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Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts Degree

Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts School of Motion Picture Arts

Credential
Bachelor

Duration
4 year(s)

Program Highlights

Lights. Camera. Action! Come and learn from industry professionals at CapU’s state-of-the-art Bosa Centre for Film and Animation. Combine practice with theory to create magic.

Film is an art form that can transport people out of their daily lives with escapist excitement, inspire us with visual effects and flourishes, and spur social change with compelling narratives.

In Capilano University’s Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts program, you’ll learn film criticism and how to tell stories that evoke emotions and change lives while studying at one of the top film schools in B.C. 

We'll give you all the tools to build your technical knowledge and creative confidence in this 4-year program. You'll be working with up-to-date professional equipment that includes an 8,000 sq. ft. sound stage, 3D camera rigs and a 3D editing lab.

You'll learn the theory and history of film and develop your critical thinking skills. At the same time you'll work through and gain skills in the different technical departments, ensuring you'll be ready to work in Canadian film and television after graduation.

For more information about this film studies bachelor degree program, take a look further down the page for what our program offers or contact us at film@capilanou.ca

  • Understand and analyze historical, technical, philosophical and theoretical trends in the national and global cinemas that will broaden their understanding and perspective of the cinema and further inform their creative analysis and decision making.
  • Demonstrate levels of practical, critical, analytical and research skills, in terms of both the creative and producing components of filmmaking, that will broaden their range of applications of visual communication in order to expand their potential to realize and create meaningful career opportunities.
  • Ability to match their unique skills and vision to individual career goals and aspirations, combined with the abilities to problem solve and innovate within both the technical and creative components of filmmaking.
  • Exhibit and maintain the highest levels of professionalism throughout the filmmaking process, using a collaborative approach to problem-solving and situation analysis.
  • Achieve the necessary levels of inter-personal skills and confidence through self-analysis, learning, mentorship, responsibility and hands-on experience.
  • In addition to meeting the program-level learning outcomes, students completing the Concentration in Producing will meet the following concentration-specific learning outcomes:
  • Design and execute professional budgets and financing plans for production of media projects.
  • Evaluate the current digital landscape to source sales opportunities and negotiate distribution deals.
  • Apply and assess appropriate methodologies to generate complex administrative paperwork on behalf of producers.
  • Identify and assess the ethical and legal obligations embedded within content creation.
  • Develop and model respectful cross-cultural collaborations.

Admission Requirements

English language requirements

English is the language of instruction at CapU. All applicants are required to demonstrate competence in the English language prior to admission.

If English is not your first language or you’ve received your education in a language other than English, you must meet our English Language Requirements.

Basic requirements

  • High school graduation
  • English Studies 12 or English 12 or English First Peoples 12 or equivalent and a minimum average of 75% on two Grade 12 high school academic courses

Program-specific requirements

  • Mandatory group session
  • Letter of intent
  • Entrance questionnaire

Admission Notes

For selected applicants, there will be a mandatory group session with faculty members. Online synchronous sessions may be provided for exceptional circumstances.

The letter of intent must not exceed two pages and should outline the applicant's interest in the program and reason for applying. The applicants name and student number must be at the top of all pages.

The entrance questionnaire will be sent out upon receipt of application.

The required grade ranges and admission cut-offs will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool and may fluctuate from year to year. Grades equal to or better than those listed do not guarantee admission, nor do grade equal to or less than those listed necessarily disqualify admission.

Continuation Requirements:

  • Advancement to the Degree at third year is based on the following criteria:
    • Successful completion of the diploma course work, or equivalent;
    • Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (calculated on grades from all Motion Picture Arts courses in the Diploma) will be eligible to be offered continuance to the third year;
  • Total numbers of students who are offered continuance will be set annually based on available spaces.
  • Students who do not continue into the third year of the degree may apply to graduate with a MOPA Diploma if the credential requirements are met.

Returning and Transferring Students:

  • Students who wish to complete the degree must meet the Continuation Requirements above and admission will be based on seat availability.

