About the Department of Theatre Arts & Film Technology
Introduction
Cognizant of the role of culture in the sustenance of a society, and realizing the need for a dynamic self-sustaining Theatre and Film industry that will employ thousands of Kenyan creative and performing artists, the department was started in 2008 to train actors, directors, choreographers, designers, photographers, script writ
ers, managers and producers. The department of Theatre Arts and Film Technology offers an innovative, undergraduate programme leading to a B. This rich and diverse programme seeks explores two of the most popular art forms of this century in the larger context of humanistic studies. At the same time, it encourages students to look at moving images from the vantage point of other disciplines. To this end, the Theatre Arts and Film Studies programmes cooperate with a number of other departments and programmes on campus offering courses from Art and Design, Music, Literature, English, Kiswahili, Gender Studies, History, Psychology, Anthropology and Political Science. Graduate courses in the area of Theatre Arts and Film Technology are instrumental in preparing students for employment in the television and motion picture, a career as an independent producer, or entry into the teaching profession. Linkages
The department is actively involved in linkages with various institutions and Organizations such as: Kenya Film Commission, Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Film Department of Kenya, Arusha Film Festival, Filamu, Kenya International Film Festival, African Council of Religious Studies, University of Cincinnati, U.S.A, University of Dodoma, Tanzania, Multi-Media University, and other likeminded organizations. Programmes
The department offers a total 89 units in both Film studies and Theatre Art in the undergraduate programme and 47 units in the M.A. Research
Key areas of research for students include, but not limited to the following areas:
Acting (for stage and for film)
Cinematography
Directing (Film and Stage Play)
Screenwriting & Playwriting
Film production
Photography and design
TV Production
Advertising
Camera Operations
Radio Broadcasting Techniques
Editing
Costume Design and Make Up
Animation
Sound and Lighting
Computer graphics
Visual Effects
Academic staff
The department has seven (7) fulltime members of academic staff who specialize in various areas of theatre and Film. The department is also served by a number of adjunct faculty. New Programmes
The department is in the process of reviewing its curriculum and developing new programmes – Certificate in Animation, Diploma in Animation and Bachelor of Animation - which are scheduled to be implemented during the 1st semester 2014/15 academic year. Student's profile
Currently, the department has more than 300 hundred students and is the largest department in terms of student numbers in the School of Visual and Performing Arts. The pioneer class of twelve (12) graduated in December 2012. Most of the members of this class are pursuing their Master's Degree course. Continuing students are cutting a niche for themselves and a number are involved in scriptwriting for or acting in popular TV Kenyan dramas such: Machachari, Tahidi High, Mother-in-Law, Nairobi Law, among others. Theatre specialists are actively involved in acting and / or directing plays at the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi, Kenya; among other venues. Student destination
Graduates from this department may work in many areas including the following:
In the entertainment field as directors, actors, actresses and technicians in theatre and Film
Employment in the media houses (Television, Print and Radio.) In the education ministry as Tutors
Self-employment
In the Ministry of Information.
