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SCA Film Student Guide

The SCA Film Student Guide is an undergraduate handbook of the policies and practices of the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts (SCA) Film Area. We hope this guide will help answer any inquiries you may have throughout your time with us here. If you have questions that are not within the guide, please refer to Who Does What? and contact the appropriate SCA Faculty or Staff member. If it is a curricular question, please contact the Contemporary Arts Undergraduate Advisor (sca_adv@sfu.ca). If you have film production-related inquiries, please contact your film production instructor directly. 

Please also see the SCA Film Resources page for a collection of useful links and PDFs.

Posted: September, 2024.

I. COURSE PLANNING

  • Program Options
    • BFA Major in Film
    • Extended Minor in Film
    • Film and Video Studies Minor
  • Admission to Film Production Courses
  • Admission to Other Film Courses
  • Film Studies
  • Directed Studies
  • Course Loads

II. FILM PRODUCTION

  • Selection of Projects
  • Time/Length Guidelines
  • Crews
  • Equipment Policy
    • Access/Priorities
    • Checkout & Return
  • Academic Misconduct
  • Post-Production
  • Production Deadlines
  • Film/Video Screenings
  • Copyright/Acknowledgement/Archival Prints

III. GETTING BY

  • Awards and Bursaries
  • Grades
  • Film Faculty & Staff
  • Who Does What?
  • MFA Program

IV. APPENDIX

  • Student Copyright Agreement Form

I. COURSE PLANNING

As an SCA Film Area student, the requirements to complete your degree will be governed by the policy in effect during the year you enrolled in the program. However, if new programs are introduced during your time here, you may also choose these options instead. Further details can be found HERE. At present you have the following choices: BFA Film Major, BFA Film Honours, Extended Minor in Film, and Minor Cinema Studies (which is integrated with SCA's Art, Performance & Cinema Studies Area).

PROGRAM OPTIONS

  • The BFA Film Major is intended for students who wish to undertake a four-year course of study in film production. Courses are designed to develop the skills that students need to become artists in film, with an emphasis on the production of original work informed by a familiarity with film history, criticism and theory. Those completing the Major will produce and direct their own film projects and play major roles on other student productions.
  • The BFA Film Honours offers students the opportunity to advance their Major by intensifying their upper division studies. Additional courses in film production courses and other disciplines/fields will expand the students’ scope of film technique and criticality, and further broaden their scope of knowledge.
  • The Extended Minor in Film is designed for students who wish to combine film production with another program in the university. Film has affinities with many other disciplines, including the social sciences, History, English, Business and Communication as well as other disciplines in the Contemporary Arts. Students in Contemporary Arts opting for an Extended Minor may take film courses to developing skills in the cinematic arts, multimedia installation, screenwriting and directing actors by combining their Extended Minor in Film with another in the appropriate area. The Extended Minor in Film does not include the Fourth Year production courses.
  • The Cinema Studies Minor focuses on theoretical, analytical, historical and critical aspects of film. This mainly academic program does not include film production, but it does include the screenwriting courses.

The lower and upper division requirements for completing the Film Major, the Extended Minor in Film, and the Minor in Film and Video, are listed in the SFU Calendar and are determined by the calendar descriptions in the year you entered the Film program. Please consult the appropriate calendar for the courses necessary for you to graduate.

All Film programs reflect the commitment of the SCA to the interdisciplinary study of the fine and performing arts by including studio and history/theory courses in other disciplines.

ADMISSION TO FILM PRODUCTION COURSES

The process to apply for the Film program is a questionnaire followed by an interview. Based on the results of the submitted questionnaire, a virtual interview will follow later for approximately half the students who have applied. Please note that applicants for the Film Program may only apply a maximum of two times.

