Cinema at Virginia Tech: Basics

How can I study cinema at Virginia Tech?

I am not a Communication major. May I take COMM 3194 Digital Cinema Production?

Where can I find resources to help me with my film-related paper?

I'm not in a cinema course, but I need to make a video for class. Where can I get help?

Career Stuff for Students

What kind of job opportunities exist for people with cinema degrees?

I need a part-time job, preferably one that's film related. Any suggestions?

How do I find internships in film?

Are there any special job resources you can recommend for minority students?

General Filmmaking

What are the top five must-see movies for any student of cinema?

How can I see _____ [movie]?

What kind of camera should I buy?

I want to edit movies on my computer. What kind of computer and software should I buy?

I’ve just made a film and want to send it to film festivals. What do I do?

Where can I rent film/video equipment in the area?

How can I study Cinema at Virginia Tech?
There are two options: The first option is to major in Communication, choosing the Mass Communication option with an emphasis in Film and Media Theory. The second option is to minor in Film Studies (IDST). Details can be found on the Studying Cinema page of this website

Because of expanded offerings in Cinema production, in the near future, students will simply be able to major in Communication with an emphasis in Cinema.

I am not a Communication major. May I take COMM 3194 Digital Cinema Production?
Students wishing to study Cinema Production at Virginia Tech should major in Communication. As such, COMM 3194 Digital Cinema Production is reserved for Communication majors. In rare cases, the professor makes exceptions and admits non-majors into the course.

If you are not a COMM major and you wish to try to enroll in Digital Cinema Production, you should attend the first day of class and personally request to force-add the course. The professor WILL NOT admit non-COMM majors into the course before the first meeting, nor will he admit students after the first day of class.

Please note: COMM 3194 is a pre-requisite for upper-level courses in production (Writing & Directing for Cinema, Advanced Cinema Production, etc.).

 

Where can I find resources to help me with my film-related paper?
Luke Vilelle, Heather Ball and Professor Paul Harrill have assembled a Cinema Studies research guide and Virginia Tech Cinema Studies wiki for this purpose.

 
I'm not in a cinema course, but I need to make a video for class. Where can I get help?
Virginia Tech's New Media Center in Torgerson Hall can assist you.

 

What kind of job opportunities exist for people with cinema degrees?
Coursework in Cinema in the Department of Communication prepares students for two career tracks in cinema. One track is academic, the other professional.

Students embarking on the academic track to employment in Cinema typically aim to secure the job of a professor at a college or university. The undergraduate curriculum in Cinema can serve to prepare interested students for a career as a university professor of Cinema or Media Studies. Enrollment in a graduate school M.A. or Ph.D program typically is required for this academic career. Faculty in the Department of Communication can advise interested students on the specifics of this career track.

Students pursuing a professional track typically aim to secure a production position in the world of filmmaking, dramatic or documentary television, or professional video production. The credits of any motion picture – even a short film – note that there are a lot of ways one can work in film.  (See Variety’s "Breaking in below the line" article for more on this.) Though useful, an advanced degree (i.e., an M.F.A.) in film production is not a requirement for pursuing a career in film production. And advanced degree is, however, required to teach film production at the university level.

Finally, as was reported recently in The New York Times, some employers outside the field of film think of a degree in cinema as an asset since student filmmakers learn how to think creatively and work collaboratively. Those skills aren’t just assets on a film set – they’re assets in the business world, too!
 

I need a part-time job, preferably one that's film related. Any suggestions?
You might check with some of the production companies in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Roanoke. (Check the yellow pages or do an internet search.) These companies might be looking for paid interns or employees. 

Alternately, though it may not pay a lot, working at a movie theater or a video store has the perk of allowing you to see films for free. It worked for Quentin Tarantino, maybe it could for you, too. 

 

How do I find internships in film production?
Internships are a great way to gain “real world” experience. They can also lead to jobs after college. For these reasons, we highly encourage you to secure an internship at some point during your undergraduate career.

Before you begin your search for an internship, you should read this page on VT’s Career Services website. You'll also need to look at the Department of Communication's guidelines about internships.

After you have familiarized yourself with this information, check Communication’s listing of internships. You should also check with the Virginia Film Office. The VFO offers internships; they also offer some resources on getting jobs on films being shot in-state.

For internships outside of the area, the internship page at EntertainmentCareers.net is a good place to check.

By special arrangement, Virginia Tech students may also participate in the Los Angeles internship program run by Temple University’s  Department of Film and Media Arts. This program runs in the summer. Interested students should notify Paul Harrill by March 1 if they are interested in applying for the program.

Finally, Variety has a Careers website. Searching for “intern” in the keywords should produce some results.

 

Are there any special job resources you can recommend for minority students?
Yes. Variety has a listing of diversity resources, which includes internships, mentorships, scholarships and placement agencies.

 
What are the top five must-see movies for any student of cinema?
This question is impossible to answer. It would be easier to list 1000 films than to list five.

If you want to build your film literacy -- which we believe is a good thing to do -- you might start by looking at polls conducted by the British Film Institute. Every ten years the BFI asks some of the world's most respected filmmakers and critics to name what they believe are the greatest films of all time. As opposed to the lists produced by the American Film Institute, the BFI lists include films from around the world, not just America.

Cahiers du Cinema, the legendary French film publication where many of the French New Wave filmmakers first got their start, has recently released their own best-of list. All titles are given in French, but a quick search of the internet will reveal the English language titles (where appropriate).

And here are those AFI lists, as well as Jonathan Rosenbaum's criticism of the AFI lists, which includes an "alternate 100."

Finally, if this has whetted your appetite and you want even more movie lists, check this out.

 

How can I see _____ [movie]?
If you’re looking for something on DVD and it’s been released in the United States it’s likely that Netflix or GreenCine has it for rent.
Some movies (even, oddly enough, some American films) have never been released on DVD in the USA, but they have been released in other countries. As such, you can try searching Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.fr to see if the DVD is for sale elsewhere. If so, you will probably need a region-free DVD player. (For explanation of what this is, click here.) Doing an internet search for "region free DVD player" reveals that such players can be obtained for only a bit more than a typical DVD player these days. It also reveals that some enterprising individuals have figured out how to "hack" widely available DVD players so that they can play DVDs from around the world.

If none of these options work, or if they prove too cost prohibitive, there are other options.

If the film you’re seeking was once released on VHS it’s likely that the movie is available in a library somewhere. If you can track it down via WorldCat, you should be able to request it through Interlibrary Loan. If you're looking to purchase a tape, sometimes those videos can be found for sale used on Amazon.com or on eBay. Facets Video in Chicago has some very difficult-to-obtain VHS titles for rental by mail.

If you’re trying to track down a film you saw recently at a festival, which has never been released commercially, look in the film festival program for film’s “Print Source.” The print source is the film’s distributor; sometimes it will be the filmmaker himself. Don’t be afraid to contact whoever it is – they might be more than happy to sell you a DVD or, at the very least, tell you when the film will be commercially available.

For older films, Turner Classic Movies is indispensable. TCM often screens movies that are not available on video. Check their schedule for upcoming screenings and remember to set your DVD recorder or TiVo!

Finally, film archives are an important resource for film scholars and students of film. With permission, you may sometimes screen work from their private collection if you are doing original research.

 
What kind of camera should I buy?
What camera you should buy depends on what it will be used for and the person using it.  Where you aim the lens and who's behind the viewfinder pressing "record" make your work interesting; not what brand and model it is. A lot of your decision will, no doubt, be based on your budget. Here are some tips to help you decide for yourself:

The first decision you should make is whether to go for a High Definition camera or a Standard Definition camera. You’ll need a faster computer to edit the footage. The upside with HD cameras is that the footage can look very good and the cameras are somewhat future proof (in that we’re moving towards HD adoption). Among consumer-priced cameras, the Canon HV20 (street price is around $800) seems to be gaining a lot of attention. Among prosumer/professional models, the Panasonic HVX-200 is a highly recommended, but it's probably too pricey for student budgets (around $6000).

If you’re looking at Standard Definition camcorders, try to get a 3-chip (AKA 3-"CCD") camera. The chip or CCD is the thing that captures the light and translates it so it can be recorded. Having three image sensors produces (at least in theory) more accurate colors. Of three chip cameras, the Panasonic AG-DVX100B and Canon XL-2 are two of the better standard definition “prosumer” (somewhere between “consumer” and “professional”) cameras. The "street price" of cameras is between $2500 - $4000. Both allow you to shoot in 24P video, which gives a more “film-like” look. They also have XLR inputs for professional level microphones. Some prefer the color and features of the DVX100; others like the Canon because it has the advantage of an interchangeable lens.

Don't be discouraged if you don't have the money for one of these cameras: There are some good one-chip cameras out there.

