Film Schools and Video Production Schools
The motion picture and television industry is an economic engine, each year creating billions of dollars in film and video jobs such as filmmaking, screenwriting, directing, and cinematography, as well as animation, audio production, and editing. And as technology has evolved, it’s become common for full-motion video and animation to be incorporated into video games, blurring the line ever further between the gaming and motion picture industries.
Creative film, television and game production involve a variety of phases, from pre-production to post-production, each requiring a set of skills that can create numerous employment opportunities in the industry. Having a clear understanding of each phase will provide a solid foundation for any film & video career. While true understanding can really only be acquired from years of experience in the industry, completion of a degree program at a film or video production school will establish your seriousness with a potential employer, and go a long way toward accelerating your career and increasing your potential earnings.
Regardless of your past experience in film and video, an education from a reputable film, animation, or video production school can enhance your understanding of the filmmaking and video production processes. Additionally, film and video schools ground students in fundamentals and provide important skills to help launch careers in filmmaking and gaming.
Many film and video programs are hands-on, total immersion programs that are industry-oriented, preparing the graduate to immediately enter the film, TV, animation or video game industry. Key areas covered often include:
- Filmmaking: an overview of the creative, logistical, and financial aspects of the development of a film, movie, or television program
- Screenwriting: developing an idea or script for use toward a film or video project
- Directing: leading the key creative team and talent toward creation of the finished project
- Cinematography: the fundamentals of motion photography and visual storytelling
- Animation: design animated worlds and characters for major movies, shorts, cartoons and anime; several programs emphasize digital animation techniques for video games and the web, while others emphasize TV and film
- Audio: the sound that enhances the movie, video or game, from foley and sound effects to dialogue to music
- Editing: cutting and slicing of raw video to weave together a coherent movie
- Production: learn to interact with all disciplines and keep the financial and creative wheels greased so that things get done; learn how to budget creative film and video projects and work with the director to make them happen
- Video game design: video games are major projects requiring a similar set of skills and experience as used in movies and videos; learn to create an implementable game with unforgettable levels and characters
A final thought… Film production and video game design may not seem obviously related. In fact, they are. In most cases, video game design now revolves around motion, be it real video or animation. The video game designer must have a strong grasp of video’s creative possibilities and technological constraints in order to hit upon a winning formula. There is no better place to build that foundation of understanding than at a film & video school.