Courses

Featured Courses

Television History (RTVF 310-0)

This course explores the history of U.S. television, focusing on the three-network era (especially the 1950-1990). It will provide a background into the events surrounding the emergence of TV as a technology, industry, and cultural form. Students study the history of programming genres and narrative forms will especially concentrate on TV's relationship to society and social change since the 1950s. 

Intro to Improv, Topics in Improv (RTVF 358-0)

This course explores the key tenets of improv as developed in Chicago-based theaters. Its goal is to help students become more nimble and comfortable making decisions in the moment, both on-stage and off. Students are on their feet, engaging in guided improv exercises that hone the creation of character, environment, dialogue, and narrative structure. The quarter culminates with an improv show performed by the students for an audience of invited peers and colleagues from the Northwestern community.  

Lighting and Cinematography (RTVF 380-0)

This course teaches students about lighting and cinematography, giving equal weight to theory and practice. Students learn about light, color, lenses, and sensors. In addition to the technical side of cinematography, they also explore the artistic side of this craft by examining framing and composition, light, shadow and color as they apply to the moving image.   

Writing the TV Pilot (RTVF 363-0)

In this class, students will pitch and write a TV pilot with an emphasis on developing the "world" of their original series, including creating characters, setting, style, and tone. The course is workshop-centered with a focus on developing collaborative skills within a writers' room-style environment.