BA, MA, PhD
Chair, School of Motion Picture Arts
School of Motion Picture Arts - Motion Picture Arts Program
School of Motion Picture Arts
604.986.1911 ext. 3504
Bosa Building, room BC267
mthoma@capilanou.ca
Education
PhD, Philosophy, Media and Communications (summa cum laude), Europische Universitat für Interdisziplinre Studien (European Graduate School), 2014.
MA, Simon Fraser University, 2009.
Associate of Arts, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles, California, 1980.
BA, Simon Fraser University; University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. 1978.
Bio
Michael Thoma (PhD, Europische Universitat für Interdisziplinre Studien, 2014) has worked in Vancouver, Los Angeles, London and Paris as a writer, story editor, author, actor and educator. He is presently the Chair of the School of Motion Picture Arts at the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation at Capilano University.
Thoma holds a PhD in Philosophy of Media and Communications and as faculty teaches Screenwriting, Canadian Cinema, World Cinema, and Visual Theory and Practice.
Working with aspiring filmmakers is always an inspiration, where the creative process involves the craft of filmmaking, in all its technical complexities, as well as an artistic vision informed by critical thinking and an aesthetic understanding.
My goal is to build on our students' experiential knowledge of filmmaking to include an academic foundation in the historical, cultural, political and philosophical aspects of the film art in order to provide the discipline and knowledge to succeed in a challenging and demanding industry.