Modifications to HTC Requirement for MFA Students

Mike, I'm responding because you brought up a great point about genre specific classes. Just a few years ago, Columbia had some great film classes that were genre - and even director - specific. There were courses that studies Hitchcock, Kaufman, etc. I think Kaufman was taught by Insdorf. They also had a GREAT class I took that was all about the history of Hollywood studios, and how the game changed over the years. It followed Laemmle, Selznick, Hitchcock, Ford, MGM musicals etc. It was great, and it was taught by Leon Falk, the former president of Orion Pictures. I have no idea what happened to these classes. Additionally, the MFA program used to have a test-out procedure, but it only exempted you from the Intro class. I see the main problem being the pushback that the administration will get from the HTC professors. For reasons probably tied to "reputation," they may not want to lighten our load. I know the petition and its goal were discussed in faculty meeting today. Thanks for the note. I see that you didn't sign the petition. It seems like you agree, so I wonder what the concerns were. I ask only to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks man, Rob

I agree with a lot of what has been said here, particularly the idea that for many of us with film studies majors or minors from our undergrad, the HTC requirement is redundant. Some of us were talking about the possibility of students testing out of the requirement, or having an opportunity to demonstrate our knowledge of film HTC without needing to take the courses. In the event that the faculty retains the requirement, then I think the push should be to, as Rob put forth in the original post, ensure that the HTC courses for grad students are designed to compliment our core workload, rather than hinder it. Analysis of Film Language is a great example, but if the HTC's were even more specific, focusing on genres, forms or styles that we are trying to explore in our writing/directing, they could become helpful and practical resources rather than sources of stress and distraction.

It happens. But it is open to public; however, it has only been posted on our CU sites. One thing I have learned: Anonymous is famous for dim-witted, ignorant responses. But, we've given the shit-ball too much time already. :)

If you do not have the guts to write your name, don't write at all.

Seriously, are these petitions open to the general public? I just can't picture anybody in our class posting something like this.

My feelings exactly. Great classes but it's simply too much work if we are to write decent feature screenplays and focus on directing as well.

And it's even more true for those like Rob, who have actually already taken the same exact classes in undergrad and have to take them again now!

Who could this possibly be!?! I can't imagine that it's somebody from the class

Oh, but do me a favor and sign anyway. Thanks for the support.

this is the most ridiculous petition i have ever seen. if you can't budget your time, don't complain asshole

I love the HTC courses but would like to see the requirements and workload reduced for MFA students, i.e. less essays, reading etc. The lectures themselves are invaluable. Doing coursework is counter productive as most of us cannot commit to doing the work properly anyway.

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Agreed. These classes should be electives only. People like things that aren't forced on them and I feel that the classes would still have plenty of students who actually really want to be there.

Agreed.

This is doubly true for students with strong academic backgrounds in film studies... As many of us do.

Burdensome and annoying. One is more than enough.

This may be the most intelligent anonymous post I have ever seen! Congrats, guttersnipe! :)

Agreed. It would be much more useful to replace HTC slots with writing or production based classes. We're paying aren't we?