Undergraduate Courses
As an RTF student, you choose courses that align with your passions and professional pursuits. Media studies and production course offerings are extensive, rigorous and tailored for your career goals.
Fall 2025
For class details, including times, click on "find courses now" on the registrar's page.
Not an RTF Major? See info on nonmajor courses below or find out details about RTF minors.
Note: If you don’t meet the prerequisites stated in the course schedule, you can contact the instructor to request a prerequisite waiver. This will allow you to add the class if it’s open or to add yourself to the waitlist if it’s full.
LOWER-DIVISION COURSES
RTF 301C COMICS AND CARTOONS • BEN BAYS
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Non-RTF Majors.
Students "trace" (har har) the history, techniques, conventions, themes and cultural spaces of comics and cartoons through hands-on skills-building projects (drawing). The artistic traditions of the middle ages gave rise to the cartoon, a form of mass media illustration and text which embraced non-realism, caricature and satire. The form has evolved across cultures, through history and alongside technological advances to its modern digital form. From panels, pages, gags, serials, covers, scripts, characters, layout, lettering, FX to much more. Explore the legacy of comics and cartoons by creating them.
RTF 301D MEDIA STORYTELLING/ANALYSIS • TBA
This course is designed to help you understand and analyze the basic principles of story structure and storytelling technique through elements of style in contemporary film, television, and video games. Our primary goal is to understand precisely what these storytelling “rules” are, to understand how to use (and break) them when creating our own work, and how to produce textual analysis that critically engages how elements of narrative structure and style produce meaning.
RTF 302D HISTORY OF MEDIA INDUSTRIES • TBA
This course examines the historical development of media industries—film, radio, television and digital. Through lecture, section discussions, readings and screenings, we will investigate historical contexts (cultural, industrial, technological) in which media have been produced and consumed in the US and globally.
RTF 303C INTRO TO MEDIA INDUSTRIES • ALISA PERREN
Fulfills a social & behavioral sciences core curriculum requirement. May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Using Hollywood as our primary focus, this course surveys the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts within which entertainment media are produced, distributed, and monetized. We will both survey the breadth of companies and stakeholders involved in shaping film, television, and digital media content and consider key challenges being faced by industry professionals today. A special focus will be placed on how media workers are navigating changing technological, economic, creative, and regulatory conditions in the streaming era.
RTF 303D MEDIA AND CULTURE • TBA
This course approaches media as a fundamentally cultural experience. Cultural values, beliefs, and ideologies all shape the media we create as a society and inform how we as individuals and communities interpret the media that surrounds us. In this course, we examine how politics, economics, and social relationships all simultaneously shape and reflect media, culture, and society.
In this introduction class, students will be given the fundamentals of story structure for Feature Films and Television. This will include analysis of three act structure, character development and the language of screenwriting.
RTF 304D INTRO TO FILM PRODUCTION • ARTURO R. JIMÉNEZ
This course is designed to introduce fundamental production concepts and techniques through lectures, projects, and lab experiences. The acquisition of technical skills will be a priority, as this course is a prerequisite to upper-division production classes. Emphasis also will be placed on developing a storyteller's point of view and the ability to create works characterized by simple yet effective visual, aural and narrative structures. Students will be required to attend hands-on lab sections and to complete three short films.
Sports Production/Broadcasting Courses - Open to RTF Majors
LOWER DIVISION
SPB 301 INTRO TO SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING I • ALI FORBES
This introductory course offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and practices involved in sports production and broadcasting. Designed for students with little to no prior experience in the field, this course covers essential topics such as live sports coverage, camera operation, video editing, storytelling, and broadcast journalism. Through hands-on practice and theoretical instruction, students will gain the skills necessary to produce and broadcast high-quality sports content. The course will also explore the evolving landscape of sports media, including digital platforms, audience engagement, and the ethical considerations in sports broadcasting.
Students will have access to professional-grade video camera equipment, tripods, and editing software, providing them with the opportunity to apply what they learn in real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, students will have produced their own sports broadcast segments, demonstrating their ability to capture and present sports events effectively.
SPB 302 INTRO TO SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING II • JORDAN LEVIN
Success in the world of sports production, broadcasting, and media is heavily dependent on blending an understanding of production practices, engaging storytelling, and developing a strong and specific pov and sensibility. This course will build on the fundamental principles and practices learned in the Introduction to Sports Production and Broadcasting l course, strengthening video editing skills and storytelling, establishing professional post-production protocols and media management processes, developing audio segments for the podcasting medium, and working collaboratively on feature stories, all while deepening an awareness of the current sports media and business landscape.
UPPER DIVISION - MEDIA STUDIES COURSES
RTF 321D FILM HISTORY TO 1960 – Web-Based • CHARLES RAMIREZ BERG
May count toward the Media Studies Minor and the Latino Media Arts & Studies Minor.
This course is a survey of international film history for undergraduate students who seek an understanding of the history and aesthetics of the motion picture. On a weekly basis, it consists of two 75-minute lectures and a screening of a feature-length film. All RTF majors interested in learning more about the development of the motion picture are welcome, regardless of concentration. The course will cover the history of the medium from beginning (Thomas Edison and the Lumière brothers) to 1960. While the history of cinema will be looked at from various perspectives (as a technology, an industry, an entertainment medium, and a mode of personal and national expression), particular attention will be given to the evolution and development of film’s formal elements. Several written assignments are designed to acquaint students with how research in film history is conducted; in addition, three exams are also required.
