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
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.

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.

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 

Click on the degree or certificate you are interested in earning to see a sample map of possible courses to enroll in.

Please note that the course maps provided are just examples to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize a plan for you to meet your academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required core courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 21 Introduction to Film Studies 3  
CINE 24  Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking 3  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  

Total Units: 13

Choose two of the following production courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 30  Production Planning 3  
CINE 56 Introduction to Digital Film Editing 4  
CINE 60 Sound for Motion Pictures I 3  
CINE 75  Screenwriting 3  
CINE 72 Nonfiction Scriptwriting 3  

Total Units: 6 - 7

Choose one of the following core production courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 57  Experimental Filmmaking 3  
CINE 126 Documentary Filmmaking 3  
CINE 131 Directing Motion Pictures 3  

Total Units: 3  

Choose one of the following advanced production courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 61 Sound for Motion Pictures II 3  
CINE 74 Advanced Cinematography And Lighting 3  
CINE 76 Advanced Digital Film Editing 4  
CINE 85  Advanced Screenwriting 3  
CINE 136  Special Effects 3  
CINE 170 Film/Video Work Experience 2  

Total Units: 2 - 4

Required capstone course:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 124A Film Production Workshop 3  

Total Units: 3

Overall Total Units: 27 - 30

View Requirements in College Catalog

Choose two of the following Required Core Course:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 100 Introduction to Electronic Media 3  
BCST 110 Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media 3  
CINE 21 Introduction to Film Studies 3  

Total Units: 6

Required Core Course - Audio Production: 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 120 Audio Production 4  

Total Units: 6

Required Core Course - Chose one Video Production course from the list below:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 140 Studio Video Production 3  
BCST 141 Field Video Production 3  
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  

Total Units: 3 - 4 

Area 1 Elective: Choose one of the following courses not used above:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 115 Announcing and Performance 3  
BCST 140 Studio Video Production 3  
BCST 141 Field Video Production 3  
BCST 143A Avid Video Editing - Beginning 4  
BCST 144A Video Editing Premiere Intro 4  
BCST 146A Video Motion Graphics 4  
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking 3  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  
CINE 56 Introduction to Digital Film Editing 4  
CINE 126 Documentary Filmmaking 3  
CINE 136 Special Effects 3  

Total Units: 3 - 4

Area 2 Elective: Choose one of the following Media History courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 101 Media Literacy 3  
BCST 103 Mass Media and Society 3  
CINE 18  American Cinema 3  
CINE 20A Film History: Evolution of Film Expression 3  
CINE 20B Film History: Contemporary Film Expression 3  

Total Units: 3

Overall Total Units: 19 - 21

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking 3  
CINE 30 Production Planning 3  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  
CINE 170 Film/Video Work Experience 2  

Total Units: 15

Choose one of the following course electives:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 126 Documentary Filmmaking 3  
CINE 131 Directing Motion Pictures 3  

Total Units: 3

Choose one of the following business courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
GNBS 119 Introduction to Business 3  
MRKT 122 Professional Selling 3  
SMBS 135 Ownership and Operation of a Small Business 3  

Total Units: 3

Overall Tota Units: 21

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking 3  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  
CINE 60 Sound for Motion Pictures I 3  

Total Units: 13

Choose one of the following editing courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
BCST 144A Video Editing Premiere Intro 4  
CINE 56 Introduction to Digital Film Editing 4  

Total Units: 4

Overall Total Units: 17 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 21 Introduction to Film Studies 3  
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  
CINE 56 Introduction to Digital Film Editing 4  
CINE 74 Advanced Cinematography And Lighting 3  

Total Units: 20 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
CINE 25 Narrative Filmmaking 3  
CINE 30 Production Planning 3  
CINE 54 Cinematography & Lighting 3  
CINE 131 Directing Motion Pictures 3  

Total Units: 16 

Choose one of the following elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 75A Introduction to Screenwriting 3  
TH A 154A Beginning Acting For The Camera 4  

Total Units: 3 - 4

Overall Total Units: 19 - 20

View Requirements in College Catalog

Select three of the following courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 75A Introduction to Screenwriting 3  
CINE 75B Intermediate Screenwriting 3  
CINE 75C Advanced Screenwriting 3  
BCST 110 Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media 3  

Total Units: 9

Select two of the following Film History/Studies courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
CINE 18 American Cinema 3  
CINE 19 Introduction to Documentary Film Studies 3  
CINE 20A  International Film History (1880s-1930s) 3  
CINE 20B International Film History (1930s-1960s) 3  
CINE 20C International Film History (1960s-Present) 3  
CINE 21 Introduction to Film Studies 3  
CINE 22 History of Documentary Film 3  
CINE 23A Films of Alfred Hitchcock 3  
CINE 23B Focus on Film Noir 3  
CINE 23C Cult Cinema 3  
CINE 72 Nonfiction Scriptwriting 3  

Total Units: 6

Choose one of the following elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 30 Asian American Issues Through Film 3  
CINE 24 Basic Film Production 4  
ENGL 35A Introduction to Writing Fiction 3  
ENGL 35G Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing 3  
ENGL 51 The Graphic Novel as Literature 3  
ENGL 61  Literature and Film 3  
IDST 14 American Cultures in Literature and Film 3  
LGBT 12 Contemporary LGBTQ Film 3  
PHST 30 Philippine Society and Culture Through Film 3  
TH A 171A Beginning Storytelling and Performance 3  
VMD 166 Storytelling and Storyboarding 3  

Total Units: 3 - 4

Overall Total Units: 18 - 19

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.