Filmmaking
Exploration + expression
through a lens
Work across disciplines in the evolving fields of film and audiovisual arts. Use moving and still images to express, exchange ideas, and share diverse perspectives while shaping the future of the medium. Expanded views of contemporary narrative and non-fiction work within the Filmmaking and audiovisual disciplines are explored through hands-on-learning, facilitated group discussions, collaborative productions, visiting artists, exposure to influential work, individual meetings, and traditional lectures.
The sophomore year begins with the question of “how one sees.” Students engage this question through production assignments that include non-fiction and ethnographic approaches and independently driven research. The curriculum then advances to expanded notions of narrative works and challenging dominant approaches to cinematic traditions. In the Junior and Senior years, Filmmaking major studios emphasize the development of individual student vision through the advancement of self-driven production projects and research (field studies and academic) that are fostered by faculty mentorship in concept development, individualized technical workshops, and management skills. At this time, the emphasis is on producing a personal body of work that demonstrates strong conceptual and technical underpinnings while broadening professional practice skills that include a required professional internship, self-promotion, distribution, grant writing, formulating budgets, public speaking, residency and exhibition applications. The senior year is dedicated to the development of a year-long thesis project that culminates into an off-campus exhibition and artist talk.
Hands-on-learning experiences and production assignments provide fundamental technical skills needed for audiovisual production: [hardware] cameras (1080P, 2K and 4K), variety of lenses and filters, lighting (variety of LED panels, traditional continuous light kits, MIDI PARs), tripods (fluid heads and Hi-hat), shoulder mounts, camera slider, crane, a variety of microphones including shotguns, lavalieres and booms, audio recorders and field mixers, a range of video projectors; [facilities] video and green screen studio, sound 5.1 sound design studio, ADR studio, sound mixing studio bay, 12 video editing, and motion graphic bays, copy stand for animation; [software] Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, ProTools, Audition, MadMapper, Modul8; [techniques] cinematography, sound recording, time-lapse videography, video editing, color treatment, sound mixing, and motion graphic sequences.
Each student is required to enroll in a professional internship or practicum during their Junior or Senior year.
Take a look at some of our work.
Classes
Once you declare your major, filmmaking students take the following core courses as they progress from sophomore to senior year. For additional electives and liberal arts courses, download the complete Course Catalog.
Sophomore
- Intro to Filmmaking
- History of the Moving Image
- Intermediate Filmmaking
Junior
- Junior Filmmaking Workshop & II
Senior
- Senior Filmmaking Workshop I & II
- Filmmaking Senior Thesis& Professional Pratice
Student Work
See more of our students’ work on Vimeo.
Professional Practice
Each major at KCAI has a dedicated three-credit hour professional practice course offered during the junior or senior year. This course is taught by qualified professionals from the specific discipline, and it is designed to give students the information they need to successfully enter their chosen career path upon graduation. Professional practice topics include how to prepare job search materials, including a resume and artist statement, how to seek freelance opportunities, how to work with a gallery, and how to propose an exhibition or collaborative project. Students learn about residencies and graduate schools, and they practice their written and oral communication skills by writing proposals and applications and making presentations. In addition, students have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and financial matters for the artist and designer. This required course is complemented by workshops offered by the Academic Advising and Career Services office.
Jobs + Internships
KCAI filmmaking majors have worked or interned for Take Two Productions, Hint, Outpost Worldwide, Rush Wade, BranitFX, Liquid9, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Visiting Artists
Many artists visit the filmmaking and photography studios each year to share their knowledge and inspiration with KCAI students. Here are a few that have recently stopped by:
Jerry Spagnoli (in partnership with NAMA), Adam Long, Ross Sawyers, Priya Kambli, Mathew Higgs, Frederic Brenner ( in partnership with the Jewish Community Center), Patty Carroll, Kelly Richardson, David Shannon-Lier, Elijah Gowin, and Steve Rowell (in partnership with the Spencer Art Musuem).