RTF 323C SCREENING RACE - Hybrid/Blended • MARY BELTRÁN
Flag/s: Cultural Diversity in the U.S
This course draws on media and cultural studies literature on racial and ethnic representation and production matters in U.S entertainment media. It is designed to help students develop a qualitative media studies understanding of historical and contemporary debates relating to issues of representation, industry, and audiences.
RTF 324C INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL MEDIA • SHANTI KUMAR
May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Flag/s: Global Cultures
This course critically examines the role that film, television, video games, and digital media play in shaping our sense of global, regional, national, and local cultures. It focuses on the role of global media institutions in society, from Hollywood and Netflix, to Bollywood, Korean Wave and telenovelas, and also examines how diverse audiences use global media to negotiate with issues of cultural identity in everyday life. The goal of this course is to introduce students to a broad range of issues and debates in the field of global media studies.
RTF 328C GENDER AND MEDIA CULTURE • TBA
Flag/s: Writing
This course provides an introduction to the critical and theoretical analysis of gender (femininities and masculinities) in media (film, television, new and emerging media). Students will engage dominant and oppositional practices of media production, representation, and reception to investigate the sociocultural mechanisms that shape individual and collective notions of gender in our media-saturated environment. Paying particular attention to wider questions of power, politics, and identity, students will read key texts in cultural, media, and communication studies, as well as influential theories within gender, feminist, and transgender studies. Although primarily focused on the mediated construction of gender, this course insists on an intersectional approach that examines gender in conjunction with race, class, sexuality, nation, and generation.
RTF 331P VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY • BYRON FONG
May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Games have always been an integral part of our culture, and studies of culture have long been fascinated by our propensity for play. Beginning with a brief historical overview of the inception of the video game industry and arcade culture, this course is centrally concerned with identifying the pleasures of play and engaging with the cultural and academic discourses and debates that surround video games and game culture. While video games have proven themselves as a dominant industrial force within over the past decade, the stigmas and social anxieties that circulate around video games persist. Consequently, one of the primary goals of this course is for students to both become conversant in these critiques and proficient in speaking back to them, acquiring the vocabulary to discuss and analyze the rules that govern our engagement with video games, and our experiences playing them. To this end, in addition to discussing video game aesthetics and mechanics, we will have themed weeks on war and gaming, gender and gaming, and game-based learning. In addition to course assignments analyzing gameplay and considering the representation of video games in film and television, students will be required to collaboratively design and theorize a game as their final project. No player or programming skill set is required, just a willingness to learn through (and about) video games.
RTF 345 DOCUMENTARY/CREATIVE NONFICTION • CAROLINE FRICK
May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
What do Muhammad Ali, the Tiger King, your local TV news anchor, and the Lumière Brothers have in common? They have all been featured or otherwise involved in the creation of non-fiction film and media. Reality shows, true crime dramas, Academy Award-winning documentaries, newsreels, and more have contributed to the so-called “blurred boundaries” between truth and fiction as represented on screen. This course will feature a look at a wide range of non-fiction genres through carefully selected readings, screenings, and more.
RTF 345 FILM HISTORY • TBA
RTF 345 TEEN FILMS AND TELEVISION • MARY BELTRÁN
This course critically explores coming-of-age films and television series that have featured teen protagonists since the 1950s and until the present day. Topics we’ll explore include the construction of the teenager in the 1940s and 1950s, media panics over social issues linked to teens, the development of the teen genre across the decades, and how it has become more diverse and inclusive in recent years. The course also will further students’ historical knowledge of film and television’s commercial and cultural functions and media makers who have played a role in the development of teen films and television. We will emphasize both close textual analysis and key critical approaches to the films and series that we watch.
RTF 347D BUSINESS OF UNSCRIPTED TV • ALISA PERREN
May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Business of Unscripted Television will take you on a journey across all forms of unscripted (aka alternative) television, from documentaries to unscripted dramas, from shiny floor shows to competition-elimination formats. The course will explore and explain the business of developing, producing, selling, and distributing alternative television, which includes some of the longest-running – and most profitable – series in television history. Whether it’s an idea in Holland that becomes a massive global hit or an outdoor adventure race that turns into a multi-million-dollar decades-long success, alternative television series offer the opportunity to share an extraordinary range of narratives with large and loyal audiences. An important business to know for any aspiring storyteller, media executive, or behind-the-camera talent, join Professor Alisa Perren and longtime television and film executive (and UT alum) Brian Edwards as they survey the past, present, and future prospects of this vibrant industry sector and explore its wider cultural significance.
RTF 347F HISTORY OF TELEVISION • TBA
RTF 347S SPECIAL EFFECTS - Hybrid/Blended • LALITHA GOPALAN
Cinema as spectacle, cinema as magic, cinema as art, cinema as light, cinema as machine, and so on are the various ways we will approach the movie-making machine. This course explores the exalted place of special effects that enhance genre films, inflect art cinema, underwrite avant-garde experiments. In cinema’s passage from analog to digital materiality, we also experience an expansion of perceptual possibilities and virtual journeys, which include theatrical viewing to accessories at home. This course assumes that the language of cinema is universal and will be attentive to histories of moving image technologies adopted by different moving image cultures across the world.
Please note that this course has a substantial writing component as well as room to develop practice based projects.
RTF 347S SUBVERSIVE SOUTH ASIA • ZELTZYN SANCHEZ LOZOYA
This course explores modern South Asia through radical, provocative, and rebellious cinema: a body of work that challenges this region’s hegemonic visions of national, social, religious, and gender identities. Over the last century, films have been at the center of fierce controversies. These artists challenge the boundaries of form, genre, and content. As a result, many works have been banned by their national governments, films were smuggled out of the country, movie theaters were set on fire, and some filmmakers have been banned from working and even received threats of violence and death. In this course we will investigate the nature of censorship and obscenity and the roles of provocative and subversive cinema in social critique.
