New Filmmaking Programs at Sessions College

So, what movies are you watching? What movies are you making?

Fall term at Sessions College started with a bang, as Sessions College launched two new programs that address the challenges of training filmmakers and content creators for today’s rapidly changing digital media landscape.

In early July 2024, Sessions College received approval for an exciting new Undergraduate Certificate in Filmmaking.

Developed through a collaboration between Sessions College faculty, pioneering online learning platform Smashcut, and a talented roster of new and veteran Sessions faculty members that include André Robert Lee, Valeriya Golovina, Tim Kirkman, and Natalie La Scala, the program is a practical introduction to the art of filmmaking.

In the program, students explore hands-on filmmaking projects acting as cinematographer, screenwriter, director, and editor. Students gain experience of the filmmaking process, learning how to start with an idea, develop a screenplay and production plan, fulfill the role of director, cast and lead a team, light and shoot scenes, and edit ideas into a compelling visual story. At the end of the program, students will showcase their talents by producing a 10-minute movie as a final project.

One compelling aspect of the new curriculum is that it offers training not only in filmmaking but also in how the language of filmmaking and cinematic storytelling can be applied to creating content for today’s digital media platforms. Online marketers, influencers, and content creators are actively searching for new ways to create more effective content, and so one emphasis of the program is on exploring ways to apply filmmaking techniques to digital media projects for social platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch.

On Sept 10, 2024, Sessions College gained approval to add a Filmmaking track as an enhancement to its existing Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Digital Media program. Digital Media majors choose one of two 12-credit curricular paths: an emphasis upon Design or an emphasis upon Filmmaking.

One benefit of this program update is that Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in Digital Media program provides an option for Undergraduate Certificate students to continue their studies, transfer credits earned, and earn a degree with a range of financial aid options available.

The staff and faculty at Sessions College are excited about the impact of the new programs. According to Sessions College CEO Zane Vella, “Adding these new Filmmaking and Digital Media programs gives students an opportunity to explore cinematic approaches to writing, directing, shooting, and editing high-quality digital stories, whether their goals are the film industry or content creation. With mentoring and feedback from our all-star faculty of filmmaking professionals, we can’t wait to see what our film students create.”