Design, Digital Arts, and Film

Design, Digital Arts, and Film Design

Certificate in Animation

Please note that requirements may change. Students must complete the requirements in place during the term in which they begin their certificate. For current requirements, course schedules, and course descriptions, please click here.

This program provides students with the animation skills needed for employment within a variety of fields, including film, T.V., commercials, and entertainment media. Acquire the specific tools and experience needed to create high-quality animation.

Upon completion of the program, students have attained the following:

• Ability to create 3D models in Maya software.

• Knowledge of the fundamentals of animation and the differences between traditional and computer animation.

• Ability to tell a story visually or create visuals out of text or verbal concepts.

• Familiarity with technical terms and standards for translating digital media to various formats.

• Understanding of the various industries that use animation.

• Professional development and practice in the specifics required for entry into the field.

Certificate in Cinematography

Explore the art of cinematography and learn to capture motion picture images. Working with 16mm film, SD, and HD video, receive hands-on training in lighting, film, and video camera operation, as well as the theoretical and aesthetic aspects of cinematography. The images the cinematographer brings to the screen come from the artistic vision, imagination, and skill of the cinematographer as he or she works within a collaborative relationship with fellow artists.

Upon completion of the program, students have covered:

• Operation of film, SD, and HD cameras.
• Structure and job responsibilities of the camera unit of a film crew.
• Principles of lenses, f-stops, stocks, and lighting equipment.
• Basic types of lighting, including basic special effects and lighting that can be done in-camera.
• History and development of technology in cinematographic equipment such as dollies and steadicams.
• How to compose a scene using the camera and use a photographic technique to tell a story visually.
• Aesthetics of frame composition and an in-depth survey of the classic examples of artistic cinematography.
• How to work and collaborate in a team-based environment within a production crew.

Certificate in Digital Video Production

In this hands-on program, students learn how to direct, shoot, and edit their own short digital videos. The curriculum provides training in digital camera technology, lighting for digital video, digital audio recording, non-linear use of Final Cut Pro, and an introduction to DVD production. Students perform technical exercises and work within a small production crew rotating responsibilities and helping one another complete group and individual projects. The program is led by a faculty of industry professionals who emphasize the skills needed to help students land their first job in the industry.

Upon completion of the program, students acquire the following skills:

• SD and HD formats
• Planning and budgeting.
• Pre-production and directing.
• Shooting principal photography.
• Editing and post-production.

Certificate in Entertainment Media Management

Gain a solid understanding of the entertainment industry, specifically in the areas of film, television, and new media. Entertainment media business managers mediate with producers, directors, and film distribution companies to organize the business development of productions for major studios, networks, and Web distribution outlets. Study the various roles of management in the entertainment industry. Understand the basics of the discipline and use the tools of the industry.

Upon completion of the program, students have in-depth knowledge of:

• The structure of the entertainment industry, including basic divisions of labor, organizational structure, and job responsibilities/hierarchies.

• The defining characteristics of their particular sphere within the industry, the major venues by which new products are bought and sold, and typical business arrangements and legal considerations.

• How to put together an investment package—a prospectus for a project, including a business plan, analysis, and an estimated budget.

• The entrepreneurial guidelines for creating businesses in a specific industry sphere.

Certificate in Filmmaking

Create your film from initial story to final cut. Receive vigorous hands-on training to create your own color negative, sync-sound film. Understand the fundamentals of all aspects of film-making, from the aesthetic and theoretical, to the technical. With assistance of your faculty of industry professionals who guide you from your first shoot to final edit as you make your own film, acquire production knowledge and experiment creatively.

Upon completion of the program, students have attained skills in:

• Cinematography.

• Sound.

• Editing.

• Lighting.

• Writing.

• Producing.

Certificate in Digital and Graphic Design Production

This introductory program helps students develop proficiency in the practical use of design technologies. Whether you are interested in print or the Web, it is necessary to know basics like color systems, image manipulation, output, and production. The program begins with multidisciplinary courses to develop a strong foundation in technical basics like operating systems and color, then allows students to choose a track given their particular medium of interest—Print/Graphic Design or Web Design. Finally, the program culminates in an industry-specific project-planning course that lays the foundation for how projects in the discipline are conceived and executed.

Upon completion of the program, students have:

• A thorough understanding of the color systems for print and the Web.

• Proficiency with Mac OS, the industry standard operating system.

• An understanding of the project-planning process for either print or Web projects.

• Knowledge of the applicable technical standards for working in either print/graphic design or Web design.

• Basic competency in applicable technologies.

Certificate in Producing

The producer’s role is often misunderstood. It reflects a combination of entrepreneurship, managerial skills, and creativity in the television and film industries. Learn the roles of a producer or assistant producer and gain an understanding of the underlying business management principles of television and other entertainment media. This certificate comprises three levels of classes that cover the creative, executive, technical, and administrative responsibilities of a producer, and teaches the skill set needed to become an effective member of a producer’s unit.

Upon completion of the program, students know how to:

• Vet a script to determine budget.

• Set up a budget, identify typical expenditure areas, and track expenses during production.

• Strengthen scripts.

• Put together an investment prospectus and identify likely investors.

• Put together a winning pitch to a network, cable channel, or studio.

• Read and create basic contracts and legal business agreements between the different components of a production company, the crew, and the investors.

Certificate in Digital Special Effects

Experience the fundamental principles of visual effects. From storyboards to compositing, learn how to create engaging visual imagery. Using After Effects and Shake, students learn how to create and manipulate images while incorporating sound design for the integration of live-action footage and computer generated imagery (CGI).

Upon completion of the program, students have mastered the following:

• Use of storyboarding to conceive and visualize projects.
• Compositing techniques for motion design (graphics), and special effects.
• Proficiency in sound design.
• Introduction to industry software such as Shake, Combustion, and Adobe After Effects.