Assistant Professor, Cinematography and Film Production

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University

Description

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University seeks a full-time 9-month (academic year) Assistant Professor, Cinematography and Film Production beginning August 2025. This is a tenure-track position. The faculty member will teach undergraduate/graduate courses, actively engage in professional research, and contribute appropriate service. This position will be located at two of ASU’s Poitier Film School locations – the ASU Tempe Campus and the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center, in Mesa AZ.

About ASU

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. In 2022, ASU was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution and in 2023, ASU joined the prestigious Association of American Universities. ASU is deeply committed to advancing in innovative ways while sustaining a welcoming, supportive and empowering environment for all members of our community.

About the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the country located within a dynamic research university focused on transformative change. Built on a unique combination of disciplines, the Herberger Institute comprises six schools: ASU FIDM, the School of Art, the School of Arts, Media and Engineering, The Design School, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, and the School of Music, Dance and Theatre. The Institute also includes the ASU Art Museum and the ASU FIDM Museum. The Herberger Institute is committed to developing and scaling ideas that strengthen the role and impact of designers and artists across all areas of society and culture, and to increasing the capacity of artists and designers to make a difference in their communities. For more information on the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, visit herbergerinstitute.asu.edu.

About The Sidney Poitier New American Film School

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School inspires the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers. The School operates in three cities - Tempe and Mesa, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California - and offers a BA in Film (filmmaking practices), a BFA in Film and Media Production and an MA in Narrative and Emerging Media, which is a joint program with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Our state-of-the-art facilities in the Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center in Mesa are open to students from all locations. Our award-winning faculty include Emmy winners, Sundance fellows, and active commercial filmmakers and television producers who inspire our students to tell powerful stories through their work. As an Avid Learning Partner, the school is committed to providing access to industry standard tools for continued student success.

The Assistant Professor of Cinematography and Film Production will have primary teaching responsibility in beginner and advanced cinematography courses that help students learn how to effectively engage audiences visually, tell meaningful stories, and creatively use a wide range of visual storytelling tools and technologies. The successful candidate will supervise and mentor student projects across the school while fostering collaboration and creative problem-solving skills; maintain an active professional creative profile by engaging in meaningful research and creative work; contribute appropriate service to the school, Institute, and university; and participate in the faculty governance of the School.

We are especially interested in applicants who are dedicated to advancing the ASU Charter and realizing ASU’s Design Aspirations and the mission of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal or MFA degree in Film or related fields, ABD accepted for PhD degrees.
• Three years minimum of confirmed professional work/credits in cinematography.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching cinematography and/or film production.
• Established proficiency utilizing professional industry standard digital cinema cameras, lighting, and grip equipment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Active productivity and recognized professional/artistic excellence as a cinematographer, evidenced by public presentation or distribution of narrative films, documentaries, commercials, or other visual media.
• Experience teaching and mentoring cinematography and/or film production students in a college/university setting.
• Record of active engagement with industry and professional organizations/partners.
• Experience in cinematography for virtual stages and/or virtual production volumes.
• Knowledge of existing and emerging technologies related to digital imaging workflows and postproduction manipulation of images.
• Broad knowledge of film/media history and appreciation for the cultural value and social impact of film, television and other visual storytelling media.
• Ability to teach in-person, online, and/or hybrid courses.

Instructions to Apply:

Please submit the following materials as separate items:

• A resume or C.V.
• A letter of interest describing how the candidate meets the required qualifications and position description, including the principles of inclusive excellence consistent with the ASU Charter and the Mission of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School.
• A teaching philosophy, including a brief description of a potential courses or past taught courses.
• Sample of creative work (no longer than 10-minutes total) via a link to Vimeo/YouTube/Site or equivalent online platform with clear credit on work noted. (Please also include links to complete works with credits, if possible.)
• List of three references with contact information.
• Applicants advancing to the second round of review may be asked to provide additional materials.

Application Deadline:

The application deadline is December 31, 2024. Applications for a reserve pool will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled.