College of Arts, Languages & Letters
Crawford 210
2550 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7736
Fax: (808) 956-6662
Email: cinema@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/cinema

Faculty

C. Acham, PhD—critical studies
L. Flanary, MFA—screenwriting, indigenous filmmaking
J. Hahm, MFA—animation
V. Hereniko, PhD—critical studies, cinematic and digital production, screenwriting
L. Margulies, MFA—animation
A. Misawa, MFA—cinematic and digital production
J. Moffett, MFA—screenwriting, cinematic and digital production
M. Moody, MFA—screenwriting, critical studies
J. Parente, MFA—animation
S. Schimmel, MFA—cinematic and digital production, documentary, critical studies
F. Titz, MFA—cinematic and digital production
G. Wang, MFA—post-production, critical studies

Degree Offered: BA in cinematic arts

The Academic Program

ACM: The School of Cinematic Arts (CINE/ACM) emphasizes storytelling, critical analysis, and practical skills, across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. The program empowers students to tell their own original, personal, and authentic stories. Students develop 21st century literacy skills grounded in the latest film/video and animation techniques and tools.

The Cinematic Arts track provides a solid foundation in the study and aesthetics of film and encompasses additional topics including indigenous filmmaking, screenwriting, documentary production, film producing, and various aspects of digital cinema and animation production.. The Digital Cinema track offers a well-rounded curriculum of all aspects of digital video production, post-production, screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, sound, and producing. The Animation track provides unique opportunities in animation production, including paperless animation, traditional hand-drawn techniques, digital paperless animation, 3D computer graphics, interactive media, and video game design.

The program facilities include state-of-the-art animation and post-production computer labs with Cintiq tablet-monitors and industry-standard software for video and sound editing, screenwriting, storyboarding, 2D animation, 3D animation, and visual effects production. A separate sound production lab is available for dialogue recording and replacement, sound mixing, and Foley sound production. The Production Center provides access to digital cinema equipment including the Arri Alexa camera system, as well as sound recording equipment and lighting kits for student productions

More information including academic planning guidelines and program information can be found at the program website at: manoa.hawaii.edu/cinema.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

Students have the flexibility to design an academic program around a core of CINE/ACM courses and electives. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop a program that reflects the development of academic, writing, creative, and critical thinking skills.

Requirements

  • The major is open to all students who have been admitted to UH Mānoa;
  • To complete the major, students must complete 42 credit hours towards the program’s major requirements.

All students who select the program as a major are accepted into the general track of Cinematic Arts. Students may remain in the general track or apply to specialize in either Digital Cinema or Animation. To be considered for the specialized tracks, students must submit a portfolio including an artist’s statement and creative work samples. Portfolios are accepted throughout the year, but are reviewed twice a year in October and March. Students can only apply twice for acceptance into either the Digital Cinema or Animation tracks. Students who are not accepted into a specialized track will remain in the general track and graduate with a BA in Cinematic Arts. More information on each track and detailed instructions on submitting the portfolio are available at manoa.hawaii.edu/cinema.

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to programsheets/.

Core Required Courses

  • CINE/ACM 255
  • CINE/ACM 310 or 215
  • CINE/ACM 350
  • CINE/ACM 360, 385, 460
  • 21-24 units from one of three degree tracks
  • 3 units of Supplemental Elective, if required by degree tracks

Computer Hardware and Software Requirements

The curriculum requires students to have access to a laptop computer. Hardware and software specifications can be found at manoa.hawaii.edu/cinema/.

Advising

Introductory information on the program, including guidelines for academic planning, can be found at manoa.hawaii.edu/cinema. Advising is mandatory to design the student’s academic plan, and for any subsequent changes.