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| MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
JULY/AUGUST 2025
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Registration Reminder
The Fall 2025 semester is right around the corner, and registration for courses is still open. If you have questions or concerns regarding your schedule or course offerings, reach out to your Academic Advisor, Maddie Portnoy, at mportnoy@gmu.edu.
Below, please see some of the courses we’re offering.
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Featured Fall 2025 Classes
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FAVS 260 Video Editing for Film
Multiple Sections Offered
In this course, students practice creative storytelling through video editing. They learn by doing, working with a range of editing software, watching and discussing movies, and engaging in hands-on individual and group projects.
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FAVS 300 Global Horror Film
Multiple Sections Offered
This course is an introduction to the horror film genre. Looking at various national and transnational cinemas, the course traces horror’s development from its literary beginnings through contemporary filmic storytelling. We’ll consider artistic, commercial, and sociopolitical aspects of the horror film and explore themes such as war, terror, and censorship. Students will learn to identify how horror texts both reflect and influence cultural interdependence and inequality across the world.
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FAVS 331 Cinematography
Multiple Sections Offered
This course aims to recreate a professional camera department environment. By the end of the semester, students should be able to understand and perform the function of first assistant cameraperson or second assistant cameraperson on a camera crew. Students will understand the history, function, art, craft, and science of cinematography.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 204 and FAVS 255
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FAVS 365 Documnetary Filmmaking
Tuesdays, 1:30pm-4:10pm | AB 1007
Professor Maura Ugarte
An introduction to documentary filmmaking in which each student makes a short digital documentary, from concept development to finished piece. The class covers essential technical skills, emerging styles of nonfiction film, and documentary storytelling techniques.
Required Prerequisites: FAVS 250, FAVS 260, FAVS 255
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FAVS 366 Video Production for Social Change
Wednesdays, 10:30am-1:10pm | AB 1005
Professor Rebekah Wingert-Jabi
This video production course emulates a professional production environment where student teams, under the instructor’s supervision, produce effective pieces for local community-based non-profit organizations. Students will assess clients’ goals, develop a creative concept and strategy, and a statement of work. Developing professionalism and collaboration, students will see their work reach beyond the classroom, speaking to broad and also specific audiences.
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Ice Cream Social and Production Fair
The Film and Video Studies Ice Cream Social and Production Fair will take place on Friday, September 5 in Dewberry Hall at 11am.
This year's Ice Cream Social and Production Fair invites new and current students to mingle and enjoy some ice cream. Whether you are a Film major or not, we encourage anyone interested in film to join us. Listen to our directing students pitch their films, discover what crew positions are available, learn about university resources for your film projects, and sign up to receive cast and crew calls.
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Best of Film at Mason Showcase
Save the date for the 2025 Best of Film at Mason Showcase, taking place on Friday, September 12 at 4pm in the JC Cinema. Free and open to the public.
Best of Film at Mason is a showcase of recent notable and award-winning films from the Mason Film Festival. This year's program captures student work ranging from documentary filmmaking, fiction film directing, and senior thesis films.
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Visiting Filmmakers Series
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Visiting Filmmakers Series and the Office of Alumni Relations Presents:
Mohammed Saffouri with Touchline
Thursday, September 18 at 4:00pm | Johnson Center Cinema
Free and open to the public
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Visiting Filmmakers Series: Daniel Junge with I Was Born This Way
Monday, November 10, 2025 | Johnson Center Cinema
Stay tuned for more information!
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Film Opportunities and Resources
Festival Submissions:
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Did you miss our last newsletter?
Check out the archives here.
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We want to hear from you! If you have news you would like to contribute, please send it to film@gmu.edu. We are looking for regional film events and updates from Film at Mason alumni. Keep up-to-date on all the current Film at Mason news at film.gmu.edu.
Film and Video Studies
College of Visual and Performing Arts
4400 University Dr. MSN 5D8
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-3287 | film@gmu.edu
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