Jobs

Assistant Professor, Fiction Directing, School of Cinema

Job no: 505315

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: San Francisco

Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Fine/Performing Arts, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time

Application link

Introduction

San Francisco State University School of Cinema offers an exciting opportunity for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Fiction Directing beginning August 2022. We seek a colleague with notable experience working with actors and bringing a director’s vision to the screen. Of particular interest are filmmakers whose work foregrounds the stories of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or Disabled communities. Demonstrable experience in related aspects of filmmaking—such as screenwriting, cinematography, producing, or episodic storytelling—is also desirable. We are especially interested in qualified candidates with a demonstrated commitment -- through their research, teaching, and service -- to the diversity and excellence of our academic community/department/program.

Founded during the political activism and artistic experimentation of the 1960s, the School of Cinema fosters and champions cinematic expressions that challenge social and artistic norms, take creative risks, promote social justice, and express the diversity of the human experience. The School of Cinema has been recognized for multiple years as one of the top 25 film schools in the United States, according to The Hollywood Reporter, The Independent, and Filmmaker, with a distinguished faculty of an award-winning documentary, fiction and experimental filmmakers, and scholars specializing in feminist theory, international and American cinema, sexuality studies, and film sound/voice. The School serves more than 50 graduate students (MA and MFA) and more than 900 undergraduate majors whose work has been distinguished by honors ranging from scholarly publication and conference presentations to creative recognition via numerous Princess Grace Awards, official selection in the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, SXSW, Frameline, the Flaherty Seminar, and many others.

The mission of San Francisco State University is to create and maintain an environment for learning that promotes respect for and appreciation of scholarship, freedom, human diversity, and the cultural mosaic of the City of San Francisco and the Bay Area; to promote excellence in instruction and intellectual accomplishment; and to provide broadly accessible higher education for residents of the region and state, as well as the nation and world. To fulfill its mission, the University is committed to the following goals:

• Attracting, retaining, and graduating a highly diverse student body
• Providing disciplinary and interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional education that is academically rigorous and intellectually challenging
• Providing curricula that reflect all dimensions of human diversity, and that encourage critical thinking and a commitment to social justice
• Recruiting, retaining, and supporting a diverse faculty whose teaching demonstrates an active engagement with their individual fields of study and whose creative and scholarly work is an extension of the classroom, laboratory, or studio
• Employing a staff and administration reflecting the diversity of our student community and the values of the campus;
• Fostering a collegial and cooperative intellectual environment that includes recognition and appreciation of differing viewpoints and promotes academic freedom within the University community; and
• Serving the communities with which its students and faculty are engaged.

Responsibilities

The position requires undergraduate and/or graduate teaching in fiction filmmaking; mentoring and advising undergraduate and/or graduate students; developing and maintaining a robust program in fiction film directing; and ongoing committee and service assignments.

Qualifications

Required:

• M.F.A. or equivalent terminal degree in Cinema or related field. Terminal degree must be completed by the first day of employment.
• Active record of fiction filmmaking in the position of director or writer/director with a body of peer-reviewed film work that foregrounds the stories of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or Disabled communities.

Preferred:

• Record of teaching contributions in the areas of: fiction filmmaking; working with actors; bringing cinematic vision to the screen; leading pre-production, production, and post-production; screenwriting; or related areas
• Active film work with a record of exhibition (i.e., film festivals, streaming platforms, theatrical runs) and recognition (i.e., reviews, awards)
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate inclusion, diversity, and educational equity in teaching and/or scholarship and/or creative works
• Experience teaching and working closely with students from historically underrepresented communities
• Record of contributing to supportive and collaborative work environments

Rank and salary

Assistant Professor. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The California State University (CSU) provides generous health, retirement and other benefits.

Application

A complete online application must be submitted to receive consideration. To apply, upload the following materials:

1. Letter of intent (relating your experience to the required qualifications)
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A diversity statement (no more than 500 words) that provides an understanding of your capabilities to address diversity in support of SF State’s diverse student and community populations. Please discuss how you have addressed diversity in your teaching, research, or service.
4. A statement of your teaching philosophy (no more than 750 words).
5. Up to three (3) samples of creative work demonstrating your work as a fiction film director. Streaming links preferred.
6. Contact information for three references. Letters of recommendation upon request at a later date.

Application review begins Monday, November 8, 2021. Please direct all questions about the position to Scott Boswell, Associate Professor, by email at sboswell@sfsu.edu. 

Apply for the Assistant Professor position. 

San Francisco State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager.

