CINEMA STUDIES Communication Department proposes new film major D uring the summer, the Communication Department offered a film course taught by 1983 alumnus Joe Aaron, creator of the children's television show "Doug." While there were film writing and film production courses offered to students in the English and Communication Departments throughout the school year, the summer film course focused on using the art of filmmaking and screenwriting to communicate an interesting story to an audience. "In one month, you can't write an entire script," Aaron said. "I had to teach them how to write without demanding a finished product." Jared Dryden, a senior public relations major, took the class and learned essential skills that furthered his interest in film and television. He said he gained a solid understanding of what it took to succeed in entertainment media. On the first day of class, Dryden came in with a story idea and under the direction of Aaron developed it through a detailed scene-by-scene treatment. " I learned that it's not that difficult to bring 3n idea to life," Dryden said. "To perfect it, it takes a lot of hard work. I know that any idea or vision I or a client or anyone has, isn't that far from being realized." Aaron spoke with several of the students who planned to complete the projects they had begun while taking the class. They completed the class with the treatment of their idea, developed it for their final grade and intended to further develop that treatment into a film. Aaron told the class, "Don't just write a story, write one you can make. Don't have a bunch of words that live on your hard drive." As a future project, the course members could create and combine several short films into a feature film and enter the final product into festivals, promoting a budding film program at Harding. After taking the course, students wondered why Harding did not offer a film major. Dr. Jim Miller, director of the Mass Communication Department and assistant professor of journalism recognized that many students showed interest in a film degree. Miller and Aaron, along with Grant Dillion, assistant professor of screen writing and film appreciation, teamed up to create a potential curriculum and degree plan for a film major. Miller believed there was significant interest in the major. Success of the program would be rooted in Aaron's expertise in film production and creation, Dillion's knowledge of writing, and the results of the summer course. Dr. Warren Casey, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, challenged and encouraged Miller, Dillion and their respective departments to come together to form the curriculum. The proposed film major would be an undergraduate degree requiring 128 hours to graduate. The professors planned to submit their proposals in the fall, so that the major would be available in the fall of 2014. Miller and Aaron were excited about the potential program and what it could become for students interested in a film career. "It seems like the right time," Miller said. "Let's go forward with this. Let's see what we can do." Marianna Woodruff 48 MAJOR HOURS REQUIRED 8 students in Aaron's class in the summer 3 film courses currently 5 stages of approval needed to become a major offered
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