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Show 4 ARTS ENTERTAINMENT ON CAMPUS imuiimg m m News of a possible change in the curriculum is unclear for students in the film production majors and minors. Westminster currently offers a film studies minor and custom major for the students who would like to pursue a film degree. Web Advisor currently lists four film studies courses offered for the Spring semester and five during the current Fall 2014 semester. Of these nine courses, three are production courses and only one of those is taught at Westminster. Westminsters film studies curriculum is made up of more theory based course work rather than production. Westminsters website sums this up by saying, Students will explore the interdisciplinary potential of film, investigating both the elements that comprise film as well as films relation to cultures. I know its been being talked about for awhile, unfortunately I dont have exact information on it, said Tyrone Davies, adjunct video professor, in regards to the changes in the film studies curriculum. There are interesting opportunities here at Westminster, Davies said. I like that our program is linked with the art program. I think the expansion would allow students to be more exploratory since the film program here doesnt have such a strict structure like other colleges. Westminster is losing out to the competition from other colleges in the Valley such as Salt Lake Community College and Utah State University. The lack of a film program here at Westminster prompted me to transfer to SLCC, said Colin Becker, sophomore. Students have the opportunity to pursue a custom video major which would require the students to create their own curriculum, yet for some this hasnt been the case. I have been repeatedly told by administration that they would work with me to create a custom major, yet in every attempt, I seem to have gotten nothing but uncertainty or disinterest from all except Ru Wood, who wants just as badly as me for there to be a program here, Becker said. For some its the film equipment that draw them to other schools. favorite part of attending SLCC for Film and Media Arts is their facility, said Evan junior film studies major at Salt Lake My Lai-Hip- p, Community College. This past spring SLCC opened a new facility at their south city campus including a soundstage, TV production studio, and over 20 editing suites among other things such as sound dampened recording rooms and new classrooms. Some argue the production equipment at Westminster isnt as up to date. The cameras are entirely outdated, the lighting kits are acceptable for interviews, but not sufficient for creative lighting in a real scene, Becker said. The computers have an outdated version of the Adobe editing software and do not have enough processing power and graphics capabilities to manage current high quality consumer cameras, let alone the professional grade cameras that production students should have access to. Most of the video equipment is kept in the Bassis Student Center, but for students like Kyle Wray, junior business major and photo lab tech, this space isnt big enough. The photo lab has lots of tools and gets a lot of use, Wray said. I dont think there is space in Basis for video production stuff, but I think the Jewett Center has enough space. Of the five current classes in the film studies program currently being offered, only two of these courses got over one sign up. One being Intro to Film History and Aesthetics which had all 21 spots filled. The other class filled was Intro to Video Production which had six of the 15 spots filled. Spring 2015 signups for classes have come and gone and of the four courses being offered only Intro to Film History and Aesthetics has been filled. New cameras and equipment could lead to Westminster pulling in and holding onto students interested in a film production major, yet low sign up rates create risk. Kyle Wray, Photo Lab Tech, checks out a video while working in the Photo Lab. The Photo Lab offers students photo and video editing software. Do you think Westminster should create a video production based major? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. SHOOT AN EMAIL TO forumeditorwestminstercollege.edu I |