The Senior Requirement

During the senior year, each FMS student takes one or two senior-level scholarly seminars, production seminars, or the equivalent to support the production of either a substantial scholarly essay, a senior video, or a senior screenwriting project that demonstrates a culmination of work in the major and in Yale College.

Senior essays or senior projects are due to the DUS by the last day of classes in the semester of graduation.  A second reader, suggested by the student or assigned by the DUS, in addition to the senior project course instructor, participates in evaluating the essays and/or projects.

There are four options for FMS majors to satisfy the senior project requirement.

  • a scholarly research paper of 35-50 pages plus senior seminar(s).
  •  
  • a cinematic/media production project (which includes a 15 page contextualization paper)
  •  
  • a feature length (or equivalent) screenwriting project (which includes a 15 page contextualization paper)
  •  
  • or a combined cinematic/media production project plus significant scholarly paper.

Students are encouraged to explore their course options broadly while attending to the preparation needed to eventually complete their senior projects.

Senior Essay

For the student writing a senior scholarly essay, three options are possible.

  • The student may conduct independent research on a yearlong senior essay (FILM 4910 + FILM 4920). Such research receives two terms of credit; the product of a two-term research essay is a work of at least fifty pages.
  •  
  • The student may combine one single-term senior-level seminar with one term of an independent research project (either FILM 4910 or FILM 4920), resulting in a paper of at least thirty-five pages.
  •  
  • The student may take two senior level seminars, at least one of which must result in the completion of a 25-page essay.

As with all senior projects, a student intending to write a senior essay should complete the form circulated from the FMS office two weeks before the end of classes that will include a brief prospectus to be approved by a proposed faculty adviser and the DUS by the end of reading week in their junior year.

In researching the prospectus, and researching and writing the essay, the student should consult regularly with the seminar instructor or faculty adviser.

The Senior Production/Screenwriting project

A student intending to create a senior video/media or screenwriting project must complete a brief prospectus form by the last day of classes in the second semester of their junior year. This form will be circulated to all Juniors in mid-April (sample questions are included below). If this prospectus is approved by the appropriate instructor and the DUS, the student will be cleared to register for their intended senior production workshop.

Production Senior Seminars/Workshops

Students accepted to write a feature length screenplay must enroll in two semesters of Advanced Screenwriting (FILM 4870, FILM 4880, or the equivalent) in their senior year.

Students accepted to create a short non-fiction video must enroll in either two semesters of Documentary Film Workshop (FILM 4550, FILM 4560), two semesters of Film/Media Hybridity Lab (FILM 4800, Film 4810), or some combination of the two.

Students accepted to create a short fiction video typically enroll in two semesters of Advanced Film Writing and Directing (FILM 4830, FILM4840), or two semesters of Film/Media Hybridity Lab (FILM 4800, Film 4810), or some combination of the two.

Students accepted to create an experimental, hybrid, non-theatrical or otherwise unconventional project  such as a video anthology or an installation must enroll in two semesters of Film/Media Hybridity Lab (FILM 4800, FILM 4810).

Production/Screenwriting Project Contextualizing Essay

All students undertaking video or screenwriting senior projects must also produce a contextualizing essay of approximately fifteen pages. The expected form of this essay is intentionally loose and could include manifestos, diaristic writings, procedural analysis, etc. that place the senior project in a theoretical, cultural, or historical context as well as articulating the production/developmental strategies (accounted for by enrolling in FILM 4940). Please consult with your primary instructor and the DUS about your intentions prior to writing. These students receive a total of 2.5 credits for their projects, two credits for their two-semester workshops and one half (.5) credit for their accompanying contextualizing essay (FILM 4940). Such a choice effectively commits students to one extra .5 course in addition to the twelve courses required for the major. FILM 4940 does not count toward the twelve required courses when taken in conjunction with their production/screenwriting workshops.

Senior Essay and Production Project Prospectus Form (Section Sample only, this will be distributed via email in the second semester of each student’s third year.)

  1. What do you hope to learn or discover by engaging with this senior project,  i.e. what curiosity are you following? [Limit of <250 words]
  2. Describe the form of your project (essay, screenplay, fictional narrative video, documentary video, experimental video, anthology video, story/screenplay/film combination, etc.) [limit of <100 words]
  3. Briefly describe your anticipated process and anticipated interim deadlines leading to a complete project by the last day of classes of your senior year. For an essay project, include the name of a prospective faculty advisor. [limit of <150 words]
  4. Please indicate the primary senior seminar(s), or production workshop/thesis course you intend to enroll in. Refer to the [cover page of this form] for clarification or contact the FMS DUS with questions.
    1. Senior seminar (essay project)
    2. Advanced Film Writing and Directing (production project)
    3. Advanced Screenwriting (screenwriting production project)
    4. Documentary Film Workshop (production project)
    5. Film/Media Hybridity Lab (production project)
  5. What experience at Yale has prepared you to undertake this project? Be specific about classes, productions, creative writing, other arts, other research, screenplays, etc. This need not be comprehensive but should indicate particularly relevant and recent courses in theory and/or in practice. [limit to <150 words]
  6. Please provide links to your most recently completed relevant writing or video sample. Indicate how these samples are relevant preparation for your proposed project. [limit to<150 words]