The School of Visual Arts in New York launched an MFA in Social Documentary Film. Niki Bhattacharya explains the program and what students will learn.
The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York announces a new Master of Fine Arts degree program in Social Documentary Film, which will begin in the fall of 2009 in a brand new facility built for the department.
StudentFilmmakers Magazine gets the insider exclusive in a Q&A with Niki Bhattacharya, Director of Operations for the MFA Social Documentary Film department at SVA. Bhattacharya talks about the new program, its new cutting-edge, high tech facilities and equipment, and chats about the trends in the documentary filmmaking world and documentary filmmaking community in New York City.
about what’s going on in the documentary filmmaking world and any industry trends that lead to SVA opening up a new documentary filmmaking masters program?
Niki Bhattacharya: All signs point to New York as the epicenter of the documentary filmmaking world.
Documentary programs are increasingly sold to television networks rather than theatrical distributors, and many networks have non-fiction programming offices here – Sundance, HBO, National Geographic, TruTV, Showtime, Discovery. Also, NYC is home to channel Thirteen, NBC, ABC, CBS, Food Network, etc. Not to mention the dozens, if not hundreds, of production companies in the area who work in non-fiction films and television programming. There is a large documentary community here in New York, and there are jobs for non-fiction filmmakers. The large and supportive community and the opportunities for the students are the main reasons why the School of Visual Arts started the Social Documentary Film program. There is no program like this on the East Coast, and with such a rich nonfiction community here in New York – it seemed like a void that needed to be filled.
Tell us more about SVA’s new program.
Niki Bhattacharya: The new MFA in Social Documentary Film program is committed to teaching the next generation of social documentarians. Utilizing the latest cutting-edge, state-of-the-art HD equipment and coupling that with the timeless craft of storytelling – students will leave the program armed with the tools to carve their own niche in the film world.
What new equipment and facilities will be available in the new building and theatre for the students?
MFA Social Documentary Film department will have a brand new space on 21st between 6th and 7th Avenue in the heart of Manhattan. The space will include five editing suites, at least one with full finishing capabilities, a theater style classroom, a large equipment room, text and film library, as well as work space for students. This department will serve as their home away from home, and we are proud to say that it will be brand new and waiting for the inaugural class come fall of 2009.
What cameras and editing systems will be available for the students to use?
Niki Bhattacharya: We are still working out exactly what equipment we will bring into the department in the spring of 2009. Industry technology is moving at a rapid pace, and we are waiting for some of the big manufacturers to release some upgrades and new versions of cameras, storage systems, software, etc., before we make any final decisions. We do know that our equipment will be HD and the camera system will be tapeless Sony or Panasonic cameras. Our editing systems will be primarily Final Cut Pro, but the students will also be exposed to AVID editing systems.
When will you be moving to the new building?
Niki Bhattacharya: We will be moving in July of 2009. Next summer. We can’t wait!
Is there an estimated time when the theatre will be in use?
theater renovations will be done in the beginning of the new year and should be ready for use in January 2009. It will be a totally renovated and updated beautiful theater with the latest HD capabilities. about who will be teaching the courses in the new program?
Niki Bhattacharya: Our faculty is the best in the business… Oscar and Emmy nominees and winners, Peabody, Sundance, Director’s Guild award winners – just to name a few of their accolades. They are people who have worked on many of the most important and well-known documentary films of all time. Importantly, they are all people who are still working in the industry today.
These are not tenured professors – they are instructors who are still working in the field and making the documentary films and series that we see on television and the screen.
Just to name a few of the instructors who will be teaching the core classes… Emmy award-winning producer/director Maro Chermayeff is the Chair of the department. Brett Morgan, Oscar nominee and Sundance Special Jury Prize winner will be teaching directing classes. Deborah Dickson, three-time Oscar nominee will also be teaching directing classes. Bob Richman will be co-teaching the cinematography classes. Oscar nominated editor Ann Collins will teach editing classes. And, Oscar award winner Maryann DeLeo will be teaching visionary journalism classes…
Could you share some of your thoughts in relation to social documentary filmmaking?
Niki Bhattacharya: Social documentary filmmaking is a critical element in exploring both humanity and life in general – the way that anthropology, psychology and sociology study what makes people tick – documentary filmmaking is important for us to study our history and explore our path as inhabitants of the earth.
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