Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Film and Television

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Introduction

Emerson’s low-residency Writing for Film and Television MFA teaches you to write for film, television, and other emergent forms of media across multiple genres. Build a professional-caliber writing portfolio with original feature, pilot, and short screenplay samples. Our faculty consists of filmmakers, producers, screenwriters, and theorists who will mentor and guide you through your online courses. Each semester begins with a six-day residency on our Boston or Los Angeles campus, where you'll participate in workshops, screenings, lectures, and a Master Class with a guest lecturer. Previous lecturers have included Krista Vernoff, Showrunner for Grey’s Anatomy, David Magee, Writer of Life of Pi, Mara Brock Akil, Creator of Being Mary Jane, and more. Emerson’s Writing for Film and Television MFA professors guide you through the writing process from your initial story idea to the final draft of each script. Acting as mentors throughout your program, your professors will meet with you regularly to discuss your career goals, advise you as you create your professional writing portfolio, and help set you up for success after graduation. Each semester you will work with a professional guest lecturer at an in-person Master Class. The rest of your course will be online, allowing you the flexibility to earn your MFA from anywhere. Program highlights include: Low-residency MFA program Each semester begins with a six-day residency, alternating between our Boston and Los Angeles campuses, where students explore Master Classes, seminars, screenings, guest lectures, staged readings, pitch sessions, and more Semesters are 100% online with asynchronous coursework (and some synchronous workshops) to fit your schedule No GRE required to apply A 2-year long, full-time program Faculty Emerson’s Department of Visual and Media Arts is composed of award-winning faculty in the television and film industry. Your Graduate Program Director, Jim Lane, will serve as your primary faculty advisor, guiding you on course selection to ensure that you will achieve your learning objectives and satisfy the program requirements. You will also receive program and department news from your program director along with any on- and off-campus opportunities that might be of interest to you. Residency Overview Each semester begins with a week-long residency on Emerson’s Boston or Los Angeles campus where you will meet faculty, collaborate with peers, and participate in a Master Class taught by our Semel Chair - an award-winning film or television screenwriter.  During the residency week, you will engage in Master Classes, seminars, intensive workshops, and peer group workshops. Evening sessions include screenings, guest lectures, and staged readings from student work. Seminars, lectures, and workshops will reflect residency themes.  You will meet with advisors to form the work plan for the semester. Before each residency ends, you will have clear deadlines for the semester’s creative work, reading and viewing lists, and a schedule for all online meetings. Semel Chair & Guest Lectures Emerson’s MFA in Writing Film and Television brings award-winning film and television writers to its Boston and Los Angeles campuses during your week-long in-person residency at the beginning of each semester.  The Semel Chair in Screenwriting is a working screenwriter who will conduct Master Classes during the residency, meet with students, and lead an evening screening and discussion of the speaker's work. Semel Chairs rotate each semester and are announced several weeks before the semester begins. Other guest lecturers include managers, agents, and more. Alumni Our Alumni have gone on to successful careers in the film and television industry. Recent notable alumni include: Nicole Savini, Co-Executive Producer of Tooning Out the News on Paramount+ Kelly Edwards, Author of “Secrets From the Executive Chair” Jessica Hill, Director of Advertising at Warner Media CJ Ehrlich, Writer & second-place winner at the Ivy Film Festival, for the been script of Loser Island Kylie Rolincik, finalist for National Lampoon and Stage 32's Search for Comedy Writing Gold Willie Block, Co-Author of Prowl

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English Language Requirements

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About the School

Emerson College

Emerson College draws independent minds from diverse backgrounds around the world through its highly regarded academic programs in communication, the arts, and the liberal arts. Energized by engagement with the creative life of Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands, our students are creative thinkers and doers who develop their own personal voice and expertise in professions that profoundly shape society and culture in the 21st century. Our alumni populate theaters, newsrooms, movie sets, comedy clubs, and digital media platforms worldwide. They’ve emerged as leaders in publishing, advertising, entertainment, public relations, academia, and other engines of culture and enlightenment, as well as in industries of disruption and innovation. Wherever people collaborate to generate ideas and to inspire action, you will find Emersonians. Whether the result is a “bravo” or a “let’s print this” or a “that’s a wrap,” the work of Emerson-schooled professionals gets out there to make hearts beat fast and minds think deeply. Read less

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