The emphasis in production prepares students for professions in television, film and new media. The emphasis also serves those in occupations where extensive knowledge is required of message design for these media and their various distribution systems. This program focuses on skills required for careers as producers, directors, art directors, cinematographers, editors, production assistants, and writers, as well as emerging careers in new media production.
Review the Undergraduate Degree Learning Outcomes
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for student health and safety, TFM has updated the Petition Portfolio guidelines.
Please click to access the Updated TFM Petition Portfolio FAQ for all current guidelines.
Any questions?
Visit the TFM Virtual Major Advising Page to see the TFM Undergraduate Adviser, Stuart Voytilla.
Or email Stuart Voytilla directly at: svoytilla@sdsu.edu
To apply for undergraduate admission to SDSU, you need to apply online at CalState Apply.
At the time of the application, select your Pre-Major as “Television, Film, and New Media (Production Emphasis).”
For deadlines for the upcoming term(s), please refer to the university’s Office of Admissions website and How and When to Apply page.
The emphasis in production is designated as an impacted program. The School of Theatre, Television and Film limits enrollment in order to maintain the recognized quality of our programs and to ensure reasonable affordability in terms of student finances and time spent from admission to graduation. Entrance into the major is competitive. Only students with outstanding academic records and demonstrated creativity in related fields are encouraged to petition.
Upon initial admittance to the TFM Program, students are designated as “pre-majors”.
To be considered for advancement into the Television, Film, and New Media major with an emphasis in production, students must meet the following criteria:
PREPARATION for the major: Lower Division courses (15 units):
SUBMISSION of the TFM Petition Portfolio to be evaluated by the TFM screening committee.
You are allowed to submit your Petition Portfolio when you have met the following criteria:
The procedures for submission of the Petition Portfolio depend upon your admission to SDSU.
For Freshman Applicants: You do not submit a Petition Portfolio as part of the application process for admission to SDSU. Follow the “Successful Steps for Advancing in the TFM Production Major” for Second-Semester Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors.
For Transfer Applicants: You will submit your Petition Portfolio at the time of your acceptance to SDSU. After receiving your official acceptance letter, you will submit your Petition Portfolio to the Television, Film, and New Media program in the April submission group (due by 3:30pm on the 2nd Monday of April). You may not submit a portfolio if you have been denied admission to SDSU. You may petition once more after your transfer if your first portfolio is denied.
For Second-Semester Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors: If you have completed all prerequisites, you may submit portfolios by the following deadlines:
The earliest you can submit your portfolio is during your second semester as a Freshman. To stay on track with a four-year graduation plan, it is advised you submit your portfolio during your Sophomore year.
The TFM Petition Portfolio includes the following requirements:
See “Portfolio Required Materials” for descriptions of these portfolio elements.
SDSU students are permitted to petition for the TFM major TWICE. If your petition has been denied, please see your TFM Major adviser, Stuart Voytilla (svoytilla@sdsu.edu). Together you will go over the committee’s feedback to address ways to strengthen your petition for a second submission.
Incomplete petition portfolios will not be reviewed nor will they count as a petitioning attempt.
For more information contact the advisor:
Stuart Voytilla
619-594-1375
svoytilla@sdsu.edu
DA 204
Acceptance into the TFM program as a Transfer Applicant is a two-step process:
Submit a REQUEST TO APPLY form to Nicole Waszak Mendez at nmwaszak@sdsu.edu. Important, the completed form must be submitted as a PDF file for successful processing.
Angie Parkhurst will email you an invitation to the Blackboard site coursesites.com where your application area will show up in the “Applicants” tab on the left side of the page.
After logging into the TFM Petitions Blackboard/Coursesites, you should open the “Information” tab and download the TFM Production Emphasis Application Form. It is highly recommended you download and fill out the application using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
You may use the Blackboard/Coursesites File Exchange Area to upload your completed application and related files.
The deadline for submitting your TFM petition portfolio is the second Monday of April (3:30 pm San Diego Time).
This portfolio is not supplemental material for the university; it is only for the School of Theatre, Television, and Film.
Preparation for submitting the portfolio requires the completion (with minimum B grades) of two of the pre-major courses (or their articulated equivalents at a community college):
These two classes (or their equivalents) need to be completed with grades recorded before you can submit your petition portfolio. To verify whether your California community college courses are articulated equivalents, please visit the following resources:
The other preparation courses could also be taken at a local community college before you apply:
Lower Division courses: 15 Units
And 3 units (one course) chosen from:
If you haven’t completed the other preparation courses before your admittance to SDSU, you would need to complete the courses during your fall semester at SDSU.