RTF 359S GENDER/MEDIA IN THE 1960S • KATHY FULLER-SEELEY
Flag/s: Cultural Diversity in the U.S.; Writing
This course explores how generation, gender, race and class were experienced through American media in the 1960s (TV, film, music, ads) and challenged by young people. Readings draw broadly from US cultural history, television and film studies. Learning will occur through lectures, student discussion, primary sources, screenings and numerous writing assignments. Students will develop final research and/or creative projects that apply historical and theoretical ideas to information learned throughout the semester.
RTF 365 LATINX MEDIA/ARTS/ACTIVISM • MIRASOL ENRÍQUEZ
Flag/s: Cultural Diversity in the U.S.; Writing
Investigate the ways in which Latinx activists have used mainstream, alternative, legacy, and new media (as well as other visual and performing arts), to affect social and political change in the United States. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
Only one of the following may be counted: Mexican American Studies 370D, 374 (Topic: Latinx Media/Arts/Activism), Radio-Television-Film 365 (Topic: Latinx Media/Arts/Activism), 365 (Topic 15). Additional prerequisite: Fifty-four semester hours of college coursework.
RTF 370 ASIAN HORROR FILM • LALITHA GOPALAN
This course assumes the student’s familiarity with classical horror films, European and American films to be precise, and all the attendant theories on genre and spectatorship. While the established theoretical tracts have taken American and European films as their models, they seem totally unprepared for the vibrant horror films emerging from Asia, India to Japan, and this is exactly our charge for the course—to better understand the cinematic style of Asian horror films. As any cinephile would testify while these films have the stock figures of ghosts and monsters, haunted houses and possessed women, they also question our settled ideas of beauty and disgust that imperceptibly shape our notions of racial, sexual, and national differences. The course will consider how questions of national style and authorship revise the ways in which we consider genre cinema.
UPPER DIVISION - PRODUCTION & SCREENWRITING COURSES
RTF 329C DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION - Web-Based • BEN BAYS
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Non-RTF Majors.
Animation, Visual Effects, Digital Painting and CGI are used to produce content for a variety of media including live-action film, classical and 3D animation and interactive formats like video games and XR. This course will teach you the industry standard tools and practical techniques of digital media production, no experience necessary. The course is self-paced, non-linear and offers a variety of options. Students choose their area of interest from a large array of assignments covering topics like concept art and previsualization, color correction and post production, animation and simulation, compositing and visual effects or CGI and interactive game design (and more). Will you become a generalist across all digital media production, will you specialize in one discipline or will you define a new role in digital media production? Choose your own path and the instructor and a team of TAs collaborate with you. No prior knowledge of digital media production required. Mac or PC. No software purchase required. This course offers both access to instructor guidance and the ability to complete assignments at your own pace.
RTF 333 INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING • STUART KELBAN
Flag/s: Writing
RTF 333 will introduce students to screenwriting for both film & television. In lecture, we will study the fundamental concepts behind all screenwriting: story, character, and structure. In section, you will apply those concepts to writing your own original scripts for both features and TV in a workshop setting. Students will follow the same development process as professional screenwriters—from initial premise, through character exploration and treatments, to writing the first draft. The goal of this course is to develop skills to tell strong, engaging stories for the screen. This emphasis on storytelling will not only make you better screenwriters, but also better directors, editors, cinematographers, set designers, i.e., filmmakers.
RTF 340 MULTI-CAMERA TV DIRECTING • DAVID SCHNEIDER
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This course will examine the techniques of multi-camera live television directing in numerous formats. It will provide an overview of the current technology and how that technology impacts directing decisions. Students will learn how directing styles shape various genres of broadcasts and how the director contributes to a successful production. The course will focus on planning and preparation and elements of production design. The demands of a controlled studio atmosphere will be compared and contrasted with those of live remote sports and entertainment programs. Exercises will acquaint the students with camera placement, shot blocking and shot selection.
RTF 340D/388F PRODUCTION DESIGN BASICS • ADRIANA SERRANO
Understand the role of production design and how the creation and selection of sets, locations and environments contribute to the visual language of film. Explore fundamental elements of story, production, critical analysis, and the collaborative process of film making from the design perspective.
RTF 340M MUSIC VIDEO/FILM PRODUCTION • PJ RAVAL
This course explores the collaborative nature between filmmakers and performing artists. Students will partner with a local musical artist/band to create a portfolio of original short films ranging from live performance videos, to non-fiction and promotional materials, to music videos and ultimately music films. This course embraces conceptual and non-traditional forms of filmmaking often seen in the works of early music video pioneers. From the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” to Beyonce’s “Lemonade,” music videos have defined generations and cultural movements. This course will explore the artistic expressions and subsequent social impacts that music videos have had in steering the public conversations around artist personas, censorship, and cinematic innovation. Please note: Previously listed as 366K Music in Film Production.
RTF 343 ADVANCED NARRATIVE PRODUCTION • BERNDT MADER, TBA
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
From script, to production, to edit and sound design, students spend the semester completing an advanced video production (5–10 minutes). Emphasis is placed on storytelling, strong cinematic style, and production values. Students are not required to direct but must participate in the key crew positions on various projects for full credit.
RTF 343/388P CINEMA LABORATORY • DEBORAH EVE LEWIS
Limited to 20 participants. In Cinema Laboratory, you will make ten short films – some during class and some outside of class – with an emphasis on taking risks and exploring the cinematic form on an elemental level.
