Film in Britain

Summer 2008 closed

June 30 - August 3, 2008

Sponsored by the Department of English and the Film Studies Thematic Program in the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Film in Britain offers students the opportunity to study film history and criticism in one of Europe's most vibrant cinematic cities and in conjunction with Europe's most prestigious film archive and research facility, the British Film Institute.

Over five weeks, students will study with Dr. Stephen Rachman in the Department of English and Robert Albers, Senior Video Specialist in the Department of Communications. Dr. Rachman, whose course in British film history, “Documentary Film in Britain: History, Theory and Production,” will offer an introduction to the history of documentary filmmaking in Britain and its relations to American and international documentary traditions, mainstream film and to social and cultural history. The course will consider a range of formally innovative and politically significant British documentary filmmaking in its historical and cultural contexts. This course is intended to be an interdisciplinary exploration of British culture, past and present, by way of the documentary film. The course deals with British examples of reality-based film forms and questions of form and content, truth and artifice, representation and imagination, and all the fundamental questions of making film out of reality. We will examine film and video technologies and the way the referential and representational strategies of these artifacts shape or confirm our understanding of culture and an array of British social “realities.” The course seeks to cultivate analytical, interpretive, and production skills and to give students a practical sense of making documentaries. Mr. Albers, who has extensive experience in television production as a documentary producer, director, cameraperson, writer, editor, and executive producer, will be working with students on developing film and video projects in conjunction with the documentary film course Films will be screened at the British Film Institute, and we will make extensive use of the BFI’s wide holdings in rare and hard-to-see documentary films. Our discussions will be based on the screenings, and complemented by readings in film history, theory, and criticism, as well as visits by contemporary filmmakers.

Through the entire five weeks students will also engage in a study of documentary films and other film traditions from the various ethnic cinemas available in London in a course presented jointly by Professors Rachman and Albers. For just as London is a film production site, it is also, and perhaps more so, an exhibition site where the cosmopolitanism of the city population is evident in the international and widely divergent film offerings around town. As an integral part of this course, students will participate in making films in London. The experience of seeing London through the eyes of a foreigner and of seeing London through the eye of a camera brings a new vision both to our understanding of nationality and our ability to envision filmically.

In this course, we will have occasional guest lectures from British directors, critics, and scholars. Though this program promises to be a lot of fun, it will also be rigorous. We ask that students be prepared to watch many films, to critically engage with both the films and the readings, and to be prepared to thoughtfully discuss this material. We also expect students to develop, shoot, edit and screen a short documentary film.

Where does it take place?

Classes, screenings, and most outings will take place in London, though we may make trips to other important locations outside of the city. Classes will be held four days a week, Monday through Thursday, with frequent evening engagements over a five-week interval. Outside of class and on the weekends, students will be able to experience the pleasures afforded by one the world's greatest cities, with its theaters, museums, parks, monuments, pubs, discos, shops and, above all, its people.

What can I study?

Students are required to enroll in a minimum of seven (7) credits, maximum of ten (10). All students will take Documentary Film in Britain: History, Theory and Production, with Dr. Rachman and Mr. Albers. Students will have a choice of how they want to allocate these credit hours and may also choose to enroll in an independent study related to these classes.

Documentary Film in Britain: History, Theory and Production
ENG 332	Historical Approaches to Film	3 cr.
OR
ENG 432	Studies in the History of Film	3 cr.
TC 448	Special Topic Documentary Film in Britain	4 cr.
OR
ENG 430	Topics in Film Theory and Criticism	3 cr.
Optional	1-3 credits of independent study
ENG 490	Independent Study	1-3 cr.
TC 490/890	Independent Study	1-3 cr.
TC 848	Special Topics in Digital Media Arts and Technology	1-3 cr.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will live in dormitories convenient to our classrooms.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Stephen Rachman
Department of English
201 Morrill Hall
Phone: (517) 355-1645
E-mail: rachman@msu.edu

Robert Albers
Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media
435 Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Phone: (517) 355-6559
E-mail: albers@msu.edu

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $4,569 and includes the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html .

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu