Special Programs

35MM Filmmaking in Prague

Be a Master of Film. Learn 35MM in the Czech Republic.

Carry out the vision for your story in a city whose cinematic history stretches back to the early days of the art form itself. From the late 1800s, when the first Czech films were made in the region of Bohemia, through the political struggles of the 1960s that spawned the Czech New Wave, the film heritage of this country will give you a rich tapestry of material to draw from.

There is no match for the beauty of an image captured on film. The incredible dynamic range and fine grain offered by film stock make it the medium of choice for directors such as Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan, despite the convenience and low cost of digital formats. Learn to harness the visual power of 35mm and broaden your talents as an aspiring director or director of photography. You’ll have the opportunity to complete your project in a supervised post-production session where you color correct and transfer your original 35mm negative. This program is your only opportunity as an undergraduate at Tisch to practice 35mm film production techniques and storytelling.

"Only after learning to work with 35mm film do you understand that digital and film are two different mediums and should be treated as such. Considering this insight, I believe working with 35mm film teaches you the origin of the theory inherent in digital filmmaking and therefore gives you a deeper understanding of the craft of cinematography."

— Bill Chen, 35mm Filmmaking in Prague, summer 2014

Program Overview

The Tisch School offers this program in collaboration with one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious film schools, the Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU). FAMU is an independent academy which focuses on audio and visual media. Their alumni include Jiri Menzel (Closely Watched Trains), Milos Forman (Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) and Agnieszkha Holland (Europa Europa). The FAMU faculty are active members of the Czech filmmaking community (including established cinematographers, directors, editors, scholars, and writers).  Under their expert guidance, you will have the opportunity to branch out and study 35mm sync-sound filmmaking from an entirely different tradition and culture.

Note: The Prague academic year program varies slightly from the summer program. In spring and fall you participate as director and director of photography, and work on two separate interior and exterior individual projects. For summer, you must indicate your preference for either director or director of photography when you apply, or be open to both depending on which position is available (not all students direct in the summer). You only shoot exterior projects in the summer. (It’s light out until nearly midnight in Prague in the summer!)

Curriculum

Students will enroll in the following two courses for a total of 8 points    

Master Class in 35mm Filmmaking

IFMTV-UT 1200 | 4 units | Instructor: Michael Gahut

This is an intensive program, taught by world-renowned faculty of FAMU, including master teachers who are industry professionals. Students receive hands-on training exploring essential elements and tools of advanced sync-sound film production through 35mm filmmaking. Course work covers a detailed overview of screenwriting, directing, and editing, including workshops in 35 mm motion picture camera and lighting techniques. Rushes are screened with intensive critique sessions. Participants finish the course with a final off-line group edit. 

Seminar on Czech Cinema and Culture

IFMTV-UT 1040 l 4 units | Instructor: Michael Gahut

Emphasizing one of the most influential movements in the post-World War II era, the cinema of the Czech New Wave, this course explores the history and development of Czech and Slovak cinema and its impact on contemporary culture. Lectures are supplemented with screenings and field trips. Classes are led by Pavel Zech, a FAMU professor who holds a joint appointment in film and philosophy.

Program Dates

Summer 2018 

Student Arrival: Sunday, May 27, 2018
Student Departure: Saturday, July 7, 2018

Admissions

Prerequisites:

  • Film/TV majors: Sight and Sound Filmmaking (FMTV-UT 43) and one more Sight and Sound of your choice, Production Safety & Set Protocol (FMTV-UT 101)
  • For Tisch Film majors in the cinematography concentration, it is suggested that you participate in Prague after taking Camera I.
  • NYU and Visiting students: Fundamentals of Digital Filmmaking (OART-UT 560) or college level experience in film production

Summer 2018 Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until Monday, March 19, 2018 at 5:00pm ET.

For more information please view our Admissions Calendar.

Application: Please read the following admissions information before starting your application.

Expenses

  • Undergraduate summer 2018 tuition: $11,296
  • Registration and Services Fee: $948
  • Program Fee: $649
  • Lab Fee: $590
  • Housing: 
        Single: $2,645
        Double: $2,059
        Triple: $1,798
        Quad: $1,567
  • CSI Insurance: $155 
  • Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to/from the program.

Visit the NYU Office of the Bursar for additional information on tuition and fees.

Apply

Scholarship and Financial Aid

There are opportunities for financial assistance to study abroad.

Please review the Scholarships and Financial Aid for Study Abroad page for more information.

Housing

Visit the NYU Prague website for housing options and descriptions.