Cinema Laboratory’s practice of consistent moviemaking aims to create a space and time where filmmaking efforts are not expensive and precious, but intuitive, brief, engaging, and challenging in a fast-paced workshop setting. Motivated, hard-working, curious and highly creative students are sought to participate.
Cinema Laboratory seeks self-driven MFA students, RTF undergraduates (especially those in their last few semesters), Photojournalism students, Theatre Directors and students from the School of Architecture and the Art School. The T.A. will help non-RTF students learn RTF protocol and basic editing, camera and sound work, if necessary.
Undergraduates registering for this class should be seniors near graduation. Undergraduates: If you’re not a senior, please get permission of the instructor. If you have questions regarding Cinema Laboratory, don’t hesitate to contact the instructor: deb.lewis@utexas.edu.
RTF 343 DIRECTING BRANDED CONTENT • MIGUEL ALVAREZ
RTF 343D CINEMATOGRAPHY • DEBORAH EVE LEWIS
This course explores visual storytelling and the art of cinematography through practice in a workshop environment. We will explore visual expression through a variety of cinema tools including camera and lighting as well as time, movement and color. Students are encouraged to think cinematically in both fiction and non-fiction approaches. A number of readings and exercises are assigned to also increase a student's technical knowledge and understanding of one's tools, leading to greater creative and personal visual expression.
RTF 344C 2D ANIMATION • LANCE MYERS
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
The study and practice of 2D digital and traditional animation, including its history, artistic theories, and current digital techniques. Hands-on exercises and creative projects include character concept and design, animated figures and walk cycles, lip sync and audio for cartoons, acting and performance for animation, and more. Ultimately, students produce and animate their own 2D animated cartoon. All skill levels welcome. Taught in a state of the art computer animation lab.
RTF 344C 3D ANIMATION • BEN BAYS
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
3D (CGI) animation is ubiquitous in animated cartoons, video games, and visual effects. Blending critical inquiry and creative expression, students explore the historical influences and evolution of 3D animation technology, theories of performance and mimesis (role play) in virtual spaces, and storytelling through 3D animation using CGI software environments and platforms. Ultimately, students produce a 3D animated short. All skill levels welcome. Taught in a state of the art computer animation lab.
RTF 344M GAME PROGRAMMING PARADIGMS • SARAH ABRAHAM
The course is designed to give students experience and insight into how game engines are built. Students will work with Unreal Engine 4 as an example of modern game engine architecture, and work with the existing systems including physics, graphics, AI, networking, and animation among others to understand how these components interact. Students will also gain experience working with source control, built systems, and understanding the UE4 compilers. Projects will be done in teams to allow students to gain experience working together with other programmers on relatively large projects, as well as working with ticketing systems. We also expect students to "fend for themselves" to an extent greater than that of most other courses in the department. This means we try to provide the minimal amount of starter code and help with build environments to encourage students to leverage online resources and the expertise of colleagues. By the end of this course you should feel comfortable working in large systems with multiple APIs, and have greater experience debugging and reading documentation of third-party software.
RTF 344M/388F POST PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES • DAN STUYCK
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This course involves intensive hands-on work in digital color grading. It is designed to familiarize students with the entire digital image-making process, whether you are a director or a cinematographer who wants to understand how picture finishing works, to more advanced students who wish to specialize in post production or color correction.
RTF 344M 360 VIDEO PRODUCTION • OCTAVIO KANO-GALVAN
360-video technology offers creative and interesting new ways to create immersive visual content. The goal of this class is to provide students the required skills to plan, capture, edit, and produce 360-videos. Students will work individually and in groups to write scripts, video-shoot, and edit their own projects. Sample student projects during the semester include commercials, short films, music videos, and/or news stories. Selected videos are Oculus screened during class throughout the semester to enhance the analysis and learning process. Students will work with the following software on desktop/laptop computers: Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Audition, and Photoshop. Experimentation, exploration, and creativity are highly encouraged.
RTF 344M VIRTUAL PRODUCTION • TBA
Virtual Production and real-time rendering are here. Learn how to plan, layout, light, animate and render your ideas, concepts and art in real-time using Unreal Engine. Physically accurate cameras will simulate their real-world counterparts and give you the ability to learn and develop your real-world skills in a virtual environment or integrate your real-world skills into the virtual production environment. Final projects, which will be fully realized short-form pieces, will display an understanding of the methodology and creative potential of this game-changing workflow.
RTF 344M WRITING INTERACTIVE GAMES/MEDIA • NATHAN CUTIETTA
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry; Writing
Interactive storytelling is a form of dramatic writing, just like theater or television. What makes the medium unique is that the author does not control the story; the audience does. Creatives have only just begun to explore the storytelling possibilities of this field. In this class, you will begin to develop the skills & knowledge necessary to write for interactive mediums such as video games, digital media, VR, and augmented reality. Your final deliverable in this course - a narrative design document - will serve as a writing sample for your portfolio. A limited number of seats are open to non-majors.
RTF 344T GAME DEVELOPMENT CAPSTONE: 2D GAMES • PAUL TOPRAC
The Capstone Game Development course brings together students from Computer Science, College of Fine Arts, and Radio-TV-Film to form small teams in which each student will contribute specialized knowledge to the group creation of 3D games for mobile, online, and social technology platforms. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the 3D game development process, through modeling of the environment and practices that are used in game studios.
*OFFERED IN FALL SEMESTER. If interested, please read instructions to apply. Consent of instructor required.
RTF 346 INTRODUCTION TO EDITING • EM SHAPIRO, MATT LENNON, ANNE LEWIS
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
Whether you want to be an editor, director or producer, Introduction to Editing is an essential, hands-on course for any production student. By completing a series of narrative and nonfiction assignments, students will finish this course with increased confidence in, and understanding of, Avid software and editing technique and style. We will view and analyze film scenes to understand how editing contributes to meaning.
RTF 347C INTRO TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS • JOHN PEYTON
May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
For the 2022–2024 catalog, this course counts towards the 15 additional hours of radio-television-film coursework; however, it does NOT count toward the required 9 hours of media studies coursework.
What is the distinction between a manager, agent, publicist, promoter, or A&R? We will delve into record deals, music contracts, concert riders, intellectual property (IP), TV and film sync licensing, terrestrial and satellite radio, as well as the impact of AI and the metaverse on the music industry. What implications does streaming have for record labels? How did Fyre Fest come about? We are currently in an era where young entrepreneurs can establish a business in their twenties and subsequently sell it without obtaining a degree in business or finance. Students will acquire the skills to plan, coordinate, and manage their own small music business in their chosen avenue. We will explore artist management and representation, focusing on the development of recorded music and the significance of the touring business for contemporary artists. Additionally, we will delve into the business aspects of concerts and music festivals, teaching students how to book, market, and produce shows. Each session will tackle a different aspect of the music industry. Numerous special guests will share their success stories and entrepreneurial journeys, followed by an open Q&A session with the students.
RTF 347C BUSINESS OF VIDEO GAMES • TBA
RTF 347E ADVANCED EDITING • CHRIS ROLDAN
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This course is a further elaboration of the principles and techniques of editing students will have encountered in RTF 346, building a broader technical background for professional development. We will discuss aesthetic, technical, and practical approaches to editing and consider how they might best apply to some (provided) editing challenges. In particular, we'll concentrate on the development of editing styles that are appropriate to a range of material and creative solutions to editing challenges. Taught using AVID software.
RTF 366K DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION • ARTURO JIMÉNEZ
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This class introduces students to the art of single-camera field documentary video production. Over the course of the semester, students will watch and discuss influential documentary films, but the main focus will be on creating their own projects. Through group discussions, hands-on lab sessions, short exercises, and a final documentary project, students will gain practical experience in every stage of the filmmaking process—from developing an idea to completing a short documentary.
RTF 366K LATINX FILMMAKING • ILIANA SOSA
In Latinx Filmmaking, we will push boundaries and delve into fresh perspectives on the US Latino experience. Each student will craft a 5–10-minute film of their choice, be it fiction, documentary, or experimental, centered around Latinx themes with a specific focus on US Latino communities. The course will feature screenings of underrepresented works by Latinx artists and engaging discussions with established and emerging Latinx filmmakers and producers.
RTF 366K NARRATIVE PRODUCTION • MICAH BARBER, MIGUEL ALVAREZ
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
The class explores the expressive potential of sound and image through the production of digital video exercises and short films. It is an intensive workshop in visual storytelling and non-dialogue filmmaking. It is designed to build upon the fundamental production concepts and techniques that were introduced in RTF 318 and to prepare students for advanced narrative classes.
RTF 366K SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCTION • BRIAN KALEH
Mine what you’re passionate about to produce your own original short-form content and engage with online communities who share your passion. Learn how digital entertainment companies and online content creators, like Austin-based Rooster Teeth, think about what they make, who they make it for, and where and how they reach their fans. You’ll hear how to collaborate with your audience in the creative process and explore the role of community in digital media. Creative and business executives from Rooster Teeth and elsewhere will be regular guests throughout the semester to share their experiences in the increasingly influential world of social media entertainment and consider how these lessons will impact the future of film / television production and fan engagement.
RTF 366S AUDIO PRODUCTION INTO POST • TODD THOMPSON
Audio is half of your movie; arguably more than half since it exceeds the limits of the visible frame. It operates at a literal and subliminal level and gives the filmmaker access to deeper parts of the audience’s consciousness. Great audio is a combination of creativity and an understanding of both the science and the tools of the medium. This is the first-level class for audio, a perfect starting point for people who want to know how to better use sound in their projects as well as for those who may be thinking about audio as a lifelong craft. You will learn production mixing, basic post techniques, and the ideas behind them. This will include recording on location using both high-end and low-end recorders, especially recording dialog, set and location problems and protocol, basic sound editing, mix prep, and creating a basic mix. You will become familiar with the operation and use of the Sound Devices 633 mixer/recorder and Zoom H6 recorder, other production mixers, and microphones on location and in the studio. You will learn the science behind the tools, and cultivate an appreciation for sound as a creative element in storytelling. You will create mixes in Pro Tools for audio-only projects, as well as fully realized soundtracks synced to picture.
RTF 366S/388P EARS ONLY: AUDIO STORYTELLING • TODD THOMPSON
Audio production and post for storytelling using voice, actuality, music, ambiences and sound effects. Structuring stories for audio only, plus microphone and recorder techniques, mono, stereo, and binaural recording, field mixers, basic Pro Tools, signal processing, and noise reduction, applicable to sound for picture as well. Students will make a variety of small projects leading up to a longer, final project of their choice.
RTF 366S PRODUCTION SOUND TECHNIQUES • KOREY PEREIRA
Capturing quality sound on location or set is fundamental to making a project successful. Throughout the semester we will learn how to approach production sound recording for various filming environments, meet with top production sound teams and work on at least two film sets. Whether you want to pursue a career in production sound or just want to learn more about it, you will leave with an understanding and appreciation for the value that well-recorded sound can bring to any project.