  • CA 130-4 (Fundamentals of Film): The selection process may consist of an interview conducted by a committee or by an individual instructor.  A maximum of 24 students will be approved for registration in CA 130 each year. The maximum project length in both CA 130 and CA 131 is five minutes.
  • CA 230 / 231 (Filmmaking II and III): The prerequisite for each course must be successfully completed before enrolment. The maximum project length in both CA 230/231 is 10 minutes.
  • CA 390 / 393 (Filmmaking IV and V): The prerequisite for each course must be successfully completed before enrolment. The maximum project length in both CA 390 / 393 is 6-9 minutes.
  • CA 430 / 432 (Filmmaking VI and VII): The prerequisite for each course must be successfully completed before enrolment. The maximum project length is 10 minutes.

COURSES REQUIRING PRIOR APPROVAL / PREREQUISITES

If you do not have the prerequisites for a course, please refer to the SCA Advising website for next steps. With prior approval, specific film-related courses in other departments may be substituted for our film studies requirements.

DIRECTED STUDIES

Directed Studies courses are designed for the upper division student who has shown outstanding initiative as well as creative and organizational skill, who wants to undertake an independent project. The directed study course is designed for independent research that falls outside the offerings of the SCA curriculum. For more information, please visit the Directed Study Form page.

COURSE LOADS

We highly recommend the use of the Film Degree Planning Tool that was emailed to you ahead of your first semester at SFU.

  • It is not easy to carry a full course load of 15 hours when taking the intensive film production courses (CA 130/131, 230/231, 390, 393, 430/432.) Film students often choose to take WQB (Writing, Quantitative and Breadth) courses during the summer or spend five years to get a BFA. We suggest you plan your curriculum over the next four or five years to balance film production classes with non-production coursework.
  • Students are prohibited from taking two film production courses (e.g., CA 230 and CA 390) at the same time.
  • We highly recommended that students follow the order of courses through the program as designed: i.e., 100-level courses in first year, 200-level courses in second year, etc. Students should be aware that incoming cohorts have priority for courses specific to their year in the program and the number of seats is limited.
  • Interdisciplinary practices are an important cornerstone of the Film program. Courses in other disciplines at the SCA, such as Dance, Visual Art, Theatre & Performance, Production & Design, Art, Performance, & Cinema Studies, and Music & Sound, are often directly relevant to your film explorations, as well as being of value in themselves.

II. FILM PRODUCTION

SELECTION OF PROJECTS

Project Guidelines + Approvals: 

  • The instructor of each production course will clearly state, in advance, the criteria for approval of projects. Approval is based on a combination of factors including artistic merit, the student’s demonstrated ability to carry out the proposed work, pragmatic issues involving use of facilities and equipment, and pedagogical value to the class as a whole.
  • Scale of Projects: The following film/video lengths are mandatory:
    • CA 130/131: 5 minutes
    • CA 230/231: 10 minutes
    • CA 390/393: 6-9 minutes
    • CA 430/432: 10 minutes
  • Approval of projects implies access to SFU equipment and facilities and application of work toward course credit. Projects not approved will not have access to SFU equipment. Failure to meet the time/length conditions on completed projects will affect the student’s grade and may render the project ineligible for SCA public screenings.
  • Budget: Approval of any upper division SFU student film or video is contingent upon the presentation of a satisfactory budget. Access to equipment and facilities is contingent upon meeting deadlines and other course requirements. We encourage students to consider collaborating wherever possible—to share responsibilities and expenses.
  • Film Projects containing gratuitous violence, sexual violence, sexual/racial exploitation, will not be approved. Please discuss with your course instructor for clarification.

CREWS

Supporting your student cohort as film production crew is an essential part of the learning experience in the Film Area.

SFU film students must fill all major roles on SFU student films:

  • For 1st and 2nd year productions (CA 130/131 and 230/231), students within the class must fill primary crew roles.
  • For 3rd and 4th year productions (CA 390/393 and 430/432), all major crew roles must be filled by students currently enrolled in the BFA Major in Film at SFU who have not yet completed CA 432.
  • Alumni and/or non-SCA students are not permitted as crew in any role. Non-major crew roles may be made up of  current SCA Film and non-Film students.