To be considered for advancement into the Television, Film, and New Media major with an emphasis in production, students must meet the following criteria:
PREPARATION for the major: Lower Division courses: (15 units)
SUBMISSION of the TFM Petition Portfolio to be evaluated by the TFM screening committee. You are allowed to submit your Petition Portfolio when you have met the following criteria:
The earliest you can submit your portfolio is during your second semester as a Freshman. To stay on track with a four-year graduation plan, it is advised you submit your portfolio during your Sophomore year.
Submitting Your Portfolio:
Students who meet the above requirements will submit a REQUEST TO APPLY form to Nicole Waszak Mendez at nmwaszak@sdsu.edu. Important, the completed form must be submitted as a PDF file for successful processing.
Angie Parkhurst will send you an invitation to the Blackboard site coursesites.com where your application area will show up in the “Applicants” tab on the left side of the page.
After logging into the TFM Petitions Blackboard/Coursesites, you should open the “Information” tab and download the TFM Production Emphasis Application Form. It is highly recommended you download and fill out the application using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
You may use the Blackboard/Coursesites File Exchange Area to upload your completed application and related files. Depending on the program you use to fill out the form, you can either use the scroll bars or arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate within the large text boxes.
The following material is required for the successful submission of the TFM Petition Portfolio:
Digital submission is required. If you wish, you can hand deliver or mail selected elements, such as a USB drive, printed artwork, or letters of recommendation. Be sure to note on the Blackboard site any materials you will be submitting directly to the TTF office.
After all petitioning materials have been reviewed you will receive a letter of acceptance or denial via email and direct mail.
Explanation of Required Materials:
TFM 160 and Theatre 100: Students must have completed both TFM 160-Cinema as Art and Theatre 100-The Art of Theatre, before submitting the portfolio. These courses may be satisfied by taking them at SDSU, or approved course equivalents at another college. A grade of “B” of higher is required for each course.
Personal Statement: Your statement should be pasted or typed into the application form, and be approximately two pages in length. Include your career goals, interests, talents, achievements, and any work experience in the field of TV, film, or new media. Write about what makes you stand out, what your passion is, what you hope to accomplish. Give it a personal voice; write well and persuasively.
Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should come from teachers, work supervisors, and professional associates who can assess your abilities, creativity, and potential to work in this field. Letters may not be from students, including graduate students, or letters from family members or friends. Make sure the letters are on letterhead stationery, signed and dated. Letters should be emailed by the recommenders directly to tfmproduction@sdsu.edu Please ask your recommenders to put your name in the subject heading. Letters may be addressed “To the TFM Screening Committee,” or “To Whom It May Concern.” Letters of recommendation become property of the School of Theatre, Television and Film office and will not be returned. If you need a personal copy of your letters, please get them separately from your recommenders.
Creative Materials: Submit evidence of your creative work, e.g., films clips, computer animation clips, photographs, storyboards, design renderings, etc., for which you have had primary responsibility. Film samples should be about 10 minutes total combined time. In the appropriate section of the TFM Production Emphasis Application Form clearly indicate your role on each production. We request two (2) examples of your creative work. In addition to your visual work you may also submit script samples. The best way to submit video work is via a link to a streaming service such as Vimeo and YouTube. Make sure to include any necessary passwords. You may also send or deliver a USB flash drive with your work, or hard copies of work like photographs and artwork directly to the department. Since flash drives are small, make sure they are securely enclosed in a labeled envelope, and name the drive with your name to make sure your work can be identified.
Treatment: Submit a treatment for a 1-‐3 min production (fiction or nonfiction). Maximum two pages. We are looking for visual storytelling, a script for a visual sequence. Dialogue passages should be used sparingly, if at all. Please note: no car chases, no blow-‘em-‐up sequences, no music videos. This is a written submission, do not tape, film, or otherwise produce.
Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all transcripts, including your most recently
completed semester are required. Current SDSU students may use their Degree Audit Report or their Unofficial Transcript, both accessed through your web portal.
Transfer students: The SDSU Admissions Office will not release transcripts from other schools. Notify each school or college you have attended to send unofficial transcripts to you, so you may include them in your petition. These transcripts will be uploaded to the File Exchange area of the Blackboard/Coursesites site.
Lower Division courses: (15 units)
And 3 units (one course) chosen from:
The Major: 42 Upper division units in the following four-semester sequence:
SEMESTER A
SEMESTER B
SEMESTER C
SEMESTER D
LIST A Electives: Production (6 units required)
LIST B Electives: Critical Studies (6 units required)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement: Pass the Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA) with a score of 10 or above, or complete RWS 305W with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
This advising checklist does not include your General Education Requirements.
A minor is not required for this major.
For additional curriculum details, please consult the following:
Undergraduate Catalog
For more information, contact the Academic Advisor:
Stuart Voytilla
619-594-1375
svoytilla@sdsu.edu
DA 204