RTF 366S SOUND DESIGN AND MIXING • KOREY PEREIRA
Sound as a medium can create a sense of space, time, and set the mood of a film. This course will explore the post-production sound process for film, television, and immersive media. We will develop a vocabulary for talking about sound, as well as provide practical hands-on training on each step in the post-sound process. This includes sound editing, sound design, ADR and foley recording as well as re-recording mixing. RTF 341C is the course for those who seek a career in post-production audio and for those who just want a thorough understanding of the post sound process. A familiarity with Pro Tools or Non-linear editing is preferred, but not required.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, RTF 317 and 318 with a grade of at least B- in each, and six additional semester hours of lower-division coursework in radio-television-film. (RTF 341 is NOT required as a prerequisite.)
RTF 367D DIRECTING WORKSHOP • ANDREW SHEA, MICAH BARBER
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This workshop explores the role of the director in the process of translation from page to screen, focusing on the director/actor relationship, narrative structure and visual language. Assignments will include the casting, mounting, and realization of dramatic narrative scenes. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of the skills necessary to communicate effectively with actors to achieve authentic and vivid performances..
RTF 367K PRODUCING FILM AND TELEVISION • TBA
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Minors. This course counts towards the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry ; Writing
RTF 367K will detail how things work in the supposedly noncreative side of the entertainment industry. The course will focus on the function and duties of a producer as he or she shepherds an idea through a project "life cycle": development, financing, pre-production, post-production, marketing and distribution. Lecture topics will mirror the project life cycle while students concurrently develop their own business plans/prospectuses for original film or television projects of their choosing. At the end of the semester, each student should have a complete and realistic business plan for a film or video project, one which is ready for presentation to entertainment industry contacts and financiers. Prerequisites: Upper Division standing.
RTF 368 DRAWING THE STORYBOARD • JAMES BUCHANAN
Learn the art and skills of drawing a storyboard. A storyboard is a set of sequential drawings used to tell a story—a graphic organizer that helps to illustrate a narrative. Used often in entertainment applications like film, TV, theatre, gaming, and immersive experiences, storyboards are also valuable in the development of advertising videos or demonstrating a production process.
RTF 368P PRODUCING SHORT FILMS • SARAH OH
Short films are often seen as an excellent calling card for first time filmmakers. But it’s much more than just a way to practice your craft or make something that is shorter or cheaper than a feature film. Though the principles and steps involved to produce a short film is no different than producing a feature film, it is also a unique discipline of its own. How do you tell an interesting and compelling story in a short film? How do you translate a minimum budget into maximum quality on screen?
This course will examine all fundamental aspects of development, pre-production, production, and distribution of producing a short film. Students will practice the step-by-step processes of physical production such as script breakdown, scheduling, budgeting, location scouting, crew hiring, working with cast and crew, etc. Using weekly lectures, homework assignments, course readings and class workshops to reinforce each class topic, students will put together a final production binder for a short film
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: FEATURE FILM • KATHERINE CRAFT
Flag/s: Writing
In this class, students will complete a feature-length screenplay (90-120 pages) by the end of the semester. In addition, they will read and comment on their classmates' work.
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: INDIE FILMS • TOM WILLETT
Flag/s: Writing
This workshop class is focused on writing screenplays designed for micro-budget, independent production. As students write their own feature-length scripts (90-120 pages) throughout the semester, they will study and analyze completed micro-budget films and their production methods. In addition, they will read and comment on their classmates' work.
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: SCI-FI/HORROR • MAYA PEREZ
Flag/s: Writing
This workshop class will focus on horror and science fiction writing—two genres that have provided opportunities for countless new writers in the film industry. Each student will write a feature-length horror or science fiction screenplay and provide weekly notes on their classmates’ work. In addition, we’ll make a semester-long study of the current trends in each genre, reading and analyzing the biggest hits of recent years.
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: SHORT FILMS • TOM WILLETT
Flag/s: Writing
What makes a successful short film? For starters, a great script! Hone your skills and understanding through writing three short scripts and rewriting at least one of them. In addition to instructor feedback, you will receive and give peer support, reading and commenting on your classmates' work. You may choose to produce these scripts in RTF production classes or for projects outside of UT.
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: SERIES TV • TOM WILLETT
Flag/s: Writing
RTF 369 ADVANCED SCREENWRITING: TV PILOTS • MAYA PEREZ
Flag/s: Writing
Each student will create a brand new television show (30- or 60-minute, network or cable) from the ground up: researching the setting and historical moment, inventing the characters and relationships, and ultimately designing the conflicts necessary to propel a show through multiple seasons. Students will then distill all of this work into a single showpiece episode - a pilot - that demonstrates the artistic and commercial potential of the new show. We’ll also be looking at a range of produced pilots (both aired and unaired) and discussing what makes the best of them work.
RTF 369P SCRIPT TO SCREEN: MOVIES • SCOTT RICE
Script to Screen takes students behind the scenes of Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey’s films. By studying script drafts, shot lists, storyboards, early edits and even exclusive behind the scenes footage, students will garner insight into the making of a major Hollywood feature. Script to Screen also gives students practical instruction on producing their own projects including web series, shorts, commercials, and indie features. From guidance on pitching to the ins and outs of founding a production company, Script to Screen is an essential “how-to” for students who are serious about producing and directing.
Prerequisites: Upper Division standing and either RTF 367K (Producing I), RTF 366D (Directing Workshop) or RTF 333 (Intro. to Screenwriting). Non-majors will not be allowed to add this course. If you do not meet the prerequisites you may seek admittance by contacting the instructor.