MAJOR crew roles for SCA Film students must include:

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Production Manager
  • Cinematographer
  • Location Sound Recorder
  • Assistant Director
  • Gaffer
  • Editor
  • Sound Editor
  • Sound Mixer

The following roles can be performed by SCA Film or non-Film SCA students:

  • Production Designer
  • Set Construction Crew
  • Casting Director
  • Actor
  • Composer, Musician
  • Re-recording Sound Mixer- VFX compositor
  • Craft services

All crews must be approved by the course instructor in advance of shooting. Projects which do not comply with the above crew guidelines will not be eligible as part of the course requirement and the financial, technical, equipment and facility support from the school will be immediately and irrevocably be withdrawn.

NOTE: Under SFU's Student Academic Integrity Policy (S10.01), academic dishonesty may result in suspension or expulsion from the University. Please discuss with your course instructor for clarification.

EQUIPMENT POLICY

Access/Priorities

  • Access to equipment is only for projects of an artistic or educational nature over which the user has creative control and/or for documentation of events which are officially sanctioned by the SCA. In case of any ambiguity over the nature of a project, the Film faculty will be the final arbiter over its artistic or educational merit. In case of disputes over priority, our Resource Specialist, Corbin Saleken, will be the usual arbiter. Whenever the Resource Specialist cannot resolve a request for equipment, it will be discussed with the course instructor.
  • Equipment use for students is available for SCA course-related student work only. The use of school equipment and film facilities and teaching spaces for non-SCA projects is considered academic misconduct.
  • The instructor for each production course will review each proposed project to consider the budget and to determine the appropriate equipment required for completion.

Equipment Checkout and Return

  • The operating hours of the equipment room are posted outside the room (subject to change).
  • Each production will be allotted a specified number of days of access to the equipment. Equipment use for principal photography in CA 230/231 and CA 430/432 is scheduled in five-day blocks (Wednesday - Monday), with CA 390/393 scheduled for five-day blocks. This is in order to keep equipment available for class labs and maintenance during the intervening days.
  • Each production will be given access to equipment on the following schedule:
    • CA 130/131: One 5-day week.
    • CA 230/231: One 5-day week in Fall or January
    • CA 390/393: One 3-day shoot in the Fall (390) and another in the Spring (393).
    • CA 430/432: One 5-day week in Fall; pickups in January.
  • In the case of certain documentary projects, some interviews and/or events may of necessity fall outside those dates. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor at least one month ahead of time of such a necessity in order to discuss alternatives or to receive approval. No production equipment will be available beyond the above dates except, under extraordinary circumstances, on appeal to a committee of Film Faculty.
  • Production equipment will only be checked out to students who are formally registered in Film production classes. Equipment will not be available during the winter break or the Summer semester.
  • Pickups and returns will take place by prior appointment. Any students more than 30 minutes late for either pickup or return may have future access curtailed. LATE RETURNS ARE SUBJECT TO A DAILY FINANCIAL PENALTY.
  • The SCA's Resource Specialist will require a complete, comprehensive crew list before any equipment can be released. A violation of the conditions listed in the Insurance agreement which students are required to complete may result in further equipment availability being denied.
  • Equipment will be made up into packages as comprehensive as possible, with one-of-a-kind items to be checked out separately. Students will be issued a list of every item contained in each kit. The Resource Specialist will make every possible effort to maintain kits in perfect order during the shooting period; but because of short turnaround time and intensive class use during the 2-day 'rest' period each week, your co-operation is required. It is the student's responsibility to double-check the equipment on both pickup and return, to ensure that each kit is complete and in good working order.
  • Students must demonstrate to their course instructor that they and their crews are qualified to use the equipment they intend to check out before such equipment will be released to them. Under no circumstances may an authorized user check out equipment and turn it over toanother party for a project in which the user is not directly involved. Students who use production or editing facilities for unauthorized work, or who give access to others for such use, will lose all rights to the use of SFU film facilities and teaching spaces.
  • Students who are unable to demonstrate competence on the equipment cannot expect to be trained by the Resource Specialist. If you need extra help, see your course instructor.
  • Every student who checks out equipment is responsible for seeing that it is returned complete and in good order. Each user must sign a form accepting financial responsibility for any loss or damage caused by negligence.
  • If missing or damaged items are discovered upon checkout, students must report these problems immediately in order to avoid being held responsible.
  • All damage or breakage of equipment must be reported immediately. Students not reporting damaged or missing equipment, whether they are responsible for the damage or not, may be penalized by losing access to the equipment or suffering other penalties at the discretion of the Resource Specialist in consultation with the course instructor. As noted above, students not returning equipment at the scheduled time may also lose future access. Negligence involving equipment may have additional consequences to be determined on a case by case basis by the film area. Students are advised to acquaint themselves with SFU's Student Academic Integrity Policy (S10.01) and SFU's Student Conduct Policy (T10.01).
  • Insurance – Geographical policy: As a general rule, shooting within the province of British Columbia is allowed. Any shooting outside of province will only be allowed as long as the total equipment list value adds to up to $2000 or less. Whenever the value of this equipment list is over $2000, the student(s) in charge of the production are responsible to get external insurance for all the gear traveling outside of BC.
  • Film Area Liability: Although we will make every possible effort to ensure that film equipment is in good working order when given to students, it is also the student's responsibility to inspect all items carefully before going to shoot. The Film Area will not be held liable for problems with defective gear.
  • SFU Studio Facilities/Locations: Students booking SFU studios or locations must clean up and remove all props, sets and other material at the end of shooting. Failure to do so will incur clean-up costs which the filmmaker will be required to cover. If you find any disorder or damage left by a previous group in the studio, you must report them immediately to avoid being held responsible. Due to constant demand the Soundstage will be returned to pristine condition at the completion of your production’s booked time. Your course instructor will be notified if this condition is not met. You will be held responsible for any costs required to return this space to the condition it was in at the beginning of the semester. This is not a storage area. You must use surfaces other than the walls, floor and ceiling for painting or construction.

