Assistant Professor - Digital Filmmaker

Assistant Professor - Digital Filmmaker

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts)

Cinema Program

This full-time, 12-month position is at the rank of Assistant Professor, is non-tenure-eligible, and begins early 2022.

Application Deadline: For best consideration, applications are due Friday, January 14, 2022. This job posting could result in more than one hire selected from this announcement.

The Opportunity :

The VCUarts Cinema Program seeks a dynamic, experienced, visionary filmmaker and invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Digital Filmmaking. The successful candidate will be a progressive practitioner and educator with ongoing achievements as a narrative/fiction filmmaker, have a broad understanding of contemporary film practice, and a national or international reputation in the field (or demonstrated potential to establish one).

Our next colleague will be a creative innovator eager to contribute to the growth and future development of a thriving undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Program that inspires and trains the next generation of filmmakers to be intellectually, technically, and socially engaged writers, directors, and craft professionals. Working in concert with the Program Director and other faculty, this position is responsible for teaching courses in film production and directing while maintaining a record of creative achievement in the field and contributing service in support of the Cinema Program. The successful candidate will be committed to mentoring and collaborating with a diverse student population, being well informed and sensitive to issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and access.

This is a non-tenure eligible (term) faculty position. Term faculty are eligible for promotion in academic rank, and are valued for their academic, professional, and creative practice/scholarly contributions in their specific area of expertise. The primary responsibilities of this opportunity are teaching so we seek to hire faculty who stand out with respect to effectiveness in teaching and engagement with students.

VCUarts Cinema

VCUarts Cinema is a three-year and eight-week undergraduate film program that matches film theory with filmmaking practice to best prepare students to work in the industry immediately upon graduating. Students create narrative films in a collaborative environment using professional equipment while preparing for employment in the professional movie-making industry.

The Cinema Program is unique in that students earn twenty-seven (27) of the program’s forty-five (45) credits across two summers of professional-level film production intensives During the two summer intensives, Cinema students create university funded short form films using professional quality equipment. Working in teams, students are mentored by full time and adjunct faculty with professional film production experience. In the fall and spring semester, additional short form films are created in concert with required and elective film classes. To facilitate this curriculum, faculty are expected to teach in the summer months. However, to support faculty in maintaining a robust creative research practice, the Program’s Director can adjust their fall/spring semester teaching and service commitments.

Major Responsibilities:

In support of the Program’s student centered educational and creative endeavors, the Digital Filmmaker faculty will have the following responsibilities:

Instructional duties comprise development and teaching courses including pre-production, production (location shooting), directing, editing, and postproduction (image and sound) at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum, or other offerings in the faculty member’s area of expertise. Course assignments will change based on demand and will be at the discretion of the Program Director.

The faculty member is expected to mentor students; integrate innovative pedagogical and technological approaches and multicultural perspectives into instructional methods; and foster collaborative teaching partnerships across the Cinema Program and VCUarts. In support of the Program’s strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, the faculty member is expected to foster a welcoming and equitable learning environment for all students.

It is expected that the faculty member will demonstrate excellence through teaching and maintain a contemporary body of knowledge within their area(s) of expertise. The faculty member’s research should include maintaining an active creative practice with exhibitions and screenings in selective venues. In the course of the faculty member’s robust and highly collaborative research and creative activities, it is expected that they will promote the mission of the Cinema Program, as well as the School of the Arts, and that they will build greater awareness and understanding of the program, school, and university. The faculty member will be supported to seek internal and external funding, as appropriate, to advance their creative research, though teaching will constitute the majority of the faculty member’s responsibilities.

As a member of a community-oriented, tight-knit department and School, the faculty member will provide service such as being a part of student recruitment events and serving on Program/School/University committees. In addition, the faculty member is expected to retain membership in professional associations and provide professional service. Other responsibilities may be assigned by the Program Director.

Required Qualifications :

· MA/MFA in film production, screenwriting, film arts, or a closely related field from an accredited institution with evidence of accomplishment in filmmaking

· Demonstrated ability to teach classes in foundational production skills e.g., directing, cinematography, editing, sound design to a diverse student population that includes numerous first-generation students and veterans

· Must have strong collaboration skills, and demonstrate enthusiasm toward teaching and working with faculty, staff and students within the university; and to building and maintaining professional relationships outside of the university on the program’s behalf

· Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

· Advanced understanding of digital filmmaking techniques, equipment, and software

· Demonstrated potential for active university service

· Show high potential for sustained scholarship or creative production in the field with a record of publications or creative work at notable venues or outlets on a regional or national scale

· An understanding of academic responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications :

· An established creative practice and/or training with an effective competency in at least one of the following areas: directing, cinematography, nonlinear editing and digital asset management, or sound recording and reproduction

· A minimum of four semesters of experience as an instructor of record in teaching undergraduate courses at an accredited institution of higher learning

· Demonstrate through their teaching philosophy or record an ability to mentor undergraduate students to foster collaboration, experimentation, and innovation with the movie image

· Demonstrate the ability to mentor students to produce independent films, from funding to production to distribution

Application Instructions :

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. VCUarts strongly encourages applications from all racial, ethnic, gender, and social identities.

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience. For additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/prospective/.

In addition, the following documents should submitted:

· A Letter of Interest (address interest for the position; include a reflective discussion of teaching philosophy including approaches)

· Curriculum vitae or resume

· Links to samples of professional work

· List of three professional references including names with titles and contact information (references will not be checked prior to candidate’s approval)

Only electronic applications submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, completed applications are due by Friday, January 14, 2022. Questions about the application process should be directed to Tasia Robinson, HR Administrator at thompsontl5@vcu.edu.

VCUarts :

Ranked by US News & World Report as a top-five arts and design school, VCUarts ( arts.vcu.edu ) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 50 staff members that assist in daily processes. The School includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disabilit y.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent:
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 12
Department: School of the Arts (VCUarts), Cinema Program

Salary: Commensurate with Experience