Set your sights on one of the most exciting careers in the entertainment industry: Creative Producing. The demand for content by networks, studios, and streamers has never been greater and the Creative Producer is uniquely positioned to fill this need by finding content to shepherd from initial concept through development, production, and ultimately, distribution.

DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts is now offering an exclusive Master of Fine Arts in Creative Producing. This two-year program, based in the heart of Hollywood, will feature classes held during evenings, enabling students to benefit from internships and job opportunities during the day. This program is not yet eligible to issue an I-20 for F1 students.

Throughout their time in the program, students will learn every step of the Creative Producing process in film, television, web, and gaming development with classes in pre-production, budgeting, entertainment law, post-production, and distribution. These courses, designed and taught by working industry professionals, will prepare graduates for successful careers as studio executives, television Showrunners, talent agents and managers, and more.

Degree Requirements

Careers

Graduates of the MFA in Creative Producing will be well-equipped for a number of careers, including talent agents and managers, studio executives, television showrunners, and traditional film and TV producing roles.

Our graduates have worked for:

• Netflix
• Marvel Studios
• MGM
• Bold Films
• Universal Studios
• Creative Artists Agency
• The Tonight Show
• Anonymous Entertainment
• Sony Studios
• Warner Bros.
• Oxygen Network
• Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
• ABC Television Drama
• Funny or Die

Curriculum Requirements

No Introductory Course may be substituted for any other course at any level.

First Year

• Fall Quarter
  •  CP 412 Feature Film Development
  •  FILM 401 Fundamentals of Cinema Production (Formerly DC 414)
  •  CP 410 Creative Producing
• Winter Quarter
  •  CP 440 Pre-Production for Producers
  •  SCWR 442 Studio Development
  •  CP 442 The Agency (2 credit hours)
  •  CP 444 The Talent Manager (2 credit hours)
• Spring Quarter
  •  CP 420 Scheduling and Budgeting
  •  SCWR 441 Industry and Pitching Seminar
  •  CP 498 Pre-Production Internship

Second Year

• Fall Quarter
  •  CP 511 Creative Producing Thesis I
  •  CP 414 Television Development
  •  CP 484 Post Production for Producers
• Winter Quarter
  •  CP 482 Distribution and Exhibition
  •  CP 460 Producing Television
  •  CP 446 The Studio Executive (2 Credit Hours)
  •  CP 448 The Network Executive (2 Credit Hours)
• Spring Quarter
  •  CP 480 Entertainment Law for Producers
  •  CP 450 Producing Reality Television (2 Credit Hours)
  •  CP 452 Producing Commercials and Music Videos (2 Credit Hours)
  •  CP 499 Post-Production Internship

Optional Los Angeles Quarter

Students may apply to participate in the Los Angeles Quarter Program for the spring of their second year. The LA Quarter program offers a unique opportunity for students to experience the inner workings of Hollywood first hand. This ten-week immersion program is structured around living in Los Angeles, taking classes on a historic studio lot, and interning at high profile companies that align with students' professional aspirations. Through this experience, students learn how to navigate the studio system and build a network of professional contacts that will help them leave an indomitable mark on the entertainment industry. If selected to participate in the LA program, MFA Creative Producing students would take  SCWR 441 Industry and Pitching Seminar and  FILM 499 Internships in Media and Design in Los Angeles.

MFA Thesis

Students will be required to complete a final thesis project that involves creating a film and television slate. Students will create a professional package for three projects which will entail optioning and developing source material such as a book, script, pilot, or magazine article. The ultimate goal for the thesis projects is for the students to have viable projects upon graduation that they can set up at a studio or produced independently. Student also have the option to produce a festival quality short film for their final thesis project subject to approval by the Creative Producing Committee.

 

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree program must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours in the designated degree program.
• Complete all graduate courses and requirements listed in the designated degree program.
• Earn a grade of C- or better in all graduate courses of the designated degree program.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Satisfactorily complete the MFA thesis as determined by the student's MFA Advisor Committee.
• Students cannot count credit earned towards a previously awarded master's or MFA degree toward the completion of this MFA program.

For DePaul's policy on repeat graduate courses and a complete list of academic policies see the DePaul Graduate Handbook in the Course Catalog.