Department of Cinematic Arts2023-03-09T15:58:22-05:00

Department of

CINEMATIC ARTS

ABOUT

The Department of Cinematic Arts (CCA) prepares a new generation of innovators, storytellers and leaders to succeed in film, television, and digital emergent technologies.

Undergraduates earning the Bachelor of Science in Communication (B.S.C). in Motion Pictures may select from the following tracks: General, Production, Screenwriting, Business, or Critical Studies. A Motion Pictures minor is available.

Students in the Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program concentrate in production, screenwriting, or producing.

SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES

Please consider the following Special Topics course offerings from the School of Communication. Spring registration begins on November 7, 2022. Please consult Canelink, the instructor of record, and/or your academic advisor for more information.

Summer 2023 Special Topics

Summer A: CCA 394 section A40Film Criticism: The course explores the practice of film criticism. It looks at different kinds of films and the questions they raise. It prepares students to craft a compelling, well-structured critical argument that teaches their reader about their interpretations and points of view. While exploring methods and film terminology, the students engage with the art of active viewing and grapple with the challenges of visual narrative.

Summer B: CCA 494/795 section B21Film Sound Aesthetics: The purpose of this course is to develop the student’s understanding and appreciation of film sound aesthetics. The course explores the tools/practices that are necessary to develop a filmmaker’s sonic identity and style.

Fall 2023 Special Topics

CCA 394 section 5UDangerous Cinema: This course will focus on movies from around the world that generated great controversy at the time of their original release but are now considered to be important touchstones that explored themes previous films hadn’t touched. Each movie will be accompanied by a class presentation that puts each film into the context of the era in which it was made, examines the critical and audience reaction that greeted each title, and explores how with the passage of time, many of the films are now considered classic game-changers that pushed the boundaries of what type of subject matter and themes are acceptable for mainstream audiences.

CCA 494/795 section 1QTV History: This course introduces students to histories of television and other digital media that may include specific shows, trends, industry practices, and TV’s greater significance in U.S. society. Students will watch television, read histories of television, and write critical analyses of television that connect programming to aesthetic, economic, and regulatory influences while exploring the overall socio-cultural implications of television.

CCA 494/795 section 5PExperimental Filmmaking: Through screenings, lectures, discussion, and practice, students will study how filmmakers have experimented with the moving image to push the boundaries of the medium and their perception of the world.

CCA 494/795 section 1FDirecting the Commercial: Directing the Commercial examines the collaborative art and practice of film (video) commercial creation. Students will learn how to direct commercial projects of high production value while gaining a better understanding of professional standards governing commercial production.

CCA 494/795 section 4KIndustry Insider: This course is designed to give a creative and business overview across the wide range of careers that exist in the modern, studio-based and independent entertainment industry via weekly seminars led by invited professionals, project workshops, and presentations.

CCA 494/795 + COM 609 section 4EQueer Media Studios: Queer Media Studies examines the history and development of U.S. LGBT media by focusing on media production, sociocultural context, media reception, and the texts themselves. This is a discussion-based, writing-intensive course in which you will actively work to improve writing via in-class writing assignments, paper revisions and peer-review. My goal in this course is to have you engage in discussions of the materials we are discussing. To that end, there are several days in which we will have “special guests” who are either the authors of the texts we are reading or are media industry workers.

CCA 494/795 + JMM 356/656 section 5RPodcasting: Podcast Storytelling affords students the opportunity to develop a new wave of audio content, create virtual gathering spaces and has the potential to create new audiences. Students will produce projects as either stand-alone or episodic and will publish their projects on a hosting site.

LATEST NEWS

Film Professor Shares Top Film Picks for Ramadan

March 29, 2023|

By Abbie Bernet Sana Haq, assistant professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts, shares her top suggestions for films to watch this Ramadan that celebrate Muslim stories and experiences. Last week, we entered the holy month of Ramadan, and I have a few films to recommend. In case you're interested in getting to know more about Muslim life and experience [...]

Follow our Instagram account for the latest Cinematic Arts news and updates.

Featured Projects

A few of our motion pictures projects, all done by our very own students and faculty.

Faculty

Anthony
Allegro

aallegro@miami.edu
(305) 284-2202
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Grace
Barnes

gbarnes@miami.edu
(305) 284-3860
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Margaret
Cardillo

m.cardillo@umiami.edu
(305) 284-9722
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Sanjeev
Chatterjee

sanjeev@miami.edu
(305) 284-2234
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Ali
Habashi

ahabashi@miami.edu
(305) 284-8051
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sana-haq

Sana
Haq

sanahaq@miami.edu
(305) 284-3575
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Shane Kinsler

Shane
Kinsler

s.kinsler@miami.edu
305-284-9755
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Konstantia Kontaxis

Konstantia
Kontaxis

kkontaxis@miami.edu
(305) 284-6382
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Christina
Lane

clane@miami.edu
(305) 284-3657
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Barbara
Leibell

dleibell@miami.edu
(305) 284-4890
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Alfred
Martin

almartin@miami.edu
(305) 284-5012
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Betsy Mateu

Betsy Helf
Mateu

e.mateu@miami.edu
(305) 284-6902
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Thomas
Musca

t.musca@miami.edu
(305) 284-5219
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William
Rothman

rothman@miami.edu
(305) 284-4539
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John
Soliday

jsoliday@miami.edu
(305) 284-2219
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Ed Talavera

Ed
Talavera

etalavera@miami.edu
(305) 284-4167
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Rechna
Varma

rxv310@miami.edu
(305) 284-3153
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Jim Virga

Jim
Virga

jvirga@miami.edu
(305) 284-2759
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