Beginning fall 2008, Chapman University is proud to offer for the first time a revolutionary new degree, the BFA in Screen Acting.  This degree is the first of its kind and is designed to prepare students to work as performers in all recorded media, including film, television, and new media.

Overview

This is a single interdisciplinary degree offered cooperatively through the Chapman University Theatre Department, part of the new College of Performing Arts and Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. The degree is designed to accommodate both students interested screen acting as well as theatre and students interested in screen acting as well as filmmaking.

In this new degree, students will work in a dynamic environment to develop acting, storytelling and technical skills specific to having their performances appear onscreen.  They will study traditional acting techniques with a strong emphasis on techniques specific to working in front of a camera.  Students will be trained in and prepared to meet the current demands of the motion picture and television industries as well as the evolving opportunities in internet, portable media, and computer-generated digital effects which require actors to be familiar with green screen and motion capture performance techniques.

Degree requirements

Core Requirements

TH 119 - Intro to Voice and Movement TH 219 - Acting Fundamentals TH 222 - Fundamentals of Screen Acting TH 318 - Acting for the Camera I TH 319 - Character Building TH 379 - Text Analysis and Scene Study TH 418 - Acting for the Camera II TH 456 - The History of Acting in Film TH 417 - Audition Workshop Total core Theatre credits

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 27

 

FTV 115 - Editing I FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling FTV 140 - Introduction to Film Aesthetics FTV 227 - Screenwriting Fundamentals FTV 239 - Directing I FTV 383 - Screen Acting in Production Workshop FTV 483 - Thesis in Screen Acting Workshop Total core FTV credits

3 3 3 3 3 6 6 27

 

 

 

Four of the following (12 credits)

TH 312 - Movement for the Performer TH 315 - Acting Styles FTV 315 - Editing II TH 316 - Acting Shakespeare FTV 325 - Art and Craft of Foley and ADR FTV 327 - Intermediate Screenwriting FTV 360 - Overview of Producing TH 388 - Directing for the Theatre I TH 416 - Advanced Acting Shakespeare FTV 439 - Directing II

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

 

 

 

 

Electives

6 Units upper-division electives (FTV or TH) Total

6 72

 

Applying for the degree

The Screen Acting BFA will begin by enrolling an exclusive group of 10 to 20 dedicated and talented students to begin the program in the fall of 2008.  Admission to the degree will be competitive, based on auditions. Students wishing to enroll in the Screen Acting BFA must already be enrolled in either the Dodge College or the Theatre Department.

This year’s auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 7 from 7-10pm with callbacks on Thursday, May 8 from 7-10pm.  Students wishing to audition must sign up for a time slot by visiting or contacting the Theater Department office at 714-744-7089 or email at tdoffice@chapman.edu.

Auditions should consist of the performance of two short contrasting monologues (drama/comedy) not to exceed five minutes in total performance time.  Students should also bring a headshot, resume and DVD reel of their performances if available. Auditions will be videotaped.

For more information contact:
John B. Benitz, Assistant Professor, Theatre Arts, College of Performing Arts 
benitz@chapman.edu
Dave Kost, Assistant Professor, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
kost@chapman.edu