Start with the fundamentals: an overview of the film world and the variety of departments it takes to make a movie. Get your hands on industry equipment, make something, practice and hone your skills. Then dive deeper into specialized learning and developing career-building experience. Come away with a portfolio of work and a wide network of creators that lets you hit the ground running after graduation. That's what you can expect with Full Sail University's Film bachelor's degree.

We sat down with Jeff Planck, Full Sail University's Film Program Director, to get the details and learn why it's structured this way. As a program director, he manages the faculty and staff and directs the degree curriculum. "Most importantly," Jeff says, "I'm here to make sure your experience as a student is productive and rewarding."

The Central Track

"During your learning journey, you'll explore many different aspects of filmmaking," says Jeff. In the first portion of the Film bachelor's degree, students get firsthand experience across several of the departments that collaborate to make a movie – including producing, directing, cinematography, art direction, make-up, and post-production.

"While you're discovering all that filmmaking has to offer, you will endeavor on a journey of self discovery," says Jeff. "Where do you fit in best in the filmmaking process? What do you see yourself doing as a career? How can you best leverage the competencies you gained throughout your education?"

The Specialized Track

The second portion of the Film degree program, known as the Specialized Track, helps students build technical experience across diverse types of production. That includes field production, news gathering, documentaries, and multi-camera broadcast production.

"A variety of resources are accessible to you in assisting with your film career," says Jeff.

That includes mentorship from industry-trained faculty and staff, books, videos, and digital resources from the Full Sail Library, and a collaborative space called the Student Production Office.

Throughout the Film degree program, students also have a great opportunity to build a professional network and collaborate with other creatives on real-world projects. For example, the weekly live broadcast of WWE's NXT is produced on campus with the assistance of both graduates and students in production roles.

Building a Portfolio

Grads leave with more than a diploma when they graduate from the Film degree program at Full Sail. They also walk away with real, career-building examples of their work that they can take into the field.

Portfolio projects showcase their creativity, technical abilities, and professionalism. They also help give students an education experience that's much closer to the reality of the industry than any survey course.

"By the time you graduate, you'll have a resume filled with projects to submit to film festivals, an edited reel, a portfolio to showcase your work, and a network of contacts you can leverage in the job market," Jeff says. "Filmmaking is a collaborative experience, so have fun, get involved, and always maintain a professional attitude."

Digital Cinematography vs. Film

While the Digital Cinematography bachelor's degree at Full Sail is similar to the Film degree, there are some differences to the format and curriculum. For starters, Digital Cinematography is an online degree program that lasts 29 months, and Film is strictly an on-campus program that lasts 20 months.

The Digital Cinematography program is great for students who are more interested in entrepreneurship, or who enjoy being a part of a smaller crew. This program also has a stronger focus on independent films and working in a variety of positions instead of a specialized role.

Students in the Digital Cinematography program can also expect curriculum on web content as well as other digitally focused courses. However, in both degrees, students will create portfolio projects that put their skills and creativity to work.

Want to learn more? Explore our Film and Television degree programs.