Acting is the expressive on-camera component to narrative filmmaking. As an Acting emphasis student, you’ll take courses that provide the fundamental basics of movement, voice, and character development. You’ll learn to interpret the intent of the line, event of the scene, and objective of the piece, then move into the challenge of using your interpretation when the camera captures your performance. As an Acting emphasis graduate, you will have learned the interaction of acting with the other key elements of narrative filmmaking and acquired the ability to be the total storyteller working both in front and behind the camera. During your Senior Thesis courses, you’ll have the opportunity to be the total storyteller, working both in front of the camera and behind the camera.

Career Opportunities

Acting Program Requirements

Cinematography is the art and craft of using the camera and lighting to create a visual mood. As a cinematographer or Director of Photography (DP), you’ll be the director’s primary collaborator in the process of bringing a screen story to life. Your job will be to create images that tell the story using lighting and camera movement and constantly discover new methods of expressing yourself through imagery, whether the tool is a digital or film camera.

When you choose the Cinematography emphasis, you’ll work closely with aspiring directing, writing and producing students to create short films, documentaries, TV commercials, and music videos. Using real-world techniques and methods in hands on classes, you’ll learn the vocabulary of professional cinematography, acquire practical, technical skills and techniques, and become familiar with the practical management skills necessary to work in the role of Director of Photography.

The advanced emphasis curriculum includes immersive courses in studio lighting, camera movement, and filming on location to prepare you for a career in the camera department. During your Senior Thesis courses, you’ll produce and refine a reel of original and produced work to use as a professional portfolio.

Career Opportunities

Cinematography Program Requirements

For 70 years, Columbia College Hollywood has been educating and preparing student directors for careers in the entertainment industry. When coupled with the core curriculum of the BFA Cinema program, the Directing emphasis requirements provide you with a solid foundation in the art of directing for film, television, and documentaries. You’ll acquire key skills in script analysis, communicating an original vision to actors, and guiding crews from pre-production to production to post production. You’ll use professional equipment and industry-standard tools and techniques in practical, hands-on classes. You’ll learn to interpret text, explore film and television genres, and ultimately discover your own unique and personal path to a creative career as a visual storyteller. During Senior Thesis courses, you’ll produce and refine a reel of original and produced work to use as a professional portfolio.

Career Opportunities

Directing Program Requirements

Film editing is the process of preparing existing motion and sound footage for finalized publication and distribution requiring creativity and expertise using specialized computer hardware, software, and on-set tools. It is an essential part of the process of filmmaking and requires expertise and creativity. The Editing emphasis focuses on all of the key components of the post production process, including editing, visual effects editing, sound design, and sound editing.

Career Opportunities

Editing Program Requirements

Producing is both a key component of filmmaking and essential to the intertwined discipline of project development. In the motion picture and television industries, you can become a producer by working up through the ranks of production jobs or use your entrepreneurial spirit and savvy to leapfrog to selling projects to studios, networks, and investors. You can also transition into producing after ascending in professions that are careers in and of themselves, as an executive for a studio, network, or production company, or by working as a talent/literary agent or personal manager. In the Producing emphasis, you’ll acquire the skills to oversee and run a professional film or digital set and critical information about the entertainment industry and its practices to pitch, sell, and shepherd projects that you can bring to the multitude of entertainment and distribution platforms.

Career Opportunities

Producing Program Requirements

The screenplay is a blueprint that guides a motion picture production. As a screenwriter, you have the challenging task of providing textual foundation for visual and aural media.

The Screenwriting emphasis is a forum for you to explore your creativity and tell your own stories while gaining essential skills to develop and write professional screenplays. Coursework focuses on developing and fine-tuning story elements while embracing a realistic understanding the entertainment industry. The Screenwriting emphasis also provides you with an overview of industry practices such as finding an agent, pitching ideas, submitting spec scripts, and navigating business deals.

Career Opportunities

Screenwriting Program Requirements

Although creating content for film, television, and new media is referred to as visual storytelling, sound is a key element that drives the narrative. The Sound emphasis gives you a foundation in sound production, recording, and mixing and the ability to use sound artistically. You’ll learn the complexities of production sound, then focus extensively on post production sound design using Avid Pro Tools. You’ll also learn to master the creation and implementation of sound effects. Courses will spotlight music, including creating a score and soundtrack, and include the art of sound design for video games and animation.

Career Opportunities

Sound Program Requirements