle Film Institute to Offer Graduate Degrees

State of Washington authorizes region’s only Masters of Arts Degree in Producing for Film, and Master of Fine Arts Degree in Filmmaking

Programs provide skills for filmmaking and emerging media

Informational meeting – Saturday, November 20, 2010
Both programs start February 28, 2011

October, 2010—The Seattle Film Institute has just been approved by the State of Washington to offer the only film-related graduate degree programs in the Northwest—a Master of Arts (MA) in Producing for Film and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Filmmaking. Both programs provide skills that can be applied to professional careers in filmmaking and in emerging media. With its strong independent film scene and thriving hi-tech industry, Seattle is the ideal location for these new programs.

An informational meeting for the Seattle Film Institute’s graduate degree programs will be held on Saturday, November 20, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Seattle Film Institute, 1709 23rd Avenue, Seattle WA. For more information call 206-568-4387 or visit www.seattlefilminstitute.com.

The Seattle Film Institute was founded in 1994 and has provided a comprehensive education in filmmaking to over two thousand students from across the country and around the world. SFI is known for both its hands-on, project-based education and its faculty members who are experienced professionals in their chosen fields.

David Shulman, director of the Seattle Film Institute, earned his MFA in Filmmaking from the University of Southern California, but sees the future of the film industry and film training unfolding outside of Los Angeles. “There has been a significant de-centralization of the film industry, which has yet to be reflected in film education,” notes Shulman.

With the new Master of Arts Degree (MA) in Producing for Film and Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA) in Filmmaking, Shulman is confident SFI is well-positioned to fill that void.

“Seattle is the perfect location for a Master of Arts in Producing for Film program,” Shulman explains, “because it has a vibrant independent film scene and a range of companies involved in emerging media, internet production, and digital game development. These are areas where traditional film producing skills can be applied in completely new ways.”

“In the Master of Arts in Producing for Film program,” elaborates Shulman, “our students will graduate with the hands-on skill sets needed to produce feature films, the ability to translate those skills to a wide-range of other industries, and the tools to effectively market themselves as producers. In a very real sense they’ll learn that their first producing project—one that never ends—is producing their own career. Our program prepares them to embark on that career with confidence.”

Equally excited about SFI’s Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking program, Shulman remarks, “Ask any successful producer for advice and more often than not you’ll be told one thing: hire good people. A well-trained pool of talented writers, directors and cinematographers is absolutely essential in developing and maintaining a thriving local film industry.”

By providing comprehensive and integrated hands-on training that emphasizes both the technical and the creative aspects of filmmaking, Shulman sees the Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking program making a crucial contribution to expanding that pool of local talent.

“Until now, if you lived in the Northwest and wanted to pursue a graduate degree in filmmaking, you had a choice: move to Los Angeles or New York, or forego the degree,” observes Shulman. “With the introduction of the Seattle Film Institute’s MA and MFA programs, Northwest residents can pursue graduate degrees in film right here at home.”

With the Master of Arts in Producing for Film program’s day job-friendly schedule of evening and weekend classes, students can earn their MA in ten months with no interruption to their current work-schedule. Likewise, the Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking program’s accelerated schedule enables students to earn their MFA in sixteen months rather than the typical three years.

“The time is right for a new model in film education” states Shulman “and Seattle is the ideal location.”

Seattle Film Institute Graduate Program Highlights

Master of Arts in Producing for Film

In the Seattle Film Institute's Master of Arts (MA) in Producing for Film, students develop the expertise to pursue a career as a film, television and digital content producer. At the completion of the program, students have the tools and hands-on experience to produce ﬁlms, and a skill-set that is directly applicable to other career paths encompassing new and emerging media, internet production, advertising, digital game development, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Students earn their MA degrees in 10 months without interrupting their careers
The program is cost effective and accessible—the only Producing Masters program in the Northwest
Students learn to initiate, coordinate, supervise and control all aspects of film production—creative elements, business, project management, and marketing, distribution and sales
Students obtain a skill-set that is directly applicable to a wide range of career paths involving project development, project management, business planning, financial oversight, and marketing
The program provides internships with industry professionals

Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking

Seattle Film Institute's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Filmmaking provides comprehensive and integrated hands-on training that emphasizes both the technical and the creative aspects of filmmaking. At the completion of the program, students have the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to pursue a professional career and to follow their own creative path as independent filmmakers or screenwriters. This includes a foundation for individual and collaborative work in the visual realm and the world of media.

Students earn their MFA degrees in 16 months—flexible schedule with choice of day or evening classes
The program offers students hands-on experience in all aspects of filmmaking including writing, directing, cinematography, and editing
Students learn filmmaking by making films as they work on 10-15 projects during the program
Each student completes a feature-length screenplay
Students build a demo-reel and resume
The program provides internships with industry professionals

Both programs start February 28, 2011