Master of Fine Arts: Film/TV Production
As a purveyor of stories, you want to influence, inspire, inform, engage, and move audiences. With a solid and compelling story, powerful production elements not only enhance but elevate the story to fully engage your audience and help them become invested in your message. American literary scholar Jonathan Gottschall claims that we are “…the Storytelling Animal.” That’s because human beings storify everything around us: our adventures, sorrows, conflicts, dreams, and failures. Story, as a tool, works well in most contexts because everyone loves a good story. That’s why it is often used to influence social behavior and draw people together.
The M.F.A. in Film/TV Production is not just about the mechanics of producing a product. We’ll help you build the expertise you’ll need to be a professional working in the film and television industry. You will learn the fundamental principles of storytelling and discover how to expertly translate them in practice. You’ll also work closely with top faculty and successful industry professionals as you hone your craft. As a student in Asbury’s M.F.A. program, you’ll be able to take advantage of unique opportunities that will help you build a phenomenal portfolio, like the original narrative film or television production that Asbury’s media communication department creates every summer. You’ll meet industry experts, participate in and graduate with a mastery of the production process.
If you love sharing stories through the medium of film and television, the M.F.A. in Film/TV Production is for you. Asbury’s Film/TV Production program is designed to help you master the craft of production, from first idea through final cut. Our program is almost completely online, so you can participate no matter where you live—in fact, we currently have students from 20 states and four countries. If you want to have the close-to-campus experience, though, you can! About 25% of our students live in or around the Wilmore area.
Regardless of how much production experience you have, our professors will help you perfect your existing skills and learn new ones that you’ll need to succeed in the film and television industry. When you graduate from the program, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the storytelling process, a thorough grounding in technical skills and media ethics, and the ability to conduct research to shape and support your messages. In short, you’ll have the ability to make a strong impact as a director, a producer, a cinematographer, a teacher of film and television production, or any other role in the narrative film and television industry.
Course Requirements
"Asbury helped me in my career of 30-plus years by elevating my professional expertise, insight, and film knowledge to a new level. I am blessed to be a part of the marketing team at Independence Bank in Owensboro, Ky., where we serve more than 450 employees and nearly 40,000 customers. With an MFA from Asbury, I continue to ask: How can I best tell this story in a way that honors His story?"