Academic Misconduct & Dishonesty

Actions that violate the standards of academic integrity will be followed up on in accordance with the SCA Film Student Guide and SFU's Student Academic Integrity Policy and SFU's Student Conduct Policy. The use of school equipment, film facilities and teaching spaces for non-SCA projects is considered academic misconduct. Upon the determination of academic misconduct, access to equipment and/or post-production facilities may be revoked for the term. Depending on the seriousness and scale of the misconduct, activities may result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

Post-Production

  • Computer Lab (GCA 3420):
    • Priority is given to 1st year students currently registered in CA 130/131. Based on first come first serve basis. The lab may also be booked on occasion for trainings and workshops for non-1st year students. In circumstances when the lab is booked, 1st year students will be notified accordingly.
  • 10 X EDITING SUITES (GCA 3405, 3410, 3415, 3425, 3430, 3435, 3440, 3445, 3450, & 3460):
    • Priority is given to 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students currently registered in CA 230/231, CA 390/391 or CA 430/432. Based on first come first serve basis. Please be mindful of other students and share the editing suites as needed. Communicate with one another and acknowledge one another’s post-production needs.
  • Scheduling for post-production facilities is the responsibility of the students, who must be present at the weekly scheduling time which may be initiated in the final month of the spring semester. As with equipment checkout, you must demonstrate competence before being allowed access to post-production facilities.
  • All editing rooms must be left in pristine condition. Access codes WILL NOT be shared with people outside the film program.

PRODUCTION DEADLINES

Students who do not meet production deadlines (principal photography, rough-cut, mix date, critique date, etc.) will suffer lowered grades and (at the discretion of the instructor) reduced access to equipment and facilities.

FILM SCREENINGS

To be eligible for public year-end screenings, films:

  1. must have been produced during the current academic year,*
  2. must have been made in Film Area production classes or Directed Studies,
  3. must be completed (no works in progress),
  4. must meet the time/length requirements as per course guidelines,
  5. must meet the major crew role regulations listed above, and
  6. must have no outstanding financial obligations to the university, including equipment repair bills.

