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Screenwriting & Animation

Cinematic Arts and Sciences

What is SWAN?

Screenwriting and Animation (SWAN) is Morgan's cinematic arts and sciences major and the most technology immersive program in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). Much more than just a film major, SWAN lays the groundwork for evolving artists, filmmakers, and content producers to forge career paths in entertainment, education, science, and business at a time when visual storytelling is the dominant narrative form of the 21st Century.

MFIC REEL TO REAL PARTY HONORING SWAN DIRECTOR KEITH MEHLINGER

SWAN student, Nina Rose, creates a stop-motion video introducing SWAN to you!

Register for SWAN courses for the 2024 fall semester!

Our Next is Now! David E.Talbert visited our campus from April 4-5th to hold a public event and two workshops with our students discussing screenwriting and directing. During this event we had the inaugural opening of our Portage Soundstage which we have been working on acquiring for our students for 10 years.

Swan alumni, Toroes Thomas film, 'Sr.' was recently featured as a Spotlight for the 25th Anniversary of the Maryland Film Festival. This is the first time in SWAN history that an alumni's feature film was selected in the Maryland Film Festival. The film received a standing ovation and is moving in the direction of reaching large audiences. 

This emotionally charged narrative explores the complexities of fatherhood, addiction, and the fight for a better future. Follow the story of David Williams as he navigates the challenges of raising his son amidst personal and societal turmoil. 

HBCU NEXT 

HBCU NEXT is a fellowship program seeking storytellers from the nation's top HBCU's to enroll in USC's intensive, six-week summer workshops. This initiative was created by acclaimed filmmaker David E. Talbert to create a pipeline for filmmakers of color from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to learn from renowned faculty at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Two of our SWAN students, Imani Mullings and Sha-Shonna Rogers are inaugural participants of this program.

Watch the full video to see what they had to say about this amazing opportunity!

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The SWAN major has three concentrations

Computer Animation, Film + Television Screenwriting, and Integrated Media Writing

  • The Computer Animation concentration requires courses in 2D and 3D animation, motion design, storyboarding, web design, multimedia scripting, and games.
  • The Integrated Media Writing (Screenwriting) and Animation concentration requires courses in drawing and illustration, courses in graphic comics, and more graphics art based practice in computer animation and the media arts.
  • The Film and Television Writing (Screenwriting) concentration requires greater immersion in applied theory and practice in writing and content production for film/TV and multimedia, including documentary and drama.

All concentrations include:

  • Film studies
  • Computer Animation
  • IAR/VR immersive storytelling
  • Visual storytelling and writing
  • Game art and design
  • Screenwriting
  • Graphic comics
  • Entrepreneurship and independent filmmaking
  • Ethical business practices for the industry
  • Fluency in writing and creative expression
  • Production field experience, and post-production workflow and assembly
  • Majors take two computer science courses
  • Producing webisodes, short films and documentaries, as well as informational and corporate videos
  • Introductory animation workshop, and introductory and intermediate editing courses

Need an Override?

click this link, fill out the form: 

SWAN Override Form

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Alumni Spotlight: Alicia Agrimonte

Alicia Agrimonte is a 2015 Graduate of Morgan State's SWAN Program. Alicia Agrimonte worked for Morgan Freeman's company, Revelations Entertaiment, as an executive for several years after her graduation. She currently works at MITU and is an aspiring director and actress. 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Alumni Spotlight: Leroy Marshall

Leroy Marshall graduated in the class of 2020! He currently works at Disney Animation. 

Alumni Spotlight: Dezimond Fisher

Dezimond Fisher is a Spring 2020 Graduate of Morgan State's SWAN Program. 

Dezimond worked hard during his time at Morgan to advance his screenwriting skills. Currently he is working on many projects and carrying what he learned from the SWAN Program into his career in film.

Alumni Spotlight: Myla McLeod

Myla McLeod is a Spring 2020 Graduate of Morgan State's SWAN Program.

Myla is an avid learner and will be continuing her studies. With the help of the SWAN Program Myla has went on to become an entrepreneur and an artist. She is extremely grateful she has had the opportunity to be a part of the SWAN Fam.