Mission, Values, and Competencies

Loyola Filmmaking Vision Statement

Loyola University’s Filmmaking Program aspires to cultivate artists of character and conscience, possessed of a holistic understanding of the medium and a dedication to the craft and, further, to inculcate and inspire, in these artists, the intentional creation of stories that can build a more thoughtful, compassionate, and inclusive world.

Core Values

• Jesuit Educational Principles
  Commitment to reflection, ethical responsibility, service, and the pursuit of justice. 
• Thoughtful and Compassionate Storytelling
  Using film as a creative and ethical medium through which students engage the human experience and contribute to a more thoughtful, compassionate, and inclusive world. 
• Holistic Understanding of the Medium
  Emphasizing a broad-based understanding of the many creative, technical, historical, and collaborative dimensions of filmmaking. 
• Creative Inquiry and Critical Engagement
  Encouraging close analysis of narrative, form, aesthetics, genre, history, and audience in order to deepen both artistic practice and critical understanding. 
• Collaboration and Professionalism
  Promoting a culture of collaborative creation, accountability, and respect consistent with professional filmmaking environments. 
• Ethical Practice and Representation
  Fostering awareness of the responsibilities filmmakers bear in matters of authorship, representation, cultural impact, and creative decision-making. 

Core Competencies

• Screenwriting and Narrative Development
  Developing original stories, character arcs, and dialogue using current industry formatting standards and screenwriting software. 
• Production Technique and Equipment Proficiency
  Gaining practical fluency with industry-standard cameras, lenses, lighting instruments, and sound recording equipment through classroom and on-set experience. 
• Directing and Visual Storytelling
  Learning to shape performance, staging, visual composition, and dramatic action in the service of effective cinematic storytelling. 
• Production Roles and Collaborative Workflow
  Understanding the responsibilities and collaborative dynamics of central film personnel, including producers, directors, cinematographers, assistant directors, and production designers. 
• Post-Production Practice
  Building knowledge and functional ability in editing, sound design, music, color, visual effects, finishing, and delivery workflows. 
• Film History, Theory, and Critical Analysis
  Engaging films and filmmakers through historical, theoretical, stylistic, and critical frameworks in order to better understand the evolution and language of cinema. 
• Professional Practice and Industry Readiness
  Developing familiarity with film business practices such as contracts, legal agreements, fundraising, budgeting, marketing, distribution, and professional communication. 
• Portfolio and Capstone Development
  Producing a professional body of work—including a capstone film, writing samples, and portfolio materials—that reflects the student’s creative and technical development. 
• Career Preparation
  Strengthening practical tools such as resume writing, interviewing, networking, and professional presentation in preparation for entry into the film and media industries.

Closing Statement

Together, these values and competencies reflect a program that integrates ethical purpose, artistic inquiry, technical proficiency, and professional preparation, positioning filmmaking as both a creative discipline and a meaningful vehicle for human connection, cultural engagement, and social reflection.