Certificate of Achievement in Digital Film Production

Students earning the Certificate of Achievement in Digital Film Production gain hands-on experience for entry-level positions across the spectrum of film, television, video, broadcasting, commercials, streaming, and other new media. They also build their storytelling and technical skills in the pre-production, production, and post-production processes. Competencies include planning, casting, lighting, sound, cinematography, editing, timing, color correction, and visual effects. Students use professional-level industry-standard equipment to create short films showcasing their talents.

Five students are estimated to complete the program per year at the end of the second year of program operation. Nine students estimated to complete the program per year by the fifth year of program operation.

The goal of the Certificate of Achievement in Digital Film Production is to prepare students for various technical and support jobs in digital media including film, television, video, broadcasting, commercials, streaming, and other new media. The objective is to teach and develop the soft and hard professional skills necessary for entry-level positions in the industry. Occupational competencies include: camera operations, lighting, continuity, digital editing, formatting, data management, terminology, visual language, set protocols, and set etiquette.

This certificate has five required courses (15 units), a computer applications elective (3 units), and a content elective (3 units). The required courses include Media Arts 101, Media Arts 111, Media Arts 210, Media Arts 211, and Photography 047. The computer applications elective include CAOT 001, CAOT 032, or CAOT 082. The content electives include film survey or production course from the following disciplines: Animation, Asian American Studies, Broadcasting, Chicano Studies, English, French, Music, Photography, Spanish, and Theater Arts.

This program is based on digital photography and electives from the Associate of Arts Degree in Photography. All of the Media Arts courses for this program are currently being offered. Electives in the new certificate round out the technical skills with choices of practical, theoretical, and historical context from our Animation, Asian American Studies, Broadcasting, CAOT, Chicano Studies, English, French, Music, Spanish, and Theater disciplines.

This program will share and make productive uses of existing resources (materials, facilities, staff, faculty, equipment, tutors, clubs, events, productions, employment assistance, guest lectures, class hours, etc.) primarily by building upon existing programs in Media Arts and Photography. This reinforces a new direction for the college’s professional arts programs.

In our region, Los Angeles City College (LACC) offers three television production certificates (Skills and Achievement), Pasadena City College has two Occupational Skills Certificates in Cinema, and Santa Monica College has one Certificate of Achievement in Film Production. Other private and profit-making entities, such as LA Film School, UCLA Extension, and USC offer similar programs, but they have significantly higher price tags.

Our certificate program not only emphasizes career preparation and professional skills in digital film, but also leverages ELAC’s robust course offerings in other disciplines. This unique combination of professional focus, specialized curriculum, and cultural relevance ensures that our program is not just similar to existing programs in terms of educational quality but superior in addressing the specific needs of a diverse student body and the ever-evolving demands of the modern film industry.

Approximately 230 students are estimated to enroll in these sections annually.

MEDIA ARTS 101 - 3 sections

MEDIA ARTS 111 - 2 sections

MEDIA ARTS 210 - 2 sections

MEDIA ARTS 211 - 2 sections

PHOTO 047 - 7 sections

This is a new program, and not a program modification.