40 Week Filmmaking Curriculum

Tools of Production

Tools of Production focuses on developing both the creative and technical hands-on skills that are at the core of the filmmaking process. The groundwork in lighting, composition, story boarding, and editing is set out in the first and second quarters of the program. In the third and fourth quarters of the program, as projects become larger and more complex, students build on their basic skills and develop their craft in all aspects of production with a particular emphasis on cinematography, camera operation, editing and sound design. Over the 40 week program, students are involved in every aspect of pre-production, production, and post-production. In addition to individual projects, each student rotates through all the major crew positions including director, director of photography, camera operator, sound and editing.

Elements of Filmmaking

Foundations of Filmmaking concentrates on areas involved with directing, editing production design, producing, and the practical workings of the film world. It's also in this class that students prepare their resumes and demo reels. Foundations of Filmmaking highlights very specific areas such as casting, audition techniques, working with actors, and art direction. The class also is project oriented as students complete 4 individual HD projects as they reinforce basic skills in lighting, camera operation, and editing. Students also study grant writing and fund raising for documentaries as well as analyze patterns of producing, production, and distribution for projects including short films, independent features and major mainstream productions.

Screenwriting

In Screenwriting students develop a fundamental awareness and understanding of script and dramatic structure that is crucial to understanding the filmmaking process. During the course of the program all students complete an original feature-length screenplay. The first quarter focuses on screenplay structure and the development of story ideas. During the second and third quarters, the emphasis is on overall story structure and specific topic areas such as writing dialogue and developing characters. Students complete their screenplay during the fourth quarter. As part of the screenwriting program, students also deal with the business of screenwriting from pitching scripts to finding agents. In addition, it is during this class that students write the short scripts that are produced in the production phase of the program.

Film History and Analysis

Film History and Analysis provides an intensive grounding in film history and introduces students to the core theories of film criticism and analysis. The first quarter traces the history of film from its very beginnings to the end of the silent era. The second and third quarters focus on the 1930's and 1940's and the development of the Hollywood studio system with a particular emphasis on genres such as film noir, musicals, and gangster films. The fourth quarter is devoted to international cinema and alternatives to Hollywood from the 1940's to the present. During the class, students concentrate on the elements of film language that make film a unique medium - editing, cinematography, color, and sound. At the core of the film history program is the fundamental concentration on both the individual film and the underlying structure of film and filmmaking.

Lab Day

Lab Day takes place for four hours each week. During the second and third trimesters, students use this time to complete projects using the school's facilities. The lab time also provides a scheduled period of time when students can meet with each other to work on group projects. Students may also use this time for individual tutorials and faculty may also schedule additional classes during this time when appropriate.

If you have additional questions or would like an even more detailed description of the curriculum, please contact the Carolina Film Institute.

The Best Way to Learn Filmmaking is to Make Films

There's no better way to become a filmmaker than to make films. By the second week of the 40 Week Total Immersion Filmmaking program, students are shooting their first Super-8 film. To refine and develop their personal vision and filmmaking skills, each student completes seven individual projects-three on Super-8 film, four on HD video, and three group projects-one digital video, one on 16mm, and one on Super 16mm.

With the group projects, crews rotate so every student has a different position and works with a different combination of people on each new project.

If you have additional questions or would like an even more detailed description of the curriculum, please contact the Carolina Film Institute at (800) 940-3546 or email us at: info@carolinafilminstitute.com

40 Week Program Tuition

Tuition includes film stock, processing, workprints, and access to all basic equipment needed to complete the assigned projects. Students also receive a copy of work completed during the program. Students are responsible for discretionary production costs, books, and supplies.

Domestic Tuition: $21,500

International: $22,600

Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits are Available

 

Career Opportunities

Wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is projected to grow 11 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as growth projected for wage and salary employment in all industries combined. In 2006 there were about 357,000 jobs in the motion picture and video industries. From U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Certification & Portfolios

Upon graduation, CFI students receive a Certificate of Completion and DVDs of all their group projects, and of one individual project from each student. At the end of their term, students also create a DVD master of selected clips of their work, both individual and as crew on group projects. They can use this DVD demonstrates their ability and knowledge to potential employers.

Portfolio Details

During the 40 week program, students complete at least 10 Projects:

• 3 individual Super-8 films
• 4 Individual HD video projects
• 1 group digital video project as crew
• 1 group non-sync 16mm project as crew
• 1 Super-16mm sync sound project as crew
• Short scripts
• Feature-length screenplay
• DVD demo reel
• Resume listing experience and specific crew positions

Film School Financial Aid

Key Features of the Sallie Mae Career Training Program

• Educational loans for students of the Seattle Film Institute are provided through the Sallie Mae Career Loan Program.
• Repayment can be up to 15 years.
• No penalty for early repayment.
• Quick notification (often within 24-48 hours of receipt of application).

Ready to Apply?

To begin the process of applying for a Sallie Mae Career Training Loan, e-mail us at: info@carolinafilminstitute.com or call us at (800) 940-3546, for the information you will need to navigate the online application procedure. Remember to mention Financial Aid in your message.

Other Financial Aid Options

Monthly Tuition

A monthly tuition payment plan is available to all students. Please contact the Carolina Film Institute for further details.

Veteran's Benefits

Veteran's benefits are available. Please call for more information: (800) 940-3546

International Film Students

CFI happily welcomes Film Students from all over the world.

During previous programs international students have come from Australia, Canada, Finland, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Turkey.

The Carolina Film Institute is authorized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enroll foreign students. To facilitate this process, international students should complete the International Student Information Form and submit it with their application for admission. This form can also be submitted after acceptance to the Seattle Film Institute.

Once admitted into the program, international applicants will need to acquire a student visa to study in the U.S. at the Carolina Film Institute. The appropriate student visa for the Carolina Film Institute is an M1 visa. Information about how to acquire the M1 student visa is provided to international students upon admission to the program.

Internships

Upon completion of the total immersion program, every graduate is entitled to participate in our film industry internship program.As part of the internship program, students have worked in Seattle, Los Angeles, and other cities, gaining professional experience with a wide range of film and TV companies in a variety of positions. Through the internship program, our students have worked as members of camera crews, in post-production facilities, as line producers, in film labs, production companies, commercial and public TV stations, and on documentary productions.

A sampling of some of our past internships:

Hip Films
Los Angeles, CA
www.hipfilms.com

Wong Doody Advertising
www.wongdoody.com

"We've been very impressed with the SFI students that have worked for us as interns. I valued their already established skill sets, and willingness to get the job done. I look forward to working with more SFI students in the future."

Dax Estorninos
Senior Broadcast Producer
Wong Doody Advertising

Screaming Flea Productions
www.sfpseattle.com
"I'd love to have more Seattle Film Institute Interns... the ones we've had in the past were great!"

Lisa Hirotani-White
VP/Production Manager
Screaming Flea Productions

FoxSports.Net
Seattle, WA
www.msn.foxcareers.com

Americam
www.americam.com

Clatter & Din/Flicker & Blur
www.clatterdin.com

Production Foundry
www.theproductionfoundry.com

Oppenheimer Cine Rental
www.oppenheimercamera.com

Flying Spot Entertainment Group
www.flyingspot.com

Alpha Cine Labs
www.alphacine.com

Filmateria
Seattle, WA
www.filmateria.com

Avenue Films
http://avenue-films.com/

"We hired an SFI graduate for a documentary project we were shooting. We were impressed with their level of knowledge and particularly how professionally they handled our equipment. We will definitley hire a SFI intern again"

Fiona Giles
Production Manager
Avenue Films

Cole & Weber Advertising
Seattle, WA
www.coleweber.com

Culp Productions
www.briandina.com/culp

Victory Studios
www.victorystudios.com

MODE Studios
www.modestudios.com

Kostov and Associates
www.kostov.com

KCTS Public Television
www.kcts.org
"Thank you for continuing to send us quality interns!"

Drew Ringo
Executive Producer
KCTS Public Television

The Application Process

The Carolina Film Institute is truly committed to our students, and the 40 Week Full Immersion Filmmaking Program is designed toward preparing them for professional careers. The following outlines the application process.

Ready to Apply?

You can apply in any of the following ways:

Apply Online

Or

Download the Application Form in PDF Form

You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the above file. You can get it for free by clicking this button:

Have a Form Sent to You by Mail

Or call us: (800) 940-3546

Submitting the Application:

After you have filled out the form, enclose it with check or credit card information, and submit to:

Carolina Film Institute
518 Hunts Bridge Road
Greenville, SC 29617