Hey Lions! Are you interested in film, photography, editing, sound, visual effects or digital storytelling? York’s Media Arts program might be a great fit for you.
We spoke with Devin Jhu, a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Media Arts program, who is also completing a Marketing minor. Devin currently works as a content creator for student-focused communications at York (like our studentlifeyorku Instagram!) and freelances as a photographer and videographer outside of school.
The Department of Film & Media Arts at York has four programs: Media Arts (BFA), Film Production (BFA), Film Studies and Creative Media Industries (BA) and Screenwriting & Creative Producing (BFA).
What drew you to this program?
For Devin, York stood out because of the technical resources and practical experience offered through the Media Arts program.
“My branch of the program, BFA Media Arts, focuses on creating and developing media artists who carry a broad range of skills and specializations,” Devin says.
The program gives students the chance to build skills in areas such as sound design, visual effects, camera work, editing, 3D modelling, world building and motion capture. For Devin, the main areas of focus have been post-production, including video editing and sound design, as well as camera work.
What was your first year like?
The first year gives students a mix of theory and hands-on project experience. While upper-year classes focus more heavily on group projects, Devin says his first year helped build a strong foundation.
I have been developing my post-production and camera work since the first day of my first year.”
The program is designed to help students learn both independently and with their peers. Through group projects, students can practice working in creative teams, similar to how real-world media projects often bring together people with different skills and specializations.
How can students gain hands-on experience?
Hands-on learning is a major part of the Media Arts experience. Devin says group projects are especially important in upper-year courses because they allow students to work with other artists and combine different creative strengths.
“Group assignments mimic real-world projects by combining our unique skills to create a larger, greater overall project,” says Devin.
Students also have access to bookable spaces and equipment at York, which gives them more opportunities to experiment, practice and continue building their technical skills outside of class.
What has been your favourite experience in the program?
For Devin, some of his favourite experiences have been the end-of-year projects in his upper-year courses. Students are given about half a semester to work on a project of their choice under the Media Arts category, while applying what they have learned throughout the course.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to get to work on something you are passionate about and work with your friends as well,” Devin says.
One of Devin’s recent projects was an alternative experimental film where every part of the video, including the visuals and audio, was created by the group. Devin created a song for the project, while his group members worked on overlays, rotoscoping and animation. Together, they combined each element into one final video and had the opportunity to showcase their work.
For Devin, the project was memorable because it gave the group the chance to create something from start to finish and feel genuinely proud of the final piece.
What has been the most valuable part of the program?
I truly believe that though all of it is great, the real value of my program is the freedom and hands-on equipment experience it provides."
That experience has helped Devin grow as a media artist and has supported his work beyond the classroom, including freelance photography and videography.
Pro tip: Take advantage of the equipment and spaces available to you at York. The more you practice, the more confident you become with your creative and technical skills!
Whether you are interested in film production, editing, sound, visual effects or digital media, Media Arts will give you space to explore different creative paths while building practical skills for the future.
Learn more about Media Arts and explore all of the programs offered at York on our Future Students website!