I. Background and current status 

The Department was founded in August 2011 in southern Taiwan. The goal of the Department is to nurture creative talent for film and television drama movies, and we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New York Film Academy (NYFA) on January 12, 2012. The filmmaking curriculum focuses on creativity and practical expertise, such as script writing, directing, cinematography, digital editing, etc. The curriculum, moreover, emphasizes media technology developments in film and television and how these developments influence the media ecology. We currently divide the courses into two potential modules: Film and TV Technical Production and Film and TV Performing. 

In recent years, the Executive Yuan vigorously promotes the culture and creative industries, providing a great development opportunity for the collapsing Taiwan film industry; over the years, the Kaohsiung City Government has also devoted itself to promoting the film and television industry and to bringing audiences more diverse. The main campus is located with its uniquely natural and cultural conditions in southern Taiwan. In response to trends in the cultural and creative industry, I-Shou University provides a potential environment for the establishment of this department.

The educational philosophy and the management of I-Shou University always keep abreast of the needs of the community and the national industrial development and support for the Group's development. Under the leadership of Chairman Mr. Lin, E-United Group has built "E-DA WORLD,” providing greater support to the Government and new industries. Chairman Lin thinks that the annual output value of the U.S. film industry is trillions of dollars, and through the marketing of Korean dramas, South Korea has become a well-known country; these have proved that cinematic art is not only the potential cultural and creative industries but the national soft power worth investing. Based on "E-DA WORLD," he plans to continue the investments and make the Group the first to enter the film industry in southern Taiwan.  

Therefore, the establishment of the Department of Film and Television, I-Shou University, on the one hand, nurtures talents for cultural and creative industries in southern Taiwan; on the other hand, it shows the specific determination of E-United Group to invest in the film and television industry. We wholeheartedly welcome the students interested in film and television production, and theater performances to join our teams. 

II. Department’s Education features: “Learning by doing,” We teach film “making”  rather than film “studies.”  

1. We integrate stage performances and the professional training of crew technicians, believing in the spirit of “learning by doing.”

2. We equip our students with the ability to learn communication and integration and to realize their dreams on their own.

3. Through module teaching, internship courses and professional competitions, we reach the goal of seamless integration with the industry.

4. We promote interdisciplinary cooperation, and explore the possibility of the use of multimedia, and thus develop film theories including forms and aesthetics.

 III. Curriculum Planning

The main goal of the Department of Film and Television is to teach the students to put the theories of Film & Television Production and performing arts into practice. With the integrated framework of the curriculum planned by the Department of Film and Television, we believe our students can do more cross-border creations in the future. The courses in film and television production are to teach the knowledge about cinematography, lighting, directing, screenplay wiring, sound design, film editing, visual effects and post-production of digital media, etc.; and the courses in acting for film are to teach the knowledge about the introduction to theatre, speech, acting technique and voice & movement.  

We also cooperate with the Department of Digital Media Design, Department of Mass Communication, and Department of Creative Product Design to integrate the courses, such as animation, documentary and design, for cultivating students’ second or third specialties and improving their employability. 

IV. Professional Faculties:

1. Full-time Teachers: The Department will appoint seven full-time domestic or international expertise teachers with Ph.D. or master’s degrees within the first two years, covering the field of directing, cinematography, scriptwriting, editing, sound design, performance, and film and television production, marketing and distribution, etc.

2.  Teachers in Industry: In addition to full-time and part-time teachers, the Department continues to cooperate with the domestic professional theater and film and television companies and offers a series of curriculum modules, the so-called “module course.” For the “module courses,” each course is co-tutored by a full-time teacher and many industry teachers.

 

V. Professional Equipment and Studios

We have professional EPIC-X cameras, professional lighting equipment, a professional recording studio, a professional editing studio, a professional make-up studio, and a theater.

VI. Development Strategy

There are three main areas for development strategy in the Department, including international exchanges, industry-university cooperation, and interdisciplinary cooperation.

1.   International Exchange: In March 2012, New York Film Academy (NYFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Film and Television of ISU in order to create a mutually beneficial relationship for future collaboration both academically and professionally. 

2. Industry-university Cooperation: We have established cooperative relations with Great Vision Film & TV Company, Wowtv Company, Monmouth Technologies, Inc., E-DA Royal Theater, E-DA World Exhibition Center, Kaohsiung Film Development and Production Center, Kaohsiung Film Archive, Project Management Association (PMI), Paperwindmill Theatrical Company, and Phoenix Talent Company, etc. It is conducive to the students’ internship during the study period.

3.     Interdisciplinary Cooperation: We reach out to collaborate with various theatre groups, advertising, fashion exhibitions, wedding companies, e-learning productions, etc.

In addition, the advantages of the Department include investment from the E-United Group and making good use of the group strengths to develop diversification opportunities for cross-industry cooperation, providing more creative opportunities for the students and faculties to accumulate practical experiences. They are the best ways to help young friends with dreams challenge the future life.