Film / Video
The El Camino College Film/Video Department offers students training in traditional and digital filmmaking and related courses in cinema history and aesthetics.
Our curriculum prepares students for entry-level employment in the communication and entertainment industries or for successful transfer to four-year degree programs.
What We Offer
Associate of Arts Degree
Upon completion of the required courses, students can earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Film/Video which will give them the theoretical and practical knowledge to perform various job functions associated with single-camera standard and high-definition production.
Certificate of Achievement – Film/Video Production (Gainful Employment Disclosure Information)
This Certificate curriculum emphasizes hands-on production with elective courses in cinematography, editing, production planning, and story development.
Specific major requirements can be found for the Associate of Arts Degree in Film/Video and Certificate of Achievement by clicking on their links.
Preparation for the Transfer Major
For information on specific university major requirements, please obtain a transfer curriculum guide sheet in Counseling Services, consult with your counselor, or visit the Transfer Center.
Our Courses
Film Analysis and Appreciation • Screenplay Analysis • Story Development • Production Planning • Film/Video Production • Audio Production/Postproduction • Television production • Camera and Lighting • Editing • Film, Culture, and Technology • Film History (American, European, Regional) • Film and Popular Music
Course descriptions can be found in the College Catalog. To view current class offerings, refer to Online Class Schedule
Master Classes and Events
Upcoming master classes, events, and ticket information is available through Center for the Arts.
Our Facilities
The Film/Video Department utilizes a variety of digital cinema cameras including 4 RED Scarlet-Ws with cine quality prime lenses and 8 Canon C100 Mk2s with interchangeable prime lenses. These professional packages include Bright Tangerine accessories: matte boxes, follow focus, filtration. Panasonic HMC-150 and GH-A1 High Definition camcorders, Canon Rebel T3i and 60D HD DSLRs are used for introductory and remote/B Roll work. An Aaton Super 16mm camera and 35 millimeter still cameras are available to originate projects on film.
Lighting, grip, and audio gear for studio and location based shooting include: Dracast LED, Arriflex, Mole, and Kino-Flo lighting packages, Cartoni tripods, Dana and doorway dollies, Fostex and Rode H6 field recorders and professional cinema microphones. Jib Cranes, Varicam Steadicams, Production Monitors compliment the camera/sound packages.
Post-production facilities in the new Arts Complex (Fall 2003) include a 25 seat iMac M1 editing lab with Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Creative Suite; a professional audio/post production suite with Dolby 5.1 surround sound mixing, Mac Pro/DaVinci Resolve Color Grading station, Premiere Pro as well as Rode Podcasting stations. The audio suite communicates with the new lighting studio to enable live recordings, Foley work, music videos, greenscreen/SFX projects as well as studio based narrative projects. The lighting studio and postproduction labs are used for all filmmaking courses and are rentable for outside professional productions.
Career Goals
Film/Video Department courses include small group productions that emphasize single camera narrative film production procedures, techniques, safety and aesthetics. Students who complete the AA degree in Film/Video are well positioned for successful transfer to competitive 4 year bachelor programs; students who complete the Certificate in Film/Video Production learn on set skills utilized daily in professional media productions including:
Writer • Director • Camera operator • Cinematographer • Script supervisor • Sound designer/mixer • Web designer • Editor • Production management • Animator/special effects • Streaming digital video producer • Corporate and industrial videographer • Documentary filmmaker