ACM – Digital Cinema

The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.

ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.

Students in the Digital Cinema track focus on all aspects of filmmaking: screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing and post-production sound. The program promotes diverse storytelling through the production of narrative, experimental, documentary and indigenous short films. Production courses are taught using industry-standard film equipment, which allows students to gain an understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking while using current technology. This track fosters a collaborative and professional environment for learning. Admission to the digital cinema track is based on the submission of an artist’s portfolio (See portfolio requirements).

ACM Student Learning Objectives

Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking

  • Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
  • Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.

2. Writing

  • Creative and critical expression through writing
  • Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.

3. History and Aesthetics

  • A history and appreciation of cinematic media
  • The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.

4. Professional Skills 

  • Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
  • Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production

5. Creativity

  • Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
  • The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption

6. Responsibility

  • Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
  • Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.

7. Student-Centered Learning

ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.

Prerequisites


ACM offers a core curriculum and electives in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies. To insure that students in the Bachelor of Arts program satisfy ACM learning objectives in Critical Thinking, Writing, History & Aesthetics, Technical Skills of Digital Story Telling, Creativity, and Responsibility, all majors must take a core of 18 credit hours:

  • The introductory course
  • One Basic Production Skills Course
  • One Writing Course
  • Three Courses in Critical Studies

To apply to become a major in Creative Media, students must:

  • Have completed or be enrolled in Cinema and Digital Media (ACM 255)*, and have completed 12 or more UHM credit hours with an overall 2.75 GPA.
  • Be enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

Core Requirements


  • Required Core Courses for All Student Majors (18 credits):
    • ACM 255 Introduction to Cinema and Digital Media
    • ACM 310 Cinematic Narrative Production
    • ACM 350 Screenwriting
    • ACM 360 Indigenous Aesthetics
    • ACM 385 Topics in Creative Media
    • ACM 460 Ethics and Film
  • Major Track Required Courses (18 credits):
    • ACM 312 Cinematography
    • ACM 330 Independent Producing
    • ACM 370 Directing the Actor on Screen
    • ACM 372 Editing for Cinema
    • ACM 374 Post Production Sound
    • ACM 410 Advanced Cinematic Production

Electives


Six credit hours (2 courses). At least 3 credit hours (1 course) should be a film-related course outside of ACM. Electives must be 300 or 400 level courses.

Major Track Electives (6 credits)

  • ACM 325 Visual Effects
  • ACM 355 Oral Tradition to Screenplay
  • ACM 375 Directing the Camera for the Screen
  • ACM 380 Genre and Narrative Theory in Creative Media
  • ACM 382 Authors in Creative Media
  • ACM 386 Techniques in Creative Media
  • ACM 390 Workshop in Creative Media
  • ACM 399 Independent Group Project
  • ACM 405 Documentary Production
  • ACM 412 Advanced Cinematography
  • ACM 450 Advanced Screenwriting
  • ACM 452C/452E History and Film
  • ACM 455 Indigenous Filmmaking
  • ACM 470 Directing the Motion Picture
  • ACM 475 Narrative Feature Screenplay
  • ACM 482 The American Documentary
  • ACM 486 Capstone Creative Production
  • ACM 495 Creative Media Internship
  • ACM 499 Directed Study

Program Overview

The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.

ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.

Students in the Digital Cinema track focus on all aspects of filmmaking: screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing and post-production sound. The program promotes diverse storytelling through the production of narrative, experimental, documentary and indigenous short films. Production courses are taught using industry-standard film equipment, which allows students to gain an understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking while using current technology. This track fosters a collaborative and professional environment for learning. Admission to the digital cinema track is based on the submission of an artist’s portfolio (See portfolio requirements).

ACM Student Learning Objectives

Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking

  • Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
  • Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.

2. Writing

  • Creative and critical expression through writing
  • Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.

3. History and Aesthetics

  • A history and appreciation of cinematic media
  • The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.

4. Professional Skills 

  • Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
  • Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production

5. Creativity

  • Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
  • The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption

6. Responsibility

  • Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
  • Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.

7. Student-Centered Learning

ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.

Various faculty. Use the email below to email ACM Mānoa.

Contact an Admission Specialist