Next, regardless of whether you choose HD or SD, three chips or one chip, you need to consider features. All cameras are going to have "auto" everything, but you want to have control over focus, exposure, and, hopefully, sound -- without it you'll be at the mercy of whatever the camera's "brain" thinks you want to focus on.  Essential features, then, include:

• Manual focus.
  
• Manual exposure (preferably both iris and shutter).
  
• Input for an external microphone.
  
• Headphone jack. This should be a standard feature, but some consumer cameras lack one.
  
• It's also nice to have the ability to adjust sound levels but this, surprisingly, is hard to find on many consumer based cameras.
  

Finally, beyond essential features, consider ergonomics. You want to be comfortable with the viewfinder/display system and the focus. Using the camera should feel like 2nd nature. You shouldn't have to fuss with it

After you've narrowed it down to a couple or three cameras, you might search online for some reviews of the camera. 
When you're ready to buy, you should consider purchasing your camera through a company like B+H Photo in New York, or another reliable online merchant. Web places will be cheaper, and though you'll have to pay shipping, you'll probably still save $ because you won't have to pay sales tax. 

By the way, if the camera you’re considering doesn’t have XLR inputs (for pro microphones) consider investing in a good microphone and a Beachtek XLR adapter.  Beachteks are handy little units that allow for you to plug in two microphones via XLR cables (much more rugged than the tiny mini plug that most camcorders will have).  These cost about $150-200.

Above all, remember that it's not the technology that matters. It's what you do with it.

I want to edit movies on my computer. What kind of computer and software should I buy?
You’ll want some basic features in a computer and software, otherwise you’ll have your share of headaches.
Apple Macintosh computers are the best way for student filmmakers to prepare for careers in film and video. At first glance Apple computers appear to cost far more than Windows-based computers, but once a Windows computer has been upgraded to the point that it is suitable for video editing, the costs are quite comparable. Furthermore, new Macs are now capable of running any Windows application, so the old argument that there is more software for Windows no longer applies. Add to these arguments the fact that Macs are also less prone to computer viruses, and the up-front costs of the Mac end up paying off in the long run.

Any Mac computer will pre-loaded with iMovie, which is a user-friendly video editing program. It isn’t considered a “professional” too, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make professional work with it. Tarnation, a recent award winning documentary, was edited in iMovie.
If you’re interested in professional editing software, Final Cut Express or Final Cut Studio are good bets. Final Cut Studio includes Final Cut Pro (Apple’s flagship video editing applications), DVD Studio Pro (a DVD authoring program), Motion (for motion graphics), and Soundtrack Pro (a pro sound editor). Final Cut Express is less expensive, but lacks some of the features that Final Cut Pro has. Dollar for dollar, Final Cut Studio is a better deal, but it is expensive.

As for which Mac, video editing is demanding on a computer, so the faster the better. Some folks like laptops for their portability; others prefer desktop computers for their expandability. The best thing to do is to consider Apple’s "General System Requirements" for running the software you want, then choose your computer based on those specifications. The specs for Final Cut Express are here; those for Final Cut Studio are here.

Whether you get a laptop or a desktop computer, you'll want to make sure the monitor you have is large enough so that your don’t have to strain your eyes to do your work. Also, in addition to the stated requirements on Apple’s website, you’ll want a second, external firewire hard drive that runs at 7200rpm. Using this drive to capture video will keep your computer's hard drive free for applications. Many students have had good experiences with drives from Other World Computing.

Remember, to take advantage of Apple’s academic discount on hardware and software if you’re a student!
 

I’ve just made a film and want to send it to film festivals.  What do I do?
Submitting a film to festivals can quickly get expensive, so begin by doing some research. Start by visiting Without a Box, a major website devoted to film festivals. Read about all of the festivals that exist. As you do, ask yourself: What kind of festivals might be interested in my film?

Narrow down your list and decide on a few festivals. You should especially consider festivals that cater to the kind of film you've made (student film, short film, horror film, etc.); also, consider applying to any festivals that cater to your identity or the demographic of your intended audience (film festivals geared toward an ethnic/racial minority, LGBT festivals, etc.). You should also consider any festivals in your hometown or the town where you shot the movie.

If it's your first film and you're a broke college student, be careful about paying out a lot towards entry fees. That will rule out some of the big festivals, but it will allow you to submit to more. Don't be discouraged if you receive a few, or even a lot, of rejections. Remember, there is a lot of competition out there.   
 

Where can I rent film/video equipment in the area?
Locally, one place that you might try is Video Production Services in Roanoke. Their phone number is (540) 772-0659. You might also try the Virginia Production Services Directory.