Directing Certificate

The Directing Certificate provides a strong foundation in narrative filmmaking focusing on the role and responsibilities of the Director from creation of shooting scripts to optimizing collaborative skills with set crew and talent. Completion prepares students for upper division film work at a 4-year university, entry-level work in the field or applicable creative and professional assets to utilize in creative work environments.

With completion of this Certificate entry-level employment opportunities may include: Production Assistant, Script Reader/Development Assistant, Casting Director (Assistant), Choreographer Trainee, Assistant to the Director, Assistant Director Music Video Director, Assistant to the Producer, Production Design Intern/Assistant, Independent Filmmaker.

This certificate can be completed in a minimum of 3 semesters. In the first semester CINE 24, 25, 30, 75 and TH A 154A can be taken concurrently. College-level English preparedness is strongly advised.

The projected number of annual completers for the Cinema Foundations Certificate is 15 students.

The goal of the Directing Certificate is to provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills required for entry level employment in the film/video industries as well as prepare them for advanced study in specific areas. The general areas in which students may find work are: directing and/or producing digital video productions. The course of study provided here is are the essentials required for continuing work in narrative form of cinematic storytelling.

Certificate Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Directing Certificate is to provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills required for entry level employment in the film/video industries as well as prepare them for advanced study in specific areas. The general areas in which students may find work are: directing and/or producing digital video productions. The course of study provided here is are the essentials required for continuing work in narrative form of cinematic storytelling.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply knowledge of continuity, shooting styles, and editing methods to direct narrative films.

• Analyze crew roles and interpret results during the film production phase.

• Identify, analyze and solve performance issues through script analysis and establishing performance guidelines

• Apply technical and communication skills to work effectively on a film set

• Analyze and formulate shot lists to prepare a film for production.

Catalog Description

The Directing Certificate is crafted to provide students a strong foundation in narrative filmmaking with special attention to the role and responsibilities of the Director from creation of shooting scripts to optimizing collaborative skills with set crew and talent. Completion prepares students for upper division film work at a 4-year university, entry-level work in the field or applicable creative and professional assets to utilize in creative work environments.

With completion of this Certificate entry-level employment opportunities may include: Production Assistant, Script Reader/Development Assistant, Casting Director (Assistant), Choreographer Trainee, Assistant to the Director, Assistant Director Music Video Director, Assistant to the Producer, Production Design Intern/Assistant, Independent Filmmaker.

This certificate can be completed in a minimum of 3 semesters. In the first semester CINE 24, 25, 30, 75 and TH A 154A can be taken concurrently. College-level English preparedness is strongly advised.

Program Requirements

The program requirements are shown in the table below.

The minimum time for completion of this Certificate is 3 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of units or classes completed per semester.

Courses Required Cinema Foundations Certificate of Achievement

Course Units    Frequency Offered

Required courses:

CINE 24 - Basic Film Production   4.00 Semester 1 Su/Fa/Sp

CINE 25 - Narrative Filmmaking 3.00 Semester 1 Fa/Sp

CINE 30 - Production Planning 3.00 Semester 1/2 Fa/Sp

CINE 54 - Cinematography & Lighting 3.00 Semester 2 Fa/Sp

CINE 131 - Directing Motion Pictures 3.00 Semester 2/3 Sp

   Total: 16.00

Choose one Editing class:

CINE 75 - Screenwriting 3.00 Semester 2/3 Fa/Sp

TH A 154A - Beginning Acting for the Camera 4.00 Semester 2/3  Fa/Sp

  Total: 3.00-4.00

Grand  Total: 19.00 - 20.00

It is possible to complete the Directing Certificate in 3 semesters (1.5 years):
Select courses as noted available during Summer session: CINE 24
Semester 1 = 7
Semester 2  = 6 or 9
Semester 3 = 6/7 or 3/4
Total Units = 19-20

Master Planning

The Directing Certificate of Achievement is the result of Directing faculty feedback, our annual advisory committee meetings and evaluation through assessment and program review. This Certificate follows the recently adopted Pre-Production/Producing Certificate, the first in our program,  launched in the spring of 2019. This certificate will serve to build a strong foundation of basic film production skills coupled with producing and directing comprised by a reasonable course load and progression to completion with our predominantly working student population in mind. It is achievable in three semesters or more. Our industry advisors suggest that the most successful job applicants  are those with specialized skills, coursework and experience. The opportunity to focus on Directing and Producing reinforces basic elements of teamwork and how crews operate on and off set. Further, recent LMI reporting shows an annual labor market gap of 579 students. With proper advertising of new program availability this could draw significant enrollment increase and student completion for the Cinema Department and CCSF.

Enrollment and Completer Projections

The projected number of annual completers for the Cinema Foundations Certificate is 15 students.  This estimate is based on the enrollment data for the required courses shown in the table below.

REQUIRED COURSES

		F17/S18	F18/S19
Course Department Number	Course Title	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Totals	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Totals
CINE 24*	Basic Film Production*	11	186	11	200
CINE 25	Narrative Filmmaking	4	75	4	71
CINE 54	Cinematography & Lighting	2	48	2	41
CINE 30	Production Planning	2	50	2	45
CINE 131	Directing for  Motion Pictures	1	14	1	20

*One section of CINE 24 is usually offered in Summer session

ELECTIVES

		F17/S18	F18/S19
Course Department Number	Course Title	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Totals	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Totals
CINE 75	Screenwriting	2	37	2	42
TH A 154A	Beginning Acting for the Camera*	2	50*	2	50*

* TH A 154A runs concurrently with 154B and 154C

Place of Program in Curriculum/Similar Programs

There are no comparable programs currently offered at CCSF. While some required courses are options for students attaining the Television and Electronic Media AS-T they could easily stack this Certificate into that transfer-oriented goal and pick up a few more helpful CTE classes along the way to better prepare them for the job market or transfer.

Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area

According to COCI reporting there is no specialized Certificate of Achievement in California focusing on Directing as a program of study. In the Bay Area this Certificate will certainly be the greatest value and provide solid knowledge and tools for students to apply on the job early in their career and/or build on in continuing their CTE education at CCSF or a 4-year institution like SFSU.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Required Courses
CINE 24	Basic Film Production	4	S1
CINE 25	Narrative Filmmaking	3	S1
CINE 30	Production Planning	3	S1 or S2
CINE 54	Cinematography & Lighting	3	S2
CINE 131	Directing Motion Pictures	3	S2 or S3
Choose 1 Elective
CINE 75	Screenwriting	3	S2 or S3
TH A 154A	Beginning Acting for the Camera	4	S2 or S3

In the Bay Area this Certificate will certainly be the greatest value and provide solid knowledge and tools for students to apply on the job early in their career and/or build on in continuing their CTE education at CCSF or a 4-year institution like SFSU.

According to COCI reporting there is no specialized Certificate of Achievement in California focusing on Directing as a program of study. Skyline College runs some production courses and has been contacted to assess possible impact to their offerings, though the program does not currently award AA, AS or Certificates according to their website. We have reached out to the department and have not yet heard back as of Tuesday May 28, 2019 and are awaiting response.