The personal voice is the cornerstone of all great art. The NYU Tisch First Person Narrative is a filmmaking based production class taught by NYU faculty Rick Litvin and current NYU Undergraduate Tisch students. The course is focused on the art and craft of the personal video essay. Students will be encouraged to identify, research and explore subject matter that has some actual core basis in her/his/their lives. Story content can range from an actual event, family story or myth, political or social perspective on the world that reflects and asserts the filmmakers unique point of view. This class will support and foster work that is made with courage, conviction and pride. Students will learn a variety of foundational skills in story development, podcasting, animation, archival based acquisition, portrait photography and videography. The First Person form is a compelling, exciting and emerging domain for creative filmmakers.

Students will receive a sketch notebook in the CCL packet to assist with production of their film. This course, is a great course to help with writing the college essay!

Program Details

Every student will be assigned a series of assignments designed to create the material for a short, First Person Narrative film. TA’s will be responsible for editing all projects subject to approval by the student. Work will be discussed in class, in breakout rooms, and with the instructor. We will use each class day (10AM - 12PM) to complete a task (10AM meeting - lecture - assignment and group meeting). Prompts will be provided both in the lecture and specific examples will be shown by the TA's. Extra hours will be arranged through the week where TA’s will work with crews of students. All students will be given a journal to be used as a sketchbook for ideas.

Tisch specific assignments include:

1. Interview each student about an object that has always meant something to them. Tell us stories about that object (first memory, how you got it, why it meant so much to you).

2. Take pictures of that object (close ups, different backgrounds, framing, get to know the object as a character)

3. Take pictures of your neighborhood. Your favorite places. The places with your best memories. The specific details of your neighborhood that only you know and will always remember. Record sounds, show the food, the restaurants, the important places, the schools, the candy, the best of everything.

4. Self portrait in pictures (video, original stills and family photos, words, sounds, drawings, visualized ideas, dreams and hopes for the future.

5. “Things I have seen.” From the point of view of a specific place, object or person, use music, create a rap, words and pictures and pictures to tell us a story that only this “character” knows. This project will develop (expand, contract, evolve) into the final project.

Students will work in crews of 3 with a TA leading their meetings and work. In addition to scheduled class meetings (Monday - Friday, 10am - 12pm ET), students will be expected to work with their crews and TAs in some afternoons, specific times TBA.