Advertised: September 27, 2021 (9 a.m.) Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close: Open Until Filled

Individuals who wish to be considered for Adjunct Lecturer appointments, which occasionally become available in the School of Cinema, should fill out the application linked below. Your application will remain active for one semester, after which time you should re-apply to maintain eligibility. You will be contacted if a position opens up for which you are being considered.

Link to Application via the SF State job portal

Call For Applications, Cinema Lecturer Pool

The School of Cinema at SF State is accepting applications for projected lecturer opportunities. To be considered for these positions, please fill out the linked application portal.

Applications are received on an ongoing basis and will be considered for emerging opportunities.

The positions that are often in demand, pending funding and final approval from the College Dean, include (but not necessarily limited to):

• Projects in Film Editing
• 16mm Cinematography
• Digital Cinematography
• Screenwriting
• Advanced Lighting Techniques
• Writing About Cinema
• Exploration in Cinema as an Online Medium

The SF State School of Cinema has set up the online form to apply for positions as Lecturer Faculty. The application asks for a fair amount of information about your background, skills, availability and preferences as well as a list of two (2) references.

You may need a bit of time to complete, so please do not wait until the last minute to fill out the application.

Please email with any questions by contacting the Director of the School, Aaron Kerner (amkerner@sfsu.edu).

The SF State School of Cinema Lecturer Advisory Hiring Committee is: Professors Steve Choe, Weimin Zhang, Johnny Symons, and the School of Cinema Operations Manager Nalini Libby.

Equipment Room Manager (Equipment Technician II, Electronic) - School of Cinema

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Job no: 518806
Work type: Staff
Location: San Francisco
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Probationary, Full Time, Theatre Arts

Read the Position Description

Working Title

Equipment Room Manager

SF State University

San Francisco State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager.

Applicants may visit titleix.sfsu.edu for more information on SF State's policy prohibiting discrimination, and how to file an online report using the procedures under Executive Order 1096 Revised. Inquiries can be directed to the campus Title IX Coordinator and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Administrator by calling (415) 338-2032 or emailing vpsaem@sfsu.edu.

San Francisco State is a 100% Smoke/Vapor-Free Campus.  Smoking or Vaping of any tobacco/plant-based substance is not permitted on any University properties.

The person holding this position may be considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect  Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code.  The successful candidate accepting this position may be required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Department

School of Cinema

Appointment Type

Probationary

Time Base

Full-time (1.0)

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 5p.m.

Anticipated Hiring Range

$4,750.00 - $5,300.00 per month ($57,000.00 - $63,600.00 Annually)

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Position Summary

The Equipment Room Manager works with the School of Cinema Director and technical staff to coordinate and implement updates, purchases, upgrades, repair and maintenance, scheduling and checkout process of the departmental equipment collection as well as supervising and implementing appropriate packaging, storage, inventory, labeling and accessories. The Equipment Room Manager facilitates warranty and factory repairs as they become necessary. The Equipment Room Manager is the primary employee responsible for providing leadership and day-to-day oversight of operations for cage/Equipment Checkout Room, including supervising and training of student workers.

Position Information

Cage Management & Administration

• Manage cage operations and assure high level of customer service for cage patrons.
• Coordinate cage projects
• Analyze and monitor equipment through the equipment reservation and inventory management systems.
• Consult with faculty, School Director and tech staff to coordinate equipment checkout and related training for lab or classroom use.
• Oversee the production of user guides for equipment and for related technical needs, and appropriate guidelines vetting student responsibility and competency.
• Responsible for maintaining an up-to-date inventory of the equipment library and for generating reports as needed for the School Director.
• Primary person responsible for daily operations of the equipment scheduling software program(s).
• Oversees the input and update of the equipment library and related assets after purchase, donation or upgrading activities.
• Applies custom configurations as needed to accommodate unique program needed (ie specific equipment allocations for advanced classes).
• Monitors and analyzes system performance and trouble-shoots technical issues related to the equipment scheduling software program(s).
• Maintains up-to-date guides for equipment reservation processes and coordinates with School Director and tech staff to update webpage when changes occur.
• Generates billing reports and submit billing information to the Administration office.
• Generates and maintains equipment room student worker budget and schedule.
• Works with patrons, School Director, lead tech and production coordinator to coordinate repairs and replacements of lost and damaged equipment.
• Ensures checkout/check-in hours coordinate with course schedule and student availability, so as not to unduly interfere with class activities and instruction periods. 

Support Consultation & Training

• The Equipment Room Manager is the primary person responsible for analyzing and planning equipment checkout logistics for all courses that incorporate production equipment into their coursework.
• The Equipment Room Manager configures all scheduling options for equipment and facilities as required by faculty for their courses.
• Works with the Technical Director and Production Coordinator to analyze the overall course plan for each term to determine if the current equipment library will accommodate the equipment requirements of the scheduled courses and makes recommendations to the Production Committee and/or the School Director regarding gear needs and urgent or advisable purchases.
• Works with the Production Coordinator to analyze equipment training needs for production courses, sets specific checkout requirements, equipment schedule process and facilities trainings as needed to most efficiently and responsibly serve all vital curricular needs.
• Responsible for setup/maintenance of efficient scheduling/inventory/checkout process, trains faculty, students, and staff on how to use the reservation application to schedule equipment and serves as the first point of contact for troubleshooting issues with the equipment scheduling program(s).

Lifecycle Management

• The Equipment Room Manager oversees each step of the lifecycle process of production equipment assets (planning, acquisition, purchase, inventory, deployment, management, support, and disposition).
• Specific responsibilities for the on-going asset management of equipment loaning library include:
  
  • Inventories, inputs assets into the equipment scheduling software program(s) and labels equipment.
  • Organizes physical space of equipment room to maximize efficiency, maintain an ordered, professional appearance, and maximize ease/safety of use for workers and students.
• Documents and processes lost and damaged equipment.  repairs or arranges for repairs.
• Manages all technical waste stream generated. processes and logs surplus, discarded or non-functional items, oversees equipment donations and processes e-waste or other hazardous equipment room waste.
• Documents and bills patrons for late, lost, and damaged equipment.
• Compiles a list of parts and equipment needed to keep the equipment library fully operational and consults with the School Director and tech staff regarding the research, purchase, and maintenance of equipment. 
•  

Professional Development

• Stay current on technology related to the field of Cinema, may participate in conferences, meetings, and seminars.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities:

For Equipment Technician II and Supervising Equipment Technician II, all specialties
Thorough knowledge of methods, materials, tools and equipment used in construction, installation, maintenance, repair and operation of equipment in the area of specialization; knowledge of the repair and maintenance of tools and shop equipment, working knowledge of design and drafting procedures.

Ability to perform complex troubleshooting; ability to design, fabricate, modify, and repair technical equipment of the specialty assignment following original or suggested plans; ability to analyze equipment problems and determine what repairs are needed; ability to install, place, and maintain a wide variety of equipment related to the area of job assignment ability to read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of the position, ability to make arithmetic computations where required.

For Supervising Equipment Technician II, all specialties

The ability to train and supervise others.

and

Experience:

For Equipment Technician II and Supervising Equipment Technician II. all specialties.
Equivalent to two years of journey-level or skilled experience in the maintenance, repair, and operation of scientific or technical equipment in the specialty area to which assigned such as mechanical, electromechanical, electronics or in the specialized category including construction and fabrication and some precision work or requiring trade or craft skills working with a variety of unique materials.

Equivalent to two years of semi-skilled experience maintaining and repairing scientific or technical equipment or related experience in the type of equipment to which assigned as part of instructional support activities may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Equivalent to two years of trade school or technical arts training with specialization in the type of equipment repair to which assigned, completion of an apprenticeship program, or completion of a full military specialization in the required type of equipment maintenance and repair for one year of the required experience.

and

Special Qualifications:
A Federal Communications Commission license is required for some positions.

Environmental/Physical/Special

• Lifting, 15-50 pounds
• Reaching above shoulder
• Carrying, 15-50 pounds
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
• Hearing (aid permitted)

• Exposure to:
o Dust
o Noise
• Working closely with others
• Protracted or irregular hours of work
• Working alone 

Pre-Employment Requirements

This position requires the successful completion of a background check.

Eligibility to Work

Applicants must be able to provide proof of US Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, within three business days from their date of hire.

Benefits

Threaded through our Total Compensation package is a commitment to Bridging Life's Transitions.  SF State is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive program that rewards efforts that are appreciated by your colleagues, students and the customers we serve.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension, 401k, Healthcare Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Vacation and Sick Leave as well as State Holidays and a dynamic Fee Waiver program, all geared towards the University's commitment to attract, motivate and retain our employee.

Employment Requirement

CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so.  Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. Refer to the systemwide policy and questions may be sent to hr@campus.edu.

CSUEU Position

Eligible and qualified on-campus applicants, currently in bargaining units 2, 5, 7, and 9 are given hiring preference.

