Music Video, Film and Television Production

MI’s groundbreaking two-quarter (six-month) certificate program in film production lays the foundation for a career in professional filmmaking. Learn the art and science of creating professional visual media under the guidance of award-winning filmmaker-instructors. The total-immersion, hands-on curriculum takes you through every step in the professional filmmaking process from screenplay development and storyboarding to set design, lighting, cinematography, directing, editing, and VFX creation as you direct your own production and bring your personal vision to life.

Program Features:

Hands-On Training

Experience the film-making process from every perspective as you design, produce, direct, and edit your own projects, work on other student productions and assist in professional shoots under the direction of industry veterans.

Film and HD

Choose your production format, Go-Pro, DSLR 5D, Infrared 7D, Red (4k) and jump right in to MI's film facilities, which boasts a DaVinci Resolve color-correcting station and state-of-the-art post-production software such as Premiere, Avid, AfterEffects and Logic.

Small Classes

Small classes make Musicians Institute the perfect place to sharpen your skills, learn new technologies and continue your education amongst a nurturing student body and staff of currently-employed, award-winning industry professionals.

Schedule

With both day and evening programs, the Music Video, Film and Television Production program is a customizable set of courses that fits the need of the recent graduate or the working professional.

Location

Study in the heart of Hollywood with unmatched access to professional film expertise and resources, musicians, and on-screen talent.

Classes

Small classes allow instructors to tailor the pacing of material to match your needs, with plenty of time for one-on-one instruction. Courses include:

Directing/Writing

Producing

Editing/Color-Correction

Cinematography

Music/Sound

Industry Career Strategies

Film Program

Spark & Burst (Film Student Project - Wedding Video)
Attaloss - Open Door (Film Student Project - Music Video)
Film Institute of Technology - behind the scenes
Elliott Sellers (Film)

AAs an Associate of Arts student in instrument performance programs (Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard Technology, Vocals) you may opt for a combined course of study which is a combination of the performance program and a music industry program (Audio Engineering, Film, Guitar Craft, Music Business, Independent Artist).

Enrollment in such programs is dependent upon admission approval and space availability.

Associate programs are vocational and do not include General Education requirements or specific preparation for study at the Baccalaureate level.

Certificate in Music Video, Film and Television

MI’s innovative two-quarter/30 credit-unit certificate program in film and television production lays the foundation for a career in professional filmmaking. Learn the art and science of creating professional visual media under the guidance of award-winning filmmaker/instructors. The total-immersion, hands-on curriculum takes you through every step in the professional filmmaking process from screenplay development and storyboarding to set design, lighting, cinematography, directing, editing and VFX creation as you direct your own production and bring your personal vision to life.

MAJOR AREA

FILM-101 Directing 1 - credit weight 2

An introduction to the art of script formatting and directing, including how to write and pitch music-based scripts and treatments, create shot lists and storyboards, and develop communication skills necessary for productive creative relationships with composers, artists and producers. One lecture hour and two hours lab per week for one quarter.

FILM-201 Directing 2 - credit weight 2

Prerequisite: FILM-101 Directing 1. A hands-on course on the director’s role on set. Topics include: the exploration of the director-actor relationship, securing agents and managers and working with musical artists and their affiliated companies. Class exercises may include in-class directing of peers or guest actors. Final projects will be due upon completion of this course. One lecture hour and two hours lab per week for one quarter.

FILM-102 Producing 1 - credit weight 2

An introduction to the complete music-video/film production process. Topics include building on-set crew morale, hiring process of crew and equipment rental. Assignments will include “lining” a script, creating a script breakdown from a shooting script, creating budgets and garnering permits for film shoots.. One lecture hour and two hours lab per week for one quarter.

FILM-202 Producing 2 - credit weight 2

Learn the more complex aspects of production including dealing with film commissions, international productions and setting up your own production company. Bidding commercials and music videos is covered. One lecture hour and two hours lab per week for one quarter. Students will finalize budgets and execute steps necessary for their respective directing projects.

Film-103 - Editing 1

An introduction to editing short-form and music-driven content, using Adobe Premiere for use in the student's own projects. Techniques and concepts include footage import/ingestion, file formats, the use of time code, DSLR workflow, exploration of editing styles for short film narratives as well as music videos. Two lecture and two lab hours per week for one quarter.

FILM-203 Editing 2 - credit weight 3

Prerequisite: FILM-103 Editing 1. An exploration of the DSLR and RED camera workflow utilizing Avid Media Composer. Discussion topics will include multi-cam, color grading, format conversions, and mastering of various HD and 4K formats. In a series of exercises, students will edit an assembly, fine cut and a final cut of their final project. Two lecture and two lab hours per week for one quarter.

Film 104 - Cinematography 1

The fundamentals of cinematography, including aspect ratios, digital compression, and film-style lighting techniques. Students will be introduced to camera, grip, and gaffer terminology and explore their own skills using a variety of standard and modified DSLR 5D and 7D cameras. Students complete class projects and exercises and may participate in field trips, where available. Two lecture hours per week plus lab for one quarter.

Film 204 - Cinematography 2

Prerequisite: FILM-104 Cinematography 1. Explore more advanced aspects of cinematography, including beauty, mood and effect lighting. Students will be introduced to filters, and camera troubleshooting as well. Introductory overview to the assistant camera, gaffer and electrician roles on set plus practical experience shooting in front of a green-screen with the RED camera. Assignments will include shooting footage for final projects. One and a half lecture hours plus one lab hour per week for one quarter.

FILM-105 Motion Graphics 1 - credit weight 3

Introduction to compositing using Adobe After Effects, including title manipulation, layering and third-party plug-ins. Introduction to DVD authoring using industry standard software DVD Studio Pro and Encore. Two lecture and two lab hours per week for one quarter.

FILM-205 Motion Graphics 2 - credit weight 3

More advanced techniques including photorealistic compositing and CGI, animating to music with motion math, matting & rotoscoping, motion tracking, and working with plug-ins including Magic Bullet, Trapcode, Twitch, and Evolution. Two lecture and two lab hours per week for one quarter .

Film 106 - Music for Visual Media 1

A study of the essential elements of production sound recording, the relationship between sound effects, music, emotion and imagery, and the editing and design of affective soundscapes in the production of a music-based film and video. One lecture hour, plus two hours lab per week for one quarter.

Film 206 - Music for Visual Media 2

Course focuses on sound design and soundscape creation, music and location recording, mixing and synchronization of music and image, post-production sound mixing and ADR, location sound recording and music playback. One lecture hour, plus two hours lab per week for one quarter.

Film 207 - Industry Career Strategies

Essential skills for building and maintaining a career in the music video-film-television industry. Topics include building and presenting show reels, developing a career timeline, setting up your own production company, and bidding for music videos and commercials. One lecture hour per week for one quarter.