Banner Photo: Jia Shen, Mark Kuroda, and Isabella Sonnenberg, The Secret

About Film Production

CCSF Cinema alumnus Kelly Gleason on the set of Potato, winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2019 City Shorts Film Festival

The Film Production program prepares students to enter the film/video industry with the technical experience necessary for independent, corporate, or commercial filmmaking positions.

Students in our production program have immediate access to cameras and iMacs equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud. CCSF’s affordable (or Free City) tuition will save you money so you can build a portfolio to submit work to festivals and show to prospective employers. Our production students transfer to four-year colleges and graduate schools, launch careers in the film industry, and create acclaimed narrative, documentary, and experimental films.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Film Production can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Assistant Casting Director
  • Assistant Director
  • Camera Operator
  • Content Developer
  • Documentary Filmmaker
  • Festival Curator
  • Film & Video Editor
  • Grip & Lighting Technician
  • Independent Filmmaker
  • Motion Picture Director
  • Producer
  • Production Assistant
  • Production Design Assistant
  • Production Manager
  • Screenwriter
  • Script Reader/Development Assistant
  • Sound Mixer
  • Sound Recordist
  • Video Writer

Program Options

The Associate of Science Degree in Cinema Production is a two-year program intended for students who are interested in pursuing a career in film production. Students can focus on narrative, documentary, and/or experimental filmmaking, master the principles of film production and industry practices, become versed in both celluloid and digital technologies, and learn to evaluate different film forms and genres.

The AS-T Degree in Film, Television & Electronic Media offers students a comprehensive lower division program in film, television, and electronic media. It prepares students for transfer to upper division film, television, and electronic media programs at four-year colleges and universities, particularly to California State University (CSU) campuses.

The Pre-Production/Producing Certificate of Achievement prepares students in the planning and business of producing motion pictures. The curriculum teaches real world skills such as evaluating cost, budgeting, and marketing.

The Cinema Foundations Certificate of Achievement teaches the foundational skills of film production and post-production. Upon completion, students will possess the essential skills to obtain entry-level work in the industry and/or create their own independent projects.

The Cinematography Certificate of Achievement provides students with well-rounded technical skills in camera and lighting techniques. The curriculum provides students experience with advanced camera, grip, and lighting gear.

The Directing Certificate of Achievement teaches students narrative filmmaking and focuses on the responsibilities of the director. Students learn skills ranging from how to create shooting scripts to optimizing collaborative skills with set crew and talent.

The Scriptwriting Certificate of Achievement provides students with scriptwriting skills in a wide range of media including non-fiction and narrative film, broadcast media, radio, electronic media, and journalism. Students gain knowledge of professional script formats, research methods, story elements, and visual grammar.

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. Start planning your transfer by exploring film production and studies programs at the following institutions:

  • California State University, Chico
  • California State University, Fresno
  • California State University, Fullerton
  • California State University, Long Beach
  • California State University, Los Angeles
  • California State University, Monterey Bay
  • California State University, Northridge
  • Humboldt State University
  • Sacramento State University
  • San Diego State University
  • San Francisco State University
  • San Jose State University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of California, Davis
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of California, Riverside
  • University of California, Santa Cruz
  • University of Southern California

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.