Additional Information

SF STATE IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (i.e. H1-B VISAS).

Thank you for your interest in employment with California State University (CSU).  CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California.  Because of this, CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California with very limited exception.  While this position may be eligible for occasional telework, all work is expected to be performed in the state of California, and this position is assigned to on-campus operations.

The Human Resources office is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at (415) 338-1872.

Please note that this position, position requirements, application deadline and/or any other component of this position is subject to change or cancellation at any time.
 

Advertised: September 21, 2022 (9 a.m.) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled

Graduate students apply for GA, GTA, and ISA positions with the School of Cinema on this site. There is a general expectation that graduate students will have held a GA position before they are assigned a GTA position. 

The application asks for a fair amount of information about your background, skills, availability and preferences. You may need a bit of time to complete, so please do not wait until the last minute to fill out the application.

Applications are due November 28, no later than noon.

For more information about the expected work hours and salary, please see Frequently Asked Questions (below).

We are enclosing a list of undergraduate courses that will likely require GAs, GTAs, or ISAs. Please note that this list is tentative and is subject to change. You may use this list to indicate particular assistantships that might fit your interests. Please remember that while we will endeavor to match you with a preferred course, there are many moving parts, and getting a preferred assignment may not be possible for everyone. Moreover, the schedule often undergoes some revisions, so please be aware that some flexibility on your part will likely be necessary. For more details about the course content, please visit the SF State Cinema Course Catalog.  

Typical GA positions:

• CINE200 Introduction to Cinema Studies
• CINE211 Film History I
• CINE212 Film History II
• CINE304 Gender and Film
• CINE307 National/Regional Cinemas
• CINE309 Latina/o/x Cinema
• CINE325 Focus on Film Topics (Three sections)
• CINE335 Art of Cinematography
• CINE342 Documentary Film
• CINE344 Film Genre (common topics include: comedy, horror, science-fiction)
• CINE365 History of Animation
• CINE450 Fundamentals of Screenwriting

Typical GTA positions:

• CINE204 Introduction to Filmmaking Laboratory (taught in conjunction with CINE202 Introduction to Filmmaking)
• CINE341 Critical Studies Discussion Group (taught in conjunction with CINE340 Critical Studies) 
• CINE624 Advanced Pre-Production Lab (taught in conjunction with CINE620 Critical Studies) 
• CINE625 Advanced Post-Production Lab (taught in conjunction with CINE622 Critical Studies) 

Typical ISA positions:

• CINE102 Introduction to Contemporary Cinema
• CINE325 Focus on Film Topics
• CINE326 Festivals

Please email with any questions to: Prof. Johnny Symons, M.F.A. Coordinator and/or Prof. Mihaela Mihailova, interim M.A. Coordinator.

NOTE: If you are an international student your appointment might be delayed due to the additional paperwork. Do NOT conduct any work until your paperwork is finalized.

Frequently Asked Questions

DISCLAIMER: All of the following information is based on the job offers in the previous semesters, and is subject to change. This is only a general guide.

Q: Are there limits to how many hours a graduate student can work?

Yes. No student, regardless of their work assignment, is allowed to work more than a grand total of 20 hours per week on campus (including other student work such as work-study, student assistant jobs, etc.) during the Fall and Spring semesters. The only exception to this is that students who are GTAs ONLY (with no other concurrent on-campus employment) may go over 20 hours as a GTA when approved to do so, but as soon as a concurrent classification of any type is included (e.g., GTA and ISA), the 20-hour limit would apply.

Q: What is the time commitment for each GA/GTA position?

GA positions: GA appointments can vary. However, the typical GA assignment is 10 hours per week. It is possible that a GA assignment may be more or less than that typical 10 hr/wk appointment.

GTA positions:

• CINE 204:
  • 8 hrs/week per section:
    • 3 hours for teaching, and 
    • Additional time for preparation and assessment.
  • A typical CINE 204 appointment is 1-2 sections.
  • A CINE 204 GTA assignment also includes supplemental compensation as an ISA (Instructional Student Assistant) for attending CINE 202 lectures. This concurrent ISA appointment means CINE 204 instructors are subject to the 20-hour weekly limit for on-campus employment. ISAs are paid hourly. The standard concurrent ISA appointment is 3 hours.
     
