Literature Review Research Report

The Research on UTEPs Film Program

Colleen S. McCrary
RWS 1302
Professor Kinley

Abstract
The film world is a big complicated part of everyday life. Film is our entertainment,
advertisement, history, video games, books, toys, T.V shows, music, commercials and so much
more. There are also plenty ways to be educated in the film world. In film schools, Online,
Universities, or Colleges. The main focus of this paper will be about University of Texas at El
Paso and to inform the readers about Digital Media Production (DMP) major. To help understand
what the DMP major is and what it has and does not have to offer to new students or current
students. The major objective is to bring about an awareness of the lack of activities; for
example, internships, clubs, festivals, etc. on campus for the students majoring in DMP. Also, to
learn if there will be any of these activities in the near future. Which could surely bring some
awareness to the DMP students and motivate them to help the DMP program grow and expand
by participating in UTEPs DMP activities.

Introduction

The Digital Media Production (DMP) program first started at UTEP in 2009
(Communication Depart. Entering Digital Age)and now being six years later the program seems
to be stagnated and not progressing which is to wonder why; but first, what is the Digital Media
Production program (DMP) and is the program available part of the University of Texas at El
Paso? According to Tyler Lacoma from eHow.com Digital Media Production means, The study
of media creation and display through online media; which indicates that the program is based
off of creating and learning about the digital media world. Now to judge if the program is a good
one will be answered at the end of the paper by readers and the writer of this paper. Next, to
speculate more about the program and if there are opportunities or activities for DMP majors on
campus which came the following questions:
1. What extra curriculum activities are offered to Digital Media Production (DMP) Majors
at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)?
2. What are the Positives and Negatives about University of Texas at El Pasos (UTEP)
Digital Media Production program?
3. What would you change about the Digital Media Production program at University of
Texas at El Paso (UTEP)?
4. If you were to compare a Film school to University of Texas at El Pasos (UTEP) Digital
Media Production program, what do you think is different?
So when thinking about the whys? and the Whats? in the DMP program. The essential
argument is if the DMP program has more or less rudimentary accessories at UTEP and why
not.
What extra curriculum activities are offered to Digital Media Production students at
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)?

To answer such a question Colleen S. McCrary found a Professor that deems qualified.
Dr. Sabiah Khan an assistance professor of Communications that teaches in the DMP major. Dr.
Khan started as a part-time professor at UTEP in 2011 and recently in the spring of 2015 attained
a full time position. She knows and understands the program and recognizes the needs and wants
of the program. When asking about the extra curriculum activities for the DMP program; for
example, internships, clubs, festivals, contest, making videos for school events, had no
knowledge of any of these currently being implemented. She did bring up the communication
class that is about Internships called COMM 4300. She also spoke of two internships
opportunities. Dr. Khan explained that her students were working with her on a big project for
the El Paso art museum. Dr. Khan thought it would be a good idea to make the class qualify for
internships. She also thought it would be a good idea to have internships cycle in and out the
department. Dr. Khan informed me of some former students that started a film business called
Double Scope in El Paso, Texas and are taking interns from UTEP. She stated that club,
organizations, festivals are student led. Colleen S. McCrary searched for Film, Movies, Digital
organizations and clubs on Mine Tracker and there is none. Seems DMP majors are lacking the
motive and the drive to expand the culture of the program. It is clear that it is not only the
schools responsibility to advance the DMP program, but also the students.
What are the Positives and Negatives about the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
Digital Media Production program?
Everyone has their own opinion about different their needs and wants in a University; and
so, Colleen S. McCrary asked Dr. Khan the question; What are the positives and Negatives about
the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Digital Media Production program? And so she said
the positive was to learn about the DMP program in a Liberal Art setting. She stated, The

program is dedicated to creating well rounded graduates who have a concentration in the
technical and creative process of media production. That is why having the program in the
Liberal Art setting is positive in her opinion. The negative about the DMP program could be a lot
of things based off what the student is looking for. Dr. Khan said, Probably be more flexible
about the course work; right now its heavily scripted like everyone has to take a lot of Film
Courses. She also says, Let the students minor in whatever they want to miner in. The DMP
program does not require a minor which mostly tends to cause students that want to major in
DMP and minor in a side interest; for example, History, English, Sociology, etc. but cant. So then
students major in History, English, Psychology, etc. and minor in DMP even though they are
further interested in the DMP major. There are a lot of positives and negatives about the DMP
program. While doing the observing of COMM 2342; which is Introduction to Video Systems,
there is a lot students ask for in terms of equipment due to the fact that some are not majoring in
DMP and are just taking the class. (Observation) A positive would be that the University career
center has a web page dedicated to the DMP majors. The page has Internship Opportunities,
Student Organizations that could help, Professional Organizations, Online resources, and Major
Related Jobs. (University career center)
What would you change about the Digital Media Production Program at University of
Texas at El Paso (UTEP)?
Of course, in a dream world there would be a lot to change about the DMP program, but
in reality the changes that are wanted by the DMP students and DMP professors can only happen
if there are more people taking interest. Dr.Khan articulated that professors who know what is
needed to improve the program end up leaving, and students that graduate with the DMP major
understand how it is to be a DMP student and the struggles. They are the ones expected to come

