AY21 Thesis-level Production Choices + Thesis Completion Status for 3rd-5th Year students
July 27, 2020
Choice 1: Virtual Thesis
- Virtual Thesis Oct grad: available Feb grad: opens Nov 1 May grad: opens Feb 1? (can we open up Feb &/or May now?)
- Before/up to Graduation
- Complete PAB Process (for Post Support Program eligibility)
Submit Virtual Thesis requirements to graduate (October graduation: Thesis materials due August 15th) - Alum - Outside the Program
- Complete Principal Photography after Commencement date for both Producer & Director (if both are SOA students) (not available: CU insurance, equipment, shooting spaces)
- Alum - Access with Completed Film
- Post production support (for up to 2 yrs after [commencement?]): DMC Access Post Partner Program CUFF Screening
- Grant details for Virtual Theses→
- Before/up to Graduation
- 2020 Prod Grant winners: Receive ½ Grant for Development (waiting on Jana approval - email sent 7/24) All other students (who have not already received Finishing Funds): Receive $5K Development Research Funds
- Alum - Outside the Program
- Alum - Access with Completed Film
- 2020 Prod Grant winners: Receive ½ Grant after CUFF screening (waiting on Jana approval - email sent 7/24)
Choice 2: Complete Thesis-level Film under Phase 1 Production
- Thesis-level Film 1
- Before/Up to Graduation
- Complete PAB Process Complete Principal photography (with insurance access; with equipment and shooting space access as available at the time of production) Receive full Post Support Screen at CUFF Grants: As normal. If you are eligible for Finishing Funds, they will be disbursed in Feb 2021. 2020 Production Grants disbursed on schedule emailed to grant winner.
- NOTES
- DIRECTING ONLY: After Thesis-level Film 1 is completed under Production Phase 1, you can choose to: 1) graduate with Film 1 2) complete a Thesis-level Film 2 under Phase 1 OR as a Virtual Thesis
Choice 3: Complete Thesis-level Film under fully opened Phase 2+ Production
- All Thesis-level Films
- Before/Up to Graduation
- Complete PAB Process Complete Principal photography (with insurance access; with equipment and shooting space access as available at the time of production) Receive full Post Support Screen at CUFF Grants: As normal. If you are eligible for Finishing Funds, they will be disbursed in Feb 2021. 2020 Production Grants awarded on emailed disbursement schedule
- NOTES
- This the least certain option. We do not know when Phase 2+ might start. Our best guess is that Phase 2+ will not start until after a safe COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and the majority of the US population (at least) has received it. If you choose Thesis Completion hoping that Option 3 might become available, please note that you must graduate after two semesters of Thesis Completion. At any time during Thesis Completion, you may also choose Option 1 (Virtual Thesis) or Option 2 (Phase 1 production).
ALL OPTIONS + Thesis Completion Status
First Eligible Semester:
- 3rd year students (entered 2018): Spring 2021
- 4th/5th year students (entered 2016 or 2017): Fall 2020
Financial Impact during the Thesis Completion semester/s:
- You will not pay tuition or SOA Research Arts fees. You will be required to pay University fees.
- Students are not eligible for Service or TA/Teaching Fellow positions, but are eligible for Casual positions.
- Thesis Completion confers full-time status, so US Students and Permanent Residents will be eligible for student loans.
Requirements during the Thesis Completion semester/s:
- You may choose up to two Thesis Completion semesters, but they must be consecutive.
- All students must graduate after the 2nd Thesis Completion semester.
- Students cannot withdraw and choose Thesis Completion after reentry to the Program.
- Students will be enrolled in Thesis Advisement class, but cannot take/audit any other Research Arts classes or receive advisement on other projects.
- Students must maintain health insurance per University rules.