MFA: Cinematic Arts

The MFA in Arts: Cinematic Arts at the University of Texas at Arlington is designed to cultivate artists working in the areas of creating, writing and directing for film, video, and other digital motion media. Our unique program provides theoretical mentoring and a base in practical skills necessary to develop well rounded filmmakers and media artists. The MFA is a 60-credit hour program emphasizing producing and direction for film and video. The program offers opportunities to further refine their direction (narrative, experimental, installation, and documentary works) in corporation with their faculty mentor and thesis committee. MFA candidates are required to complete a thesis film portfolio. For this project we encourage students to explore the narrative film form, substantial documentary or significant experimental artworks based upon film and digital media.

It is assumed that applicants to the MFA program in Cinematic Arts already possess a reasonable command of the appropriate media technology and have written and directed work at the undergraduate level. However, it is possible that an applicant without some of these skills could be accepted based upon a favorable portfolio review, but would be directed through a series of additional classes to strengthen the candidate’s production skills while simultaneously developing with their colleagues as Filmmakers.

Our program is fortunate to have a very accomplished, experienced and eclectic faculty to better meet unique challenges in the evolution of the media and to be able to offer program directions unavailable elsewhere. The Dallas/Fort Worth area contributes a wide array of support through its extensive film community, studios, labs, thriving art house cinemas, film festivals and professional media arts organizations.

Like every other Film program, we encourage candidates to meet with our students and faculty. Unlike other Film programs it is our people, sense of community, openness and support for the student artist that will give you the best sense of who we are and why you will want to join us.

Facilities

Cinema Production classrooms
Screenwriting Conference room
Production Studio with 2 story ceilings and per-lit green screen
Cinema Editing and Animation Lab
Equipment Checkout Room with online/remote reservation system
Color grading station and VFX editing station (Maverick Film Productions)
Stop-Motion classroom
VR and AR gears including 360-degree camera equipment
VR/AR Lab
150 seat screening room with 4K projection system
Software: Adobe Creative Suites, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Dragonframe, Maya etc.
Major Portable Equipment: Blackmagic Pocket 6K camera kit, Blackmagic Ursa Mini 4K camera kit, DSLR cameras, major field lighting and sound equipment etc.