Cinematography (N0211A310003)

Programme objectives

Mastering the technical knowledge, cultivation of creativity and development of organisational skills are all prerequisites for the execution of the creative ideas and intentions of a cinematographer as the author of the final visual component in an audiovisual work. The Master program emphasises the development of an individual creative style within the cinematographer’s work.

Profile of a programme graduate

A graduate of the Master program in Cinematography at the Department of Cinematography, FAMU, is ready for the profession of a cameraman on a superb technical, expert and art level. The cameraman is capable of shooting both documentary and drama film or TV genres; s/he becomes a DoP in film or TV. S/he has a full command of visual stylisation instruments and applies an independent creative approach to the transformation of inspirational influences – cinematographic image vs work of visual art, cameraman’s performance versus serving the drama. The cinematographer has a profound knowledge of photochemical, electronic and digital cinematography technologies and is able to respond to the current developments in technology flexibly. The cameraman accepts responsibility for the social and ethical message of the work s/he is contributing to, in light of the essential function of the DoP’s work which is serving the story at hand. The cameraman is capable of adjusting to the personality and intentions of the Director, and of applying the current technological and artistic skills to contribute towards completion of the work. The cinematographer can become creatively involved and communicates consensually with the remaining members of the production crew, both in the organisation and art parts thereof.

Rules and requirements for creating study plans

The basic framework for the study program concepts at AMU is stipulated by the Internal Evaluation Rules of the Academy which specify the fundamental processes involved in the accreditation procedure; the existing practice is to be further formally embodied in the AMU Accreditation Regulations: these will define the parameters applied to all study programs taught at the Academy while transferring some responsibilities for the specification of the individual fields (theatre, music, dance, film/TV) to the faculties at the same time.

Study Plans are generated in compliance with the Attendance and Examination Regulations of the AMU which define, within the framework of typology of the subjects and based on the specific characteristics of university education in art, the main mandatory subject: this is the crucial art (or talent) subject of the profiling foundation for which the evaluation is always made by a committee and no repeated attempt is possible. The final commission examination for a stage of study (“klauzura”) plays an important role in the evaluation system in multiple fields – it is the presentation of an art work in front of a committee: the principle is a complex evaluation of the student’s knowledge and skills acquired through several partial subjects and applied to a work of art created by a group of students (e.g. in the film-related programs). Another specific feature of the study plans is the permitted flexibility in credit distribution (60 ECTS per academic year) between the winter and summer semesters based on the considerably higher study and creative workload associated with the finishing of art projects in the summer semester.

All study programs include the mandatory part of theoretical and historic foundation of the field which comes in the form of mandatory classes of the profiling basis that co-determines the graduate’s profile and forms a part of the final state examination in the academic programs.

The Study Plan includes optional subjects, electives – these can be chosen from amongst classes offered by FAMU/AMU.

The grading follows the Credit System (ECTS - European Credit Transfer System) which was implemented on the basis of the Bologna Declaration of 1999 for the sake of unifying and integrating European Union’s university system.

Subjects concluded with an examination are graded on a scale of A to E (F = failed); other subjects use the credit granted/credit not granted grading; no combination of the two options is possible.

The standard length of a class unit is 45. The basic organisational forms of teaching are lectures, seminars, exercises while the latter two forms of teaching involve varying degrees of creative work towards art projects. Teaching is performed either on a weekly basis or in the form of intensive blocks or workshops.

General information about admission process

Successful completion of a Bachelor’s study program.

Details are available at the FAMU – Department of Cinematography website in the “Entry requirements“.

The admission procedure has two stages. The first stage is completed by the submission of all mandatory art work (10 photographs presenting Home, the Handkerchief storyboard, Free Photographs, essay on “Why I Want to Study at FAMU”). The committee evaluates the applicants and selects those to be invited to the second stage which takes the form of a Skype interview with the admission committee. Then, the committee determines the ranking of all applicants and proposes the most successful ones who should be admitted.

Applicability to other types of academic programmes

The Master’s study program of Cinematography at FAMU (following a Bachelor’s study program) is accessible to Bachelor program graduates. The completion of a study course similar to that of FAMU might be an advantage for the applicants; however, it is not a prerequisite.

Parts of the state final examination and their contents

The Master’s Final State Examination includes the following theme groups:

Presentation and defence of the art file consisting of the “Rainbow Exercise” and “Final Film/Collaboration”

Cinematography Analysis

Film and Television Technique and Technology

Other academic duties

Characterisation of professional practice

Anticipated job placement for graduates (typical employment)

The graduate of the Master’s program at FAMU Department of Cinematography is an accomplished and professional Director of Photography for TV drama projects, and a cameraman in the production of feature, documentary or animated films with a considerable amount of practical experience.