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LOS ANGELES FILM STUDIES CENTER

The Los Angeles Film Studies Center provides an opportunity to study the Hollywood film industry in a Christian, residential, “on location” setting. As a program sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center is academically grounded in a Christian liberal arts context. Efforts are made to integrate biblical faith throughout the curriculum and community life.

The mission of the Los Angeles Film Studies Center is to prepare persons academically for placement in the mainstream Hollywood film industry, preferably in decision-making positions, with a Christ-centered vision to influence film content, the production process, and interpersonal relationships dynamically. In addition, the mission includes the development of advocates to advance an informed and discerning approach to understanding the media, as well as an appreciation for, and support of, the work of their peers in Hollywood.

This is a semester long internship/seminar experience for upper-level students. Students will live in the Los Angeles area, study film and the film industry through LAFS 300, LAFS 310, and LAFS 320 plus one elective, earning 16 semester-hours credit. It requires a separate application. Admission is not guaranteed.

LA 300 Hollywood Production Workshop
Students work in groups to create a festival-ready piece, including all the legal documentation and rights to enable the finished production to qualify for festival submission. The course offers students the opportunity to make a motion picture production using Hollywood locations, resources, and protocol. Students participate in a competitive vetting process of scripts, pitches, and meetings much like the process of the professional industry. For example, those who want to direct will submit reels for review by a selection panel. This course operates as a community-building
experience in which all students participate in at least one key role in the production process. The course also offers small-group tutorials for each student’s production position. The workshop environment is designed specifically to meet the needs of both novice and experienced students. The major emphases of the course are the importance of each contribution to a production, the process of production, and effective production management. This course compliments the more specialized, skill-focused elective courses and is taught by professional, experienced Christian
filmmakers with credits in the Hollywood industry. Credit Hours: 3 hours

LA 310 Theology in Hollywood
This course encourages the development of the necessary skills for analysis of the culture of Hollywood, its role in popular culture, and the theological intersections therein. The course seeks theological engagement with the culture of Hollywood and cinema by investigating some of the social, ethical, and psychological implications of film upon theology. The course is presented in four modules, each building on the content of the previous module: 1) an analysis of the culture of Hollywood; 2) a study of theology/Bible and engagement with Hollywood and cinema; 3) Christian
ethics and the culture of Hollywood; and 4) a capstone examination of Christian vocation in Hollywood. All students participate in a team-taught lecture seminar led by a professor of theology. Students also participate in small-group tutorials, service- learning, and discussions. Credit Hours: 4 hours

LA 320 Internship: Inside Hollywood
Students participate in an internship experience in some aspect of the Hollywood entertainment industry. These are nonpaying positions primarily in an office setting such as development companies, agencies, management companies, post-production facilities, etc. Students work 20 to 24 hours a week, spread over a three-day schedule and accumulate 200-250 hours for the semester. Orientation to the internship includes an overview of the creative and operational aspects of the Hollywood entertainment business, including the Christian’s role working therein. The internships do not include positions on actual filmmaking locations. Instead, students work in offices as support personnel to producers, writers, directors, agents, post-production personnel, and others involved in the total process of producing and distributing a major motion picture. The LAFSC provides interns to many of the major companies within Hollywood. Credit Hours: 6 hours

Students choose one class from the following electives:

LA 372 Motion Picture Production
This is an intense, hands-on course in short-film production. Students individually write, shoot, direct, and edit their own projects. Visual storytelling is achieved through developing skills in directing, cinematography, and editing. The course is designed to enable both novice and advanced students to develop their integration of story with technical skill. The course is taught by professional, experienced Christian filmmakers with credits in the Hollywood industry. Credit Hours: 3 hours

LA 382 Professional Screenwriting
This is a course in contemporary screenwriting, including an understanding of dramatic structure, character and dialogue development, and the writing process. Students complete a full-length screenplay for a feature film or “movie-of-the-week.” Whether novice or advanced, students are expected to develop and improve their skills. Emphasis is given to the role of Christian faith and values as they relate to script content. The course is taught by a working, credited Christian screenwriter. Credit Hours: 3 hours

LA 392 Independent Study
This course may be set up by special request and arrangement. In order to be considered, students may submit a portfolio and a project proposal. Students with approved projects will be appointed a mentor who is a professional in the Hollywood industry to supervise the project. Projects could include further development of a portfolio or reel, critical research, or a senior thesis project. Credit Hours: 3 hours

Note: The independent study option is not guaranteed and is intended for students with experience in a specific area of cinema or those needing to complete a senior project for graduation. The number of independent studies offered each semester will be determined by LAFSC faculty, the availability of a suitable mentor, and approval from the College’s communication arts department.