back and hopefully help improve the program. This makes it harder to push for progress and
change for the DMP program. This also limits the opportunity to improve the DMP program at
UTEP. Over time there is always change, but to recognize and determine if it is for the good or
bad for the program is what could structure future DMP majors. Interviewing Dr. Khan; she
stated, I think it is important to keep the major rooted in the liberal arts. Her reason was
develop the technical aspects of the course work more over time, but always keep it imbedded
in media studies and to go broader into Liberal Arts. Observing the COMM 2342 class has
caused realization that there is low staff in the program, low classrooms, low equipment, and low
classes. To change that would likely make a drastic change in the program. Which could cause a
vast amount of new undergraduate students majoring in the DMP program. Although University
of Texas at El Paso is not a film school does not mean that the experience should be any less, but
more diverse in the community of Liberal Arts and Communications. To create more of an
awareness to the student body of the DMP program could cause more change already. Meeting a
fellow DMP major is rare and not common due to that there is few students majoring in DMP.
Keeping in mind that the program only started in 2009; stated by the Frank Perez (2009), which
means change will come slowly but surely.
If you were to compare a Film school to University of Texas at El Pasos (UTEP) Digital
Media Production program, what do you think is different?
Clearly a Film school will have more experience and have more opportunities than UTEP
engineering school in their DMP program. Annual Film School tuition is $80,000-$38,000 (Film
connection) for two semesters and UTEP is a traditional University and also being a resident the
tuition is $168.78/ semester credit hour (academics.UTEP.edu). When Dr. Khan was asked the
question she said that connections could be made easily since all the students are interested in the

same category. Although, at UTEP she said DMP majors can test the waters which means
connecting to those that could help with any specific subject. Dr. Khan declared that at film
school there is no Liberal Arts and so forth not being as rounded as a student would be at a
University with the DMP program going through the Liberal Arts. Observing class COMM 2342
is an Introduction class and was full of thirteen students and most of the students do not major in
DMP. The DMP classes are always small due to the amount of students majoring or minoring in
it. In a Film class the classes will be five times bigger. Also the DMP program is under the
Communications and so classes are supposed to be taken place at Cotton Memorial, but due to
having more classes and students than actual classes causes class room change from Fox Fine
arts to Liberal Arts. (Observation) Colleen S. McCrary has also observed that film and video
classes tend to be dark in the class room and last three to four hours. This is due to the video and
movie watching; which, could be the same situation with film schools.
Figure 1

Figure 1. Top 10 Film Schools. This image rates the top film schools but still express that no
matter where you go doesnt matter.

When researching the rankings of film schools or even about film programs in general is very
difficult. There is no data on University of Texas at El Pasos DMP program and how well it has
been doing. The only data available is rankings of actual film schools and about the famous
alumni, tuition, and classes. Some of the Universities listed in Figure 1 are not full film schools,
but just have a good film program. Compare University of Texas at El Paso to a film school that
has been up longer would be really good, but not the best. For everyone is different and
interested in different subjects and techniques.
Conclusion
When looking for information about the DMP major there is not a lot. The best way to
understand it and learn more about it is to talk to the Professors that teach in the program. Or
possibly talk to fellow students that have been in the program longer. There are a lot of good
things about UTEPs DMP major; for example, smaller classes means better one on one with
professors. The downside would have to be the lack of classes there could be for the program. In
conclusion, is UTEPs DMP program the best; sadly no. Is it terrible? No. No matter what each
DMP thinks the fact is that the program is new and growing, but can only grow for the best if
students and staff work together on getting the program where is mentioned. Dr. Khan said,
Think of media production as in way a branch of composition and rhetoric; how do we
communicate with these tools; these are tools, what do we say with them? I mean I Think that
should be that really in a way what the goal of this major is how to learn how to say things with
cutting edge tools.

Reference Page
Lacoma, Tyler. (2015) What is Digital Media Production?. eHow. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/about_6505051_digital-media-production_.html
NA(2015) Organization Directory. Mine Tracker. Retrieved from
https://minetracker.utep.edu/organizations
Film Connection film institute. (2015) How does film connection compare. Film Connection
Recording Radio Film Culinary Connection. Retrieved from
http://www.filmconnection.com/tuition-costs-compared/

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NA(2010-2011)The University of Texasd at El Paso Summary of Proposed Tuition and Fee

Charges 2010-2011.Tuition and Fees. Retrieved from
http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=66161
Perez, Frank. (2009) New Degree: B.A. In Multimedia Journalism and B.A. in Digital Media
Production. Communication Department Entering Digital Age. Retrieved from
http://academics.utep.edu/default.aspx?tabid=62188
College of Liberal Arts (2010) Digital Media Production. College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved
from http://academics.utep.edu/default.aspx?tabid=13460
Epino, Patrick. Dypiangco, Stephen. (sep 12, 2011)Film School or No film School. National
Film Society. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS4DqduHEHo
Figure 1. Top 10 Film Schools. (Oct. 29, 2015) Retrieved From
http://www.videomaker.com/sites/videomaker.com/files/styles/magazine_article_seconda
ry/public/articles/15785/315-F16-VM-Guide-to-Film-SchoolSECONDARY_3.png?itok=6WpNmikm
University Career Center. College of Liberal Arts. Digital Media Production. (Oct. 29, 2015)
Retrieved from http://sa.utep.edu/careers/files/2013/09/Mining-Majors-Digital-MediaProduction.pdf

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