Film studies major could begin fall 2010

Justin Mallaney, a business major with a finance concentration, has been interested in film since before he can remember.

A sophomore at the University of Richmond, Mallaney has already taken three film classes offered by the English department and is now submitting his application for an independent study in film studies. Mallaney said he wanted to work in the film industry when he graduated.

For students like Mallaney, creating their own independent film studies major is the only option currently available. But on April 21, a proposal for a film studies major will be presented to the Academic Council.

The council, composed of the chairmen and coordinators of the various departments and programs on campus, will

discuss what kind of film studies program the university can offer and how to structure that program to play to the strengths of the school, said Abigail Cheever, a professor teaching film studies in the English department.

If the proposal is accepted by the Academic Council, it will then be discussed with the arts and sciences faculty. If

approved, the film studies major will begin during the fall of 2010.

The creation of a film studies major has been discussed for almost seven years, said Paul Porterfield, the director of the

Media Resource Center and a film studies professor. There are many film courses currently taught and there has been great interest in the field from many students, Porterfield said.

"It's a matter of packaging some of the things we are already doing with new courses that we will offer," Porterfield said. "We will be focusing on the international aspects of film studies and a strong focus on the history, art and aesthetics of film."

Both Porterfield and Cheever said they recognize the importance of an international focus within the major.

"It's an effort to try to look at the different ways in which this particular medium has developed in different national and international contexts and hopefully get some comparisons between them," Cheever said. "Our hope is that with students having this exposure to different aspects of the medium, they will get a stronger sense of film not only as an aesthetic object but also as something that reacts to certain kinds of cultural happenings and then also influences cultural events."

The film studies major will make cross-school connections. The opportunity for courses in the business of film and the legal aspects of film production are also options being explored.

"The new strategic plan brings together the various schools, and this will be a really good opportunity to do that," Porterfield said.

It's a perfect time to start this major, Porterfield said. With more than 10,000 titles available in the university's collection of video and media resources, there is a lot of availability and diversity to accommodate students' interests. The collection is especially strong in international cinema and documentary filmmaking, and the university is continuing to add to the collection, Porterfield said.

In addition, the campus is up-to-date on media classrooms and technology.

"Production is moving to digital and we have the capability to do that on this campus," Porterfield said.

Not only are there resources on campus, there are also many resources in the surrounding area. With the Virginia film

office located in Richmond, students have the opportunity to make contacts there, Cheever said. Also, students have access to many film festivals that come to Richmond, she said.

"There are a lot of ways in which students can see films that are not being shown at your regular megaplex," Cheever said. "Festivals diversify what they get to see as well as give students opportunities for internships."

Contact reporter Brittany Combs at brittany.combs@richmond.edu