Cinema
Program Description
The Cinema program immerses you in the art, craft, business and discipline of filmmaking. You will explore nuances of Cinematography, Directing, Editing and Post-Production, Screenwriting and Sound. This innovative program uses a combination of aesthetic, technical and theoretical approaches to advance your knowledge of storytelling and the narrative form.
Advantages
- The Minneapolis College Cinema program is amongst the very few two-year degree programs offered in cinema production in the U.S. The Minneapolis College Cinema Division is the only comprehensive cinema production institution of its kind in the upper Midwest.
- Minneapolis College’s cinema programs are some of the most affordable film school programs in the U.S. and tuition covers almost all production costs for students.
- Thanks to a low student-to-teacher ratio, you will receive personal attention from qualified, passionate faculty members who are working professionals and hold MFA or Ph.D. degrees.
- A diverse student base adds to the creative experience. Students come from all over the world, have varied professional backgrounds and range in age from 18 to 65.
- Cutting-edge technology and facilities strengthen the programs’ practical experience. You will have access to the latest software, cameras and equipment as well as production and Post-Production facilities and studios.
- Local and nationally recognized industry experts from Hollywood and New York serve as guest speakers.
- Minneapolis College boasts award-winning alumni. Former student achievements have included: producing a Super Bowl ad that was the most-watched television commercial of all time; writing and producing a short film that qualified for consideration as a 2010 Oscar nomination; earning the McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship Award in 2009; receiving Bush Foundation Artist Fellowships, and winning a 2008 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, one of the most prestigious screenwriting prizes in the world.
Program Details
Program Start and Location
New students are admitted into the Cinema programs in the fall semester only. Courses are taught on Minneapolis College’s main campus. You will spend considerable time outside the classroom working on productions.
Award Requirements and Course Descriptions & Outlines
Please select the award below to view the degree options and requirements in the college catalog.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Effectively apply visual writing and social commentary for screenplays
- Demonstrate technical competence with current filmmaking tools
- Analyze and apply the historical and aesthetic development in the language of cinema.
- Employ the basics of visual language in cinematic storytelling
- Identify all the roles and stages involved in filmmaking and collaborate on production teams
- Proficiently fulfill at least one area of a filmmaking team: screenwriting, directing, editing or cinematography
What You Will Learn
- You will gain practical skills in the art, craft, business and discipline of directing.
- You will develop a working knowledge of narrative structures and conventions.
- You will learn how to build productive collaborations with cast and crew members, especially colleagues in Screenwriting, Cinematography, and Editing and Post-Production
- You will develop critical directing proficiencies ranging from interpreting scripts to blocking actors to supervising cast and crew.
- You will learn best practices for professional standards and expectations.
SharePoint Student Cinema Resources
To visit the SharePoint Cinema Program Resources webpage, you must be registered for a class for access.
Beyond-the-Classroom Opportunities
Strong relationships with the local film industry position you as a sought-after candidate for internships and on-location work. These community collaborations also produce myriad programs, events and guest speakers, most of which are hosted on the Minneapolis College campus.
The Cinema Division partners with: Minnesota Film and TV Board, IFP Minnesota, Screenwriter’s Workshop of Minnesota, the Jerome Foundation and the Walker Art Center. Local relationships helped establish the Annual Cinema Division Production Excellence Awards, which spotlight student works in Directing, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Editing and Post-Production, Sound Arts and Digital Photography.
Occupational outlook
Increased demand for American films from American and foreign moviegoers should mean more work for producers and directors. Nationally, the number of jobs in the entertainment industry is expected to increase through the year 2016 (according to CareerWise) as a growing population enjoys movies as entertainment.
There is strong demand for productions from foreign and domestic television, cable television, pay TV services and feature film markets. In addition, computer and Internet services are providing new outlets for film productions, and there is a demand for home movie rentals, music videos and live performances.
Potential job titles
- Production Assistant
- Assistant Director
- Production Supervisor
- Production Coordinator
- Assistant to Producer/Director
- Script Supervisor
- Line Producer/Unit Production Manager (UPM)
- Location Manager
- Casting assistant
- Casting Director
- Independent Director/Producer
- In-house production departments within retail stores, organizations and institutions
- Local and national television, cable stations and networks
- National and local advertising agencies
- As a freelancer
Where you could work
- Local and national film studios
- Local and national independent production companies
- Independent home video distribution companies