• CINE 341:
  • 2.66 hrs/wk per section:
    • 1 hour for teaching and 
    • Additional time for preparation and assessment.
  • A typical CINE 341 appointment is 2-3 sections.
  • A CINE 341 GTA assignment also includes supplemental compensation as an ISA (Instructional Student Assistant) for attending CINE 340 lectures. This concurrent ISA appointment means CINE 340 instructors are subject to the 20-hour weekly limit for on-campus employment. ISAs are paid hourly. The standard concurrent ISA appointment is 3 hours.
     
• CINE 624/625:
  • 4 hrs/wk.
    • 3 hours for teaching and 
    • Additional time for preparation and assessment.

Q: What does "timebase" mean?

The term "timebase" is the percentage of a full-time position (i.e., 40 hours/week) you are expected to work. For example, 0.5 timebase = 20 hrs/wk, 0.25 timebase = 10 hrs/wk, etc.

Q: How is the timebase for each GA/GTA position determined?

It is based on each course's WTU (Weighted Teaching Unit). It should take into account the overall amount of work expected for each course.

Q: What is the salary for each GA/GTA position?

The following is the total gross salary for these positions as of the Fall 2022 semester. This amount is subject to change. For more information, please see the CSU Salary Schedule. 

GA positions (salaried position, whole semester): $3,631.25 for each 10-hour assignment (.25 time base). This salary figure would increase or decrease accordingly with any changes to the time base.

GTA positions (salaried position, whole semester):  

• CINE204: $3,898.80 per section, plus additional ISA compensation for hours attending CINE 202 lectures. A typical CINE 204 appointment is 1-2 sections and up to 3 hours per week attending CINE 202 compensated as an ISA. The standard concurrent ISA appointment is 3 hours.
   
• CINE341: $1,299.60 per section. A typical 341 appointment is 2-3 sections, plus additional ISA compensation for hours attending CINE 340 lectures. The standard concurrent ISA appointment is 3 hours.
• CINE625: $1,949.40 per section.
• CINE625: $1,949.40 per section.

ISA positions: Compensation is hourly and paid as reported on the given pay period's time sheet. The current hourly rate as of Fall 2022 is $16.50 (min) to $21.42.

Q: How are the paychecks divided throughout the semester?

GTAs receive their pay on an Academic Year schedule, and will receive 6 (six) equal payments per semester. The first Fall payment issues at the end of September and the last comes at the end of February; the first Spring payment is issued at the end of March and the last comes at the end of July. For GTAs teaching both Fall and Spring of the same Academic Year, the sixth Fall payment does not issue at the end of February and instead is issued at the end of the following August (i.e., 5 Fall checks then 6 Spring checks then 1 Fall check).

GAs receive their pay on a 12-month schedule and will receive 5 (five) equal, consecutive monthly payments per semester, with the first Fall payment issuing at the end of September and the first Spring payment issuing at the end of February.

ISAs receive their pay on an hourly pay schedule, meaning, in the middle of the month following the month the hours are worked, e.g., hours worked during the September pay period and reported at the end of September will be paid on or about October 15th; hours worked during the October pay period and reported at the end of October will be paid on or about November 15th. The specific hourly pay date varies depending on where the weekends fall each month; please refer to the hourly pay calendar on HR's website.

Q: Is the salary amount the same for In-state/Out-of-state/International students?

Yes - the salary amount is the same.

International students' paychecks will be subject to the terms of any tax treaties the United States has with the students' country of citizenship. This can result in relatively low tax withholding or relatively high tax withholding depending on the country of citizenship, but this is not anything the School of Cinema has any control over. All International students' tax withholding rates are reviewed and approved by the campus' Tax Specialist, Young Kim, as part of the hiring process."

Q: Does a GA/GTA position include a tuition waiver or healthcare benefits?

No - A GA/GTA position does not include tuition waivers or healthcare benefits.

Q: What are my rights and benefits as a GA/GTA?

As a GA/GTA/ISA, you are in a bargaining unit position covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the California State University and your Union, UAW 4123. You are covered by all the rights and benefits included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement regardless of whether you chose to become a UAW member or not. You can read the full text of the CBA.

Am I required to be enrolled in courses to accept a GA/GTA/ISA appointment?

Yes. As a GTA or GA, the student must have a 3.0 or better GPA (unless they're working during their first semester of their grad program and don't yet have a GPA) and be enrolled in at least 3 units or be in their grace semester (or enrolled in LCA 499). As an ISA, the student must be enrolled in at least 4 units

Other Questions?

Please email with any questions to: Prof. Johnny Symons, M.F.A. Coordinator and/or Prof. Mihaela Mihailova, interim M.A. Coordinator.