Film in Britain

Summer 2010

May 17 – June 28, 2010

Sponsored by the Department of English and the Film Studies Thematic Program in the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Run by Professors Ken Harrow and Swarnavel Pillai

The program deals with the study of British film and documentary film, including documentary filmmaking. The films we will study will focus on issues concerning ethnicity and race, as well as independent productions and documentary films. For four weeks, four mornings a week, students meet at the BFI for film showings. After the showings, there are discussions of the films, typically with guest speakers. We attempt to bring in directors as the guests, as well as actors, screenwriters, and others involved in the filmmaking process when possible. In past years, the directors who have appeared in our classes include the most famous, most exciting directors working in Britain; they have also spanned a broad range of major independent British directors, like Mike Leigh, and major ethnic British directors, like Hanif Kureishi, Gurinder Chadha, and John Akomfrah.

Students will be expected to prepare by reading materials relevant to ethnic and Black British filmmaking, as well as those dealing with documentary filmmaking and the ethics of ethnographic filmmaking. It is suggested that as much as possible be read before departure. Students will keep a journal in which they are to provide a serious commentary on the films, the filmmakers or other guests, and the readings. For those days in which there is no guest speaker, we will have discussion on the issues raised in the readings, and around the themes that structure the courses. The course calendar will be relatively fluid given the uncertain planning of the directors’ participation which is dependent on their schedules.

In the afternoon, those students who have signed up for the filmmaking courses will be directed to locations where they will both shoot and be offered instruction by Professor Pillai. The focus of this aspect of the course will be on learning techniques of filmmaking, of the nature and constitution of documentary films, and of the ethics of making documentary films. The latter issue will entail readings that focus on ethnographic filmmaking, the encounter with others who are from a range of different cultures, and the proper ways in which to engage the subjects of one’s own documentary film.

In the second portion of the program we go to Edinburgh where the students will attend the Edinburgh film festival. Students will meet to discuss their experiences in seeing films during the festival. Most students will see around 3-4 films daily. That means they will see as many films over the 7-8 days we will have this year as they might see in almost two courses at home. This is in addition to the 14-16 films to be shown in London. There will be less time devoted to class discussions, but we will be meeting a few times to discuss what they have seen. The students will be directed to integrate their viewing into the experiences they had in London, and especially to complete journal entries that also complement the London period.

At the end of the program, after returning, students will have to write an 8-10 page paper that will be focused on the themes most relevant to the courses they have taken. Thus a course in Ethnic or Postcolonial, or Documentary Cinema will have a theme built around the films they will have seen.

In addition to formal instruction for the program scheduled as indicated above, there will also be a few field trips both in the London area and around Edinburgh. Our intention is to expose the students to a wide range of cultural  experiences, including those that emphasize visual culture, such as a trip to the British museum, to the National Gallery, to the Tate, to formalize analyses of composition and style, color, lighting, etc, which are crucial for understanding film...and art.

The program is offering a range of courses. The intent is to direct students to appropriate readings, to have them oriented to the themes of those courses in their journal writing and especially in their long papers. There is a core experience for all these film courses that will be shared in the classrooms and in our discussions, and in the field trips and at the Edinburgh film festival.  The specificity that distinguishes these courses at home will not be achieved under these circumstances abroad, but we all know that this is compensated by the rich cultural and social experiences students will have by taking these courses in London and Edinburgh.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of nine (9), maximum of twelve (12), credits from the following courses. It is strongly suggested that students take ENG 230 as a prerequisite for this program as it is normally a prerequisite for ENG 300-level film classes. However, the requirement of ENG 230 may be waived for students who have not taken it on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that students who expect to continue taking film courses in the English department that require 230 will be taking it at home at their first opportunity.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will live in dormitories or lodgings convenient to our classrooms.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Kenneth Harrow
Department of English
17e  Morrill Hall
Phone: (517) 803-8839

Kenneth Harrow is a Professor of English. His work has focused on Postcolonialism with a specialty in African and African diaspora cinema and literature. He has authored three books and numerous anthologies on these areas.

Swarnavel E. Pillai
Department of English
Phone: (517) 353-6657

Swarnavel Pillai graduated in Film Direction from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, the preeminent film school in Asia, and has vast experience in the field of documentary films. His award winning documentaries include Thangam, The Indian National Army, Villu (the Bow), and Quagmire. They have participated in many national and international festivals.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.  It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2009 was $4,299 and included the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs were estimated at $4,200 for 2009.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu