Film director, screenwriter, and producer Nancy Savoca will serve as the Fall 2022 John H. Mitchell Visiting Professor in Media Entertainment. Considered a pioneer in the independent women’s cinema movement in the U.S., Savoca’s work explores themes of gender and ethnic identity, civil rights, immigration, and family relationships. Several of her films (which include critically acclaimed titles such as True Love, Dogfight, Household Saints, Dirt, Union Square, and If These Walls Could Talk) have become canonical texts in film and media studies courses.
This Fall, Savoca will teach FTVM 304 “Before You Say Action: Preparing to Shoot.” Centering on the director’s pre-production work, the class will engage students in script analysis, researching material, rehearsing actors, and planning with crew members. Class sessions will feature guest speakers (professional actors, cinematographers, production designers, editors, and producers) who will discuss the process of pre-production and the importance of teamwork and communication.