* Instructor approval may be granted on a case-by-case basis for films where the source material is filmed prior to the academic year. This may include films rely on archives or documentary footage filmed by the student with their own equipment in the summer preceding the academic year.

Screening dates are set far in advance by the SCA in consultation with the FIlm Area. The cinema schedule is highly complicated and coordinated amongst a number of different units and thus not open to changes at student request.

COPYRIGHT/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/ARCHIVAL COPIES

Students hold copyright on all films made at SFU. However, the SCA requests an acknowledgement of its contribution of training, equipment and resources with a credit as follows:

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS 20__

Please see the Appendix for the copyright agreement form.

A copy of Second, Third, and Fourth Year productions will be kept at SFU for archival purposes and limited non-commercial screenings (primarily on-campus screenings).

III. GETTING BY

Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries

Your attention is drawn to a number of Awards and Bursaries of particular interest to students in the Fine and Performing Arts, some of which are adjudicated by the Awards Committee of Contemporary Arts. Please visit the SCA Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries page for complete details on eligibility rules and application procedures, as well as SFU's Financial Aid and Awards page for undergraduate students.

GRADES

As defined in the SFU Calendar, an "A" is for excellent performance; a "B" is for good performance; and a "C" is for satisfactory performance. Instructors will state the grading criteria for each course in writing at the beginning of the semester, and students should study them carefully. The detailed School Grading Scheme can be downloaded HERE.

Procedure for filing a grade appeal

The procedure for a grade appeal can be found in SFU's Grading and the Reconsideration of Grades Policy (T20.01).

FILM FACULTY & STAFF

Please refer to the SCA Faculty page and SCA Staff page.

WHO DOES WHAT?

  • Adds/Drops & Student Advising: Alex Brzezinski / Undergraduate Advisor
  • Equipment Checkout & Return: Corbin Saleken / Film and Video Resource Specialist
  • Computer issues: Stefan Smulovitz / Manager, Technology & Resources or Taha Nejad / Computer & Technology Assistant
  • Publicity for events: Brady Cranfield / Communications
  • Undergraduate Program Assistant: Julie Beauvez
  • SCA Director: Peter Dickinson
  • SCA Associate Director: Judy Radul
  • Graduate Chair: Judy Radul
  • Film Area Coordinator: Nadia Shihab

IV. APPENDIX

Student Copyright Agreement Form

Download a PDF copy of the Student Copyright Agreement Form HERE (and review the text of the form below).

SFU STUDENT FILM COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT between the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University, 149 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. Canada. V6B 1H4 (the University), and, _______________________________________________________ maker(s) of the student-produced film tentatively entitled _________________________ (the Filmmaker).

In recognition of the University's contribution to the pre-production, production and postproduction of each student-produced film made at SFU—a contribution which includes access to production and post-production equipment and facilities; creative, technical and administrative support and financial assistance—the Filmmaker and the University agree to the following:

1. Copyright to all materials created as part of a film project remains with the Filmmaker.

2. For archival purposes, students will provide the School with one Quicktime file in ProRes format of any final production completed as part of coursework.

3. The Filmmaker will acknowledge the contribution of the University by including in the credits of each film or video made at SFU the following credit:

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS 20__

4. The University may use the completed film for educational purposes in the classroom and for accredited film study by SFU students on University premises.

5. Prizes won at film festivals remain the property of the Filmmaker(s).

6. The Filmmaker grants permission to the University to use the film print or digital file deposited with the University for the following purposes: __________________________

I/We, the undersigned maker(s) of the film designated above, accept the conditions

set forth in this agreement.

Name(s) and Student Number(s):

Signature(s):

Date:

Signed for the University by:

Name:

Date:

WORKING TITLE OF FILM: ____________________________

FINAL TITLE OF FILM: _______________________________

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