Media Contact: Dr. Philip Furia, 910/962-3321, or [email protected], or Phillip Brown, UNCW university relations, at 910/962-7223 or [email protected].
WILMINGTON, NC -From television productions such as Dawson's Creek to feature films like Domestic Disturbance, starring John Travolta, Wilmington, N.C., continues to enjoy its reputation as Hollywood East. Opportunities to collaborate with the region's contingent of film professionals prompted the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to pursue offering a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. The UNC Board of Governors, at its March meeting, gave UNCW the permission to add the degree for fall 2001. The university has previously offered a minor in film studies.
"UNCW is located in a city with a large film industry. Local professionals are excited about the new program," said Dr. Philip Furia, director of film studies at UNC Wilmington. "Many area filmmakers have already served as visiting faculty including Frank Capra Jr., president of EUE Screen Gems Studios, and Mark Fincannon, an Emmy Award-winning casting director. There are film professionals living and working in the region who can teach courses on cinematography, film editing, acting for the camera and other topics, and that's a tremendous resource for our film program to draw upon."
The new major will consist of 14 required and elective courses and will offer students internship experience in a variety of film-related businesses. Required courses include Introduction to Film Production, Film History, The Business of Film and Critical Studies of Film. Each student must choose a concentration in either film production or critical film study.
The internship component of the degree is one of its unique features, said Furia.
"We can offer students internships in film production that are not available in other programs," said Furia. "Screen Gems studios, local film companies, casting agencies, makeup labs, as well as productions such as Dawson's Creek, have all made internships available to students pursuing a minor in film studies. We expect to place even more students now that we offer a major."
The city of Wilmington is home to the largest studio east of Hollywood. EUE Screen Gems purchased the facility in 1996. With more than 1,200 film professionals living in the area, UNCW Chancellor James R. Leutze and Screen Gems president Frank Capra Jr. saw the value in establishing a film program at the university. Under the direction of Dr. Jo Ann Seiple, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the program began in 1996 and offered students an interdisciplinary minor in film studies the following year.
"Establishing a baccalaureate program in film studies is great news," said Furia. "However, I want to stress that the university is not establishing a school of filmmaking. We are a liberal arts university, and our intent is to combine internships and basic production courses with the critical study of film from a variety of disciplinary perspectives."
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