Program Requirements

First Year

Total credits: 31.00

Required:
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
MOPA 100Technical Directing3.00 credits
MOPA 102Cinematography Foundation3.00 credits
MOPA 103Production Design I1.50 credits
MOPA 104Introduction to Producing3.00 credits
MOPA 106Screenwriting I3.00 credits
MOPA 108Introduction to Post-Production3.00 credits
MOPA 110MOPA Project #12.00 credits
MOPA 115Professional Development I1.50 credits
MOPA 118Production and Post-Production3.00 credits
MOPA 120MOPA Project #22.00 credits
ENGL or CMNS 100-level or higher3.00 credits

 

Second Year

Total credits: 31.50

Required:
MOPA 201The Director's Craft3.00 credits
MOPA 206Screenwriting II3.00 credits
MOPA 207Technical Motion Picture Arts5.00 credits
MOPA 209Advanced Digital Editing3.00 credits
MOPA 210MOPA Project #36.00 credits
MOPA 211American Cinema3.00 credits
MOPA 213Production Design II1.00 credits
MOPA 217Sound Design for Film and Video1.50 credits
MOPA 220Line Producing and Production Management3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits of electives:
See below for elective requirements for the degree3.00 credits

 

Third Year

Total credits: 30.50

Required:
MOPA 302World Cinema3.00 credits
MOPA 310MOPA Project #46.00 credits
MOPA 312Canadian Cinema3.00 credits
MOPA 313Production Design III1.00 credits
Choose 14.50 credits from the following list:

Students must choose 14.5 credits from the following list of courses.

Students in the Producing Concentration must choose MOPA 319, MOPA 327, MOPA 332 and MOPA 335, plus 3.0 credits from the following: MOPA 304, MOPA 305, MOPA 306 or 3.00 additional credits of breadth electives.

MOPA 304Screenwriting III3.00 credits
MOPA 305Cinematography3.00 credits
MOPA 306Directing3.00 credits
MOPA 319The Independent Producer3.00 credits
MOPA 325Advanced Work Flow I2.50 credits
MOPA 327The Ethical Producer2.50 credits
MOPA 332Multi-Platform Monetization3.00 credits
MOPA 335Business Affairs3.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits of electives:
See below for elective requirements for the degree3.00 credits

 

Fourth Year

Total credits: 30.00

Required:
MOPA 409Visual Theory and Practice6.00 credits
MOPA 410MOPA Project #56.00 credits
MOPA 416Professional Practice1.00 credits
MOPA 430Practicum2.00 credits
Choose 3.00 credits from the following list:

Students in the Producing Concentration must choose MOPA 428

MOPA 425Advanced Work Flow II1.50 credits
MOPA 426Advanced Work Flow III1.50 credits
MOPA 428Advanced Producing3.00 credits
Choose 12.00 credits of electives:
See below for elective requirements for the degree12.00 credits

 

Elective Requirements

Choose electives:

18 credits of 100-level or higher breadth electives (excluding MOPA). 9 of these 18 credits must be upper level (300/400-level). Students must complete all Cap Core graduation requirements, which includes 3 credits of Cap Core Science and Technology.

 

Total program credits: 123.00

Program Notes

Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must meet Cap Core graduation requirements in addition to their program requirements.

Continuation Requirement: Advancement to the Degree at third year is highly competitive and continuation is based on the following criteria:

1) Successful completion of the diploma course work, or equivalent;

2) Students with the highest GPA (calculated on grades from all Motion Picture Arts courses in the Diploma) will be offered continuance to third year;

Total numbers of students who are offered continuance will be set annually based on available spaces.

Those students who are not offered, or do not accept continuance into third year will be eligible to apply for the Diploma credential if course requirements are met.

Producing Concentration: Students may obtain a concentration in Producing by completing the following 14.50 upper level credits: MOPA 319, MOPA 327, MOPA 332, MOPA 335 and MOPA 428.

Contact

Have questions about this program?

School of Motion Picture Arts


604 990 7868
Bosa Centre for Film and Animation
film@capilanou.ca

Student Information Services


604 984 4900
604 984 1798 (fax)
Library Building, room LB152
registration@capilanou.ca