Sports Production/Broadcasting Courses - Open to RTF Majors
SPB 322 STORYTELLING IN SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING • JORDAN LEVIN
In this topics course, students will explore the art and execution of storytelling across all forms of Sports Production, including live event broadcasts. From the classic pillars of sports journalism to ABC’s pioneering flagship “The Wide World of Sports” to ESPN’s landmark “30 For 30” series to the most memorable calls in sports history, storytelling has been the consistent thread that has enraptured audiences to sporting events, the athletes who pursue immortality, and the arenas in which they compete. Appreciating and understanding core sports narrative strategies and their underlying spiritual foundation, along with the unique opportunities and challenges arising from live, real-time storytelling, is critical to learning how to create successful sports productions and broadcasts.
SPB 370 STUDIO PRODUCTION • ALI FORBES
This course offers an in-depth exploration of studio-based sports production, focusing on the skills and techniques needed to create professional live and live-to-tape content. Students will gain hands-on experience in directing, technical operations and show production while working with industry-standard equipment. Through collaborative projects, they will develop expertise in designing rundowns, the overall workflow of a professional studio.
Emphasizing both creative storytelling and technical precision, the course prepares students for roles in sports media, from studio producers to on-air hosts. Guest speakers and real-world assignments will provide insight into industry trends, while lab sessions and critiques will refine students’ ability to produce compelling, polished sports programming.
INTERNSHIPS
Learn more about RTF Internships
The purpose of this 3-hour internship for RTF majors and minors is to provide practical work experience in the media industries (film, television, radio, video games, and/or digital media). Students must make their own arrangements to secure relevant internships in the Austin area, though remote internships may be accepted, depending on need and opportunity. In addition to providing practical experience in the vocation of your choice, this course is designed to help you develop the resources and routines necessary to succeed in the contemporary media industries. The course meets weekly for one hour, in addition to the student's off-site internship. This course is offered on a pass/fail basis only.
The purpose of this 6-hour internship for RTF majors and minors is to provide practical work experience in the media industries (film, television, radio, video games, and/or digital media). Students must make their own arrangements to secure relevant internships in the Austin area, though remote internships may be accepted, depending on need and opportunity. In addition to providing practical experience in the vocation of your choice, this course is designed to help you develop the resources and routines necessary to succeed in the contemporary media industries. The course meets weekly for one hour, in addition to the student's off-site internship. This course is offered on a pass/fail basis only.
Sports Production/Broadcasting Courses - Open to RTF Majors
UPPER DIVISION
SPB 322 STORYTELLING IN SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING • JORDAN LEVIN
SPB 370 STUDIO PRODUCTION • ALI FORBES
NON MAJOR COURSES
Note: In addition to courses listed below, which are open to non-majors, there are courses listed on this page that count toward minors in Media Studies, Media and Entertainment Industries, or Latino Media Arts & Studies.
RTF 301C COMICS AND CARTOONS • BEN BAYS
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Non-RTF Majors.
Students "trace" (har har) the history, techniques, conventions, themes and cultural spaces of comics and cartoons through hands-on skills-building projects (drawing). The artistic traditions of the middle ages gave rise to the cartoon, a form of mass media illustration and text which embraced non-realism, caricature and satire. The form has evolved across cultures, through history and alongside technological advances to its modern digital form. From panels, pages, gags, serials, covers, scripts, characters, layout, lettering, FX to much more. Explore the legacy of comics and cartoons by creating them.
RTF 303C INTRO TO MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES • ALISA PERREN
Fulfills a social & behavioral sciences core curriculum requirement. May count toward the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
Using Hollywood as our primary focus, this course surveys the social, cultural, political, and economic contexts within which entertainment media are produced, distributed, and monetized. We will both survey the breadth of companies and stakeholders involved in shaping film, television, and digital media content and consider key challenges being faced by industry professionals today. A special focus will be placed on how media workers are navigating changing technological, economic, creative, and regulatory conditions in the streaming era.
RTF 304 STORY STRUCTURE FOR FILM AND TELEVISION • TERESA WARNER
Restricted to non-RTF majors.
In this introduction class, students will be given the fundamentals of story structure for Feature Films and Television. This will include analysis of three act structure, character development and the language of screenwriting.
RTF 306 INTRO TO WORLD CINEMA HISTORY • TBA
Restricted to non-RTF majors. Fulfills a Visual and Performing Arts core curriculum requirement for the 2022–2023 academic year. Qualifies for the Media Studies Minor and the Latino Media Arts & Studies Minor. The course fulfills VAPA requirements, and is designed for non-RTF majors who have not taken previous coursework in film or media studies.
Love the movies? Join us and explore how the movies developed from a circus amusement to multinational industry as well as how film can be understood as socio-cultural , technological, aesthetic and economic artifact. Global in scope, this course will sample a variety of “national cinemas” in order to compare and contrast how moviemaking developed uniquely in different parts of the world.
RTF 329C DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION - Web-Based • BEN BAYS
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Non-RTF Majors.
Animation, Visual Effects, Digital Painting and CGI are used to produce content for a variety of media including live-action film, classical and 3D animation and interactive formats like video games and XR. This course will teach you the industry standard tools and practical techniques of digital media production, no experience necessary. The course is self-paced, non-linear and offers a variety of options. Students choose their area of interest from a large array of assignments covering topics like concept art and previsualization, color correction and post production, animation and simulation, compositing and visual effects or CGI and interactive game design (and more). Will you become a generalist across all digital media production, will you specialize in one discipline or will you define a new role in digital media production? Choose your own path and the instructor and a team of TAs collaborate with you. No prior knowledge of digital media production required. Mac or PC. No software purchase required. This course offers both access to instructor guidance and the ability to complete assignments at your own pace.
