Film & Television

Students, in soft focus, working in production studio.

A Film & Television (FTV) degree at the BU College of Communication (COM) teaches students how to tell stories over the multiple platforms of film, television and new media.

Our approach is unique for three reasons:

  1. Faculty help students create scripted or unscripted, art-house as well as commercial material while grounding each student in a rigorous liberal arts education. Graduates also benefit from our expansive research university, enabling them to enroll in courses across the university’s many departments.
  2. In all programs – studies, production, screenwriting and producing/management – classes are small, 12 students or fewer in screenwriting and 16 for production. This means students work closely with our veteran faculty who focus on nurturing each student’s individual voice.
  3. All FTV majors are first exposed to fundamentals of cinematic history, theory, writing and production—knowledge that’s necessary in an industry where each understanding is interdependent. They can then choose to specialize in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, directing, producing or management, film or television studies; or engage in a wide spectrum of fields of study. Ultimately each program aims to prepare all students for successful careers.

Does our approach work? Look no further than our students and alumni for your answer.

Films from our Redstone Film Festival of student-created projects have been nominated for Academy Awards. Real World Productions and BUTV10, both student-run, create award-winning works from PSAs and documentaries to news and variety shows.

FTV alumni are among some of the most successful directors, screenwriters, editors, producers, executives and academics in the industry. They include Bonnie Hammer (CGS’69, COM’71, SED’75), Vice Chairman of NBCUniversal; Orlando Bagwell (’74,’77, American Experience), Bonnie Arnold (’78, Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon), Michael Williams (’79, Fog of War, Queer Eye), Scott Rosenberg (’81, Con Air, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead), Nancy Dubuc (’91), former CEO of VICE Media, and Josh Safdie (‘07) and Benny Safdie (‘08, Uncut Gems, Good Time).

The success of our alumni demonstrates that our unique approach prepares students to succeed in the fields of film, television and new media. More importantly, our university’s liberal arts requirements guarantee that each student imbues their work with a deep understanding of society’s essential questions.