Fall Year 1
FCM 5213 Writers in Development
Starting in the fall semester, you will establish proper screenplay format, character development, character arcs, three act structure, short form storytelling, logline development and setting goals for a story you wish to tell. Writing is the main component to this course and all MFA students (Film and Animation) are required to take this course.
FCM 5033 Film Production I
This required course for all MFA students covers the foundation for shot composition, camera techniques, working with actors, post production and a touch of lighting for two live action projects. The third project will be a choice between a music video or the development of an animation project that will be completed in the spring in FCM 5073 Film Production II.
FCM 6303 Character Design Master Class
And finally, you will take the Character Design Master Class with a former Disney supervising animator, Tom Bancroft or John Pomeroy.
Spring Year 1
FCM 5073 Film Production II
You will continue the project you developed at the end of Film Production I, seeing it to completion. This film will be submitted for the “5 Minute Film Festival”, Lipscomb’s signature event for cinematic arts in the spring, with winners gaining the opportunity for entry into the Nashville Film Festival, an Academy Award-qualifying film festival.
FCM 6123 Writing for Animation
You will continue writing this semester, too. In this course taught by award-winning co-creator of “Veggietales” Mike Nawrocki, you will learn how to structure the elements you need to build toward your final thesis project. Through exploration of story and structure, you will test ideas and ultimately develop a script you can use to create your final thesis project.
FCM 6423 Character Rigging
The Rigging course develops your skills in character movement and pipeline efficiency when creating animation. This class will be a combination of learning CG rigging in Maya as well as rigging puppets in ToonBoom Harmony—both industry standard software packages. You can choose which software you want to learn based on your desire to pursue CG animation or 2D “Tradigital” animation pipelines.
FCM 6222 Acting for Animators
You will also study acting as it relates to an animator’s character performance. This course focuses solely on acting shots, such as character dialogues and pantomime acting choices. You will gain a solid understanding of performance through focused exercises that help you as an animator to develop your acting muscles and specific skill sets required to create unique and memorable dialogue shots and body movement.
Summer Year 1
FCM 6403 ZBrush Techniques
Get to know ZBrush. This course not only teaches the ZBrush software but also allows you to fully develop your characters for CG, sculpting a character and then moving through iterations to develop a retopologized mesh ready for rigging and animation.
FCM 6513 Advanced Storyboarding
Advanced Storyboarding is an exciting course where you will be assigned a literary property, or you may use a script from a film grad collaborator, and research relevant material in picture libraries, print and photo archives. From this basic research, you will create and develop the visual elements that lead to a final production storyboard of five minutes in length. Each week you will “pitch” material as it is being developed. Welcome to the world of public speaking. Yes, this is a very important skill to develop.
FCM 6203 Directing Animation
You can also choose to take Directing Animation from one of the masters. Taught by Disney director Tony Bancroft (Mulan), you will learn the things that you don’t normally learn in animation or film schools—like how to build your team, the importance of the three act structure in film, character development throughout a film or series, creating funny characters and leading characters, and how to work with every element/person within the animation pipeline.
Fall Year 2
FCM 6433 2D/CG Animation Pipeline
Just how do the 2D and/or 3D pipelines work? Is there ever collaboration? In this course, instructors from both worlds will lead you through the creation of characters for either 2D or 3D animation. Puppet animation, whether for 2D or 3D animation, allows animators to focus on the movements and acting of the character. Although the end results may look different, the pipeline for creation is similar, and this course allows you to explore which pipeline you want to pursue for your thesis by getting practical experience.
FCM 5022 Media Entrepreneurship
Now it’s getting serious. In Media Entrepreneurship, another collaborative course with the live action film students, you will learn how to create a pitch deck or show bible for an animation concept. They too will be working on building a pitch deck and/or show bible. The beauty of this collaboration is that students may discover a collaboration that leads to higher level concept in which students involved can participate. These projects may be pitched at the Cannes Film Festival the following May, they may lead to a pitch in Los Angeles or perhaps to a well-executed thesis project that lives on through the film festival circuit. There are so many possibilities for great projects.
FCM 6142 Sound & Voice Performance
This class will be a collaboration with creators from the MFA with a focus in film that are learning about sound production. Both animation and film students will practice directing performance. Additionally animation students will learn about creating the facial expressions, mouth movements, etc. for the voices of their characters. It takes a village!
FCM 6962 Thesis Research & Develop
This semester also means Research and Development on your thesis project. This is the first step toward completing the required thesis project. Keep in mind that at the end of the fall semester of your second year, you will go through a review and may only move forward if you receive approval for your final project and show improved animation or story-telling skills to this point.
FCM 649V CEA Studios Internship
During this semester, you will also continue to sharpen your animation skills by working on various paid CEA projects available through CEA Studios. This is an opportunity to prove your value in the animation pipeline and make some money while pursuing your MFA.
Thesis review happens at the end of fall semester. Approval of your thesis project is required to move forward into Visual Development and Production for your thesis.
Spring Year 2
FCM 6972 Visual Development & Pre-Production
It’s hard to believe this time has gone by so fast. But look how much you’ve grown. Once your thesis project is approved and you have passed the review, you will be in the midst of finalizing the visual development and production of your thesis project. This consists of animation tests, character designs, storyboards and animatics. These visuals will be used to pitch to the undergrad BFA students and film sound students who may wish to be a part of a thesis team in the execution of the final project.
Visual Development and Pre-Production must be passed with a B or higher to move forward to the final stage of the thesis project. Students who do not pass will have the summer to revise their project and resubmit to move on to the final stage.
FCM 649V CEA Studios Internship
Spring will also be an opportunity for students to receive a stipend of $3,100 to work as an intern with CEA Studios. This is where the performance the semester before is critical. There are only two requirements: Show up and do a great job.
FCM 6313 Concepts in Creative Media
You will also have opportunities to learn more about the creation and application of creative media such as AR and VR for visual storytelling, marketing and character design for gaming.
FCM 6323 Animation Production
Let’s make one more film for your portfolio! In this course, you will learn the importance of strong collaboration within a team as you bring your project to completion. This process is time consuming and very rewarding to see your short film come to life!
Summer Year 2
FCM 5363 Advanced Film Business
You will continue in the development of your animation thesis project on your own. Your mentors are never far though, so feedback is always possible. You may also continue to intern for CEA Studios, or maybe you want to travel to Los Angeles for an internship there. This trip is for both live action film students and animation students. It’s a summer long program, and internships may or may not be paid. However, it is a great opportunity to explore Los Angeles if you are considering moving there. And who knows? It could lead to a job, or you may decide to stay in Los Angeles while you complete your animation thesis in the fall. That is certainly an option.
FCM 5A9V Directors & Composers
Directors & Composers is a critical course before finalizing the thesis film, taught by film composer Ben Blasko from the music department. Ben enjoys bringing guest composers into the class throughout the summer for additional exposure to the world of a composer. During this course, you will learn how to communicate with a composer, think about the music behind your images and develop solid ideas with Ben’s feedback and guidance for your final animation thesis project.
Fall Year 3
FCM 699V MFA Thesis
You finally made it! In this last semester, you will be fully engaged in the completion of your final project. You will also be taking your final Film/Animation studies course.
At the end of the semester, you will have participated in the planning of a screening event for final thesis films from live action and animation graduates, inviting professors, students, family and the community. This event is a grand celebration of all the hard work you have put in over the past several years.