RTF 344M WRITING INTERACTIVE GAMES/MEDIA • NATHAN CUTIETTA
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Non-RTF Majors.
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry; Writing
Interactive storytelling is a form of dramatic writing, just like theater or television. What makes the medium unique is that the author does not control the story; the audience does. Creatives have only just begun to explore the storytelling possibilities of this field. In this class, you will begin to develop the skills & knowledge necessary to write for interactive mediums such as video games, digital media, VR, and augmented reality. Your final deliverable in this course - a narrative design document - will serve as a writing sample for your portfolio. A limited number of seats are open to non-majors.
RTF 367K PRODUCING FILM AND TELEVISION • TBA
Open to BOTH RTF Majors & Minors. This course counts towards the Media & Entertainment Industries Minor.
RTF 367K will detail how things work in the supposedly noncreative side of the entertainment industry. The course will focus on the function and duties of a producer as he or she shepherds an idea through a project "life cycle": development, financing, pre-production, post-production, marketing and distribution. Lecture topics will mirror the project life cycle while students concurrently develop their own business plans/prospectuses for original film or television projects of their choosing. At the end of the semester, each student should have a complete and realistic business plan for a film or video project, one which is ready for presentation to entertainment industry contacts and financiers. Prerequisites: Upper Division standing.
Sports Production Courses - Open to All
Sports Production/Broadcasting Courses - Open to RTF Majors
LOWER DIVISION
SPB 301 INTRO TO SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING I • ALI FORBES
This introductory course offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and practices involved in sports production and broadcasting. Designed for students with little to no prior experience in the field, this course covers essential topics such as live sports coverage, camera operation, video editing, storytelling, and broadcast journalism. Through hands-on practice and theoretical instruction, students will gain the skills necessary to produce and broadcast high-quality sports content. The course will also explore the evolving landscape of sports media, including digital platforms, audience engagement, and the ethical considerations in sports broadcasting.
Students will have access to professional-grade video camera equipment, tripods, and editing software, providing them with the opportunity to apply what they learn in real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, students will have produced their own sports broadcast segments, demonstrating their ability to capture and present sports events effectively
SPB 302 INTRO TO SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING II • JORDAN LEVIN
Success in the world of sports production, broadcasting, and media is heavily dependent on blending an understanding of production practices, engaging storytelling, and developing a strong and specific pov and sensibility. This course will build on the fundamental principles and practices learned in the Introduction to Sports Production and Broadcasting l course, strengthening video editing skills and storytelling, establishing professional post-production protocols and media management processes, developing audio segments for the podcasting medium, and working collaboratively on feature stories, all while deepening an awareness of the current sports media and business landscape.
UPPER DIVISION
SPB 322 STORYTELLING IN SPORTS PRODUCTION/BROADCASTING • JORDAN LEVIN
In this topics course, students will explore the art and execution of storytelling across all forms of Sports Production, including live event broadcasts. From the classic pillars of sports journalism to ABC’s pioneering flagship “The Wide World of Sports” to ESPN’s landmark “30 For 30” series to the most memorable calls in sports history, storytelling has been the consistent thread that has enraptured audiences to sporting events, the athletes who pursue immortality, and the arenas in which they compete. Appreciating and understanding core sports narrative strategies and their underlying spiritual foundation, along with the unique opportunities and challenges arising from live, real-time storytelling, is critical to learning how to create successful sports productions and broadcasts.
SPB 370 STUDIO PRODUCTION • ALI FORBES
This course offers an in-depth exploration of studio-based sports production, focusing on the skills and techniques needed to create professional live and live-to-tape content. Students will gain hands-on experience in directing, technical operations and show production while working with industry-standard equipment. Through collaborative projects, they will develop expertise in designing rundowns, the overall workflow of a professional studio.
Emphasizing both creative storytelling and technical precision, the course prepares students for roles in sports media, from studio producers to on-air hosts. Guest speakers and real-world assignments will provide insight into industry trends, while lab sessions and critiques will refine students’ ability to produce compelling, polished sports programming.
SPECIALTY COURSES
RTF 196 PORTFOLIO IN MEDIA PRODUCTION
RTF 336 SPECIAL PROJECTS IN RADIO-TELEVISION-FILM
Flag/s: Independent Inquiry
This course gives students the opportunity to do independent research or creative projects. These are developed and executed by the student under the supervision of a faculty member. (Note: Students cannot use departmental equipment to complete these projects.) May be taken twice for credit. May be counted toward the independent inquiry flag requirement. Hour(s) to be arranged. Restricted enrollment; review instructions.
Prerequisites:
- Upper-division standing
- Approval from a faculty sponsor
- Approval from the Department Chair
RTF 368S - UNDERGRADUATE MEDIA STUDIES THESIS
See thesis page.
UTNY
The New York City experience amplifies creative energy, professional opportunity and world-class arts and culture. Live, work, and learn as you explore and engage through UTNY’s connection to companies, people and prospects. Business, government, and technology merge with entertainment, fashion, and media in this global epicenter.
UTLA
Spend a semester in Los Angeles to jump-start your career in the entertainment industry. Open to all UT Austin students regardless of major, the UTLA program is a chance to get hands-on training at an internship, take classes taught by industry insiders, and explore new career paths to set yourself up for success after graduation. Learn about UTLA courses.