Full Sail
Which Film Curriculum Is Right for You?
A look at what makes each area of study in film and television unique at Full Sail.
In the wide world of film and television, you have a variety of options for your goals and career aspirations. At Full Sail, we recognize the diversity of this unique industry and all of the different paths you can take. That's why we offer different areas of study — film, digital cinematography, creative writing, and computer animation — that meet those specific needs.
What Sets Full Sail’s Film & Television Education Apart
At Full Sail, we're all about real-world learning where students can gain experience actually doing, making, and creating. That's the same across all of our offerings. However, in our specialized film and television curricula, there are some key differences that make each of them more than a generic film education.
Each of our options address a different aspect of film and television. Here, we'll explain how they differ from one another and which career goals align with them so that you can get a better idea of which choice is right for you.
Film
Learning about film at Full Sail is a good fit for students who want to pursue career paths as directors, editors, producers, art directors, scriptwriters, makeup artists, videographers, and multimedia specialists. This is a hands-on, in-the-action experience where you'll work with the equipment used by the pros on film sets and soundstages that replicate the real thing.
You'll start with the fundamentals of using industry equipment and understanding the different departments that are essential to filmmaking. Then, you'll dive deeper into areas like field production, news gathering, broadcast, and documentaries. Along the way, you'll collaborate with other students to create something on film and build a portfolio of your work, learning the skills you need in producing, directing, cinematography, and post-production.
Digital Cinematography
Our digital cinematography curriculum differs from our film offering in two ways: It is online, and it focuses on what you need to do to become an independent creator rather than a part of a larger film set or crew.
Even though classes are online, they're still hands-on. You'll receive a professional camera package that includes a lighting kit so you can learn the basics of camera operation, depth-of-field, lens selection, framing, and dynamic lighting. Instead of working on our campus backlot and soundstages like our film students, you'll learn the art of filming on locations you scout out yourself.
Digital cinematography is for the entrepreneur. You'll learn to become a jack-of-all-trades in video production instead of specializing in one area of moviemaking. That includes learning skills like time management, personal branding, and planning.
Computer Animation
Computer animation is for students who want to work on fully animated films and TV shows, as well as 3D effects for live-action productions. The most obvious difference from other film options at Full Sail is that this is not a behind-the-camera filmmaking experience. It's also offered both online and on campus.
To start, you'll learn the foundations of animation skills for traditional media and the principles of things like composition, scale and proportion, and value and light. Then, you'll develop advanced skills in animation, such as character rigging, and adding digital assets to live-action shots.
Computer animation is great for those who want to pursue a career as a 3D artist, animator, and compositor. This area of study is for you if you'd like to create or work on an animated film.
Creative Writing
Full Sail’s creative writing curriculum specializes in just one aspect of filmmaking: the story. Creative writing is for you if you want to become a TV writer or film scriptwriter, or if you want to create narratives for games and interactive media.
You'll learn how to write scripts across several mediums, from film and television to comics, games, and children's entertainment. Either online or on campus, you’ll cover the basics of writing fiction for genres like comedy, tragedy, horror, mystery, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.
However, these classes go beyond the elements of storytelling to teach you how professional writers operate in the entertainment industry. Those skills include scriptwriting techniques and networking in a competitive field, as well as developing, producing, and distributing writing projects.
Want to learn more? Explore our options for a film and television education.
Whether you’re ready to apply or just want to learn more about Full Sail University, our Admissions Representatives are here to help. Call us or request more information.