About the Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center

Liberty University has set out to create a film school that reaches beyond the traditional model of film education. This film school relies heavily on experiential learning, dedicated professors that are masters in their fields and students eager to learn.

Experiential Learning

Working side-by-side with professionals in an environment allows you to immediately apply new knowledge in a production setting with real results. As you create films throughout your years, you will explore the many key disciplines of filmmaking. These disciplines include:

• Producing

  The producer has many roles, from concept development through production and distribution. Students will learn about:

  • budgeting
  • film financing
  • marketing
  • distribution
  • crucial relationships between a producer and the departments on a film.
• Directing

  Experience the artistic and technical underpinnings of a director's role and the ways a director guides a film from pre-production to release.

  • storytelling
  • constructing scenes
  • casting
  • performance adjustment techniques
  • collaboration
• Screenwriting

  The script is the bible of a film. Writing makes sure what makes it up onto the screen is as you intended. 

  • write and rewrite
  • develop characters
  • structure
  • pitch your ideas.
• Cinematography

  Translate written scripts to visual storytelling through techniques that encompass the fundamental technical skills of working with digital cameras, lenses and lighting packages.

  • composition
  • color
  • exposure
  • design
  • storytelling
  • director collaboration
• Production Design
  

  You will have a chance to immerse yourself in the understanding and implementation of the tools of the trade and techniques to use them effectively.

• Post-Production

  Learn the techniques and aesthetics of storytelling through post-production. These techniques will address both the visual and audible process, as well as the tools that make it possible.

• General Production
  

  Take in a range of crafts that support the production of a film. These include, but are not limited to hair/make-up, wardrobe, lighting and camera assisting, set management, special visual effects and set dressing.

• Documentary

  Find the perfect documentary story and gain an understanding of the medium's power and relevance. You'll be introduced to documentary genres, tackle storytelling and theme and examine the true possibilities of the form.

• Narrative

  Learn how to make character driven plots from fictionalized stories you create. You will be introduced to narrative genres, tackle storytelling and theme and examine the true possibilities of the form.

Program Benefits

1. Peer connections - Your classmates may be the most valuable resource you will ever have. Go through the program, make friends, find alliances and when you get out, stay in touch with everyone
2. Industry connections - Because film is a so-called "glamour" industry, everyone and their mother wants to work in it; this means the barriers to entry are more prohibitive. Breaking in is hard. But going to a program like Liberty University’s Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center gains you instant connections to an alumni network.
3. Technical know-how - There is no doubt that the craft of filmmaking can be taught.
4. Intelligent feedback - Your professors and peers, being educated and theoretically intelligent when it comes to film, can give you sophisticated feedback on your own projects and ideas, and help mold you into a better filmmaker.
5. Mentors to push you - A good professor can push you to work harder and be more daring than you would be on your own.
6. History and theory - Get an understanding of the craft of filmmaking from filmmakers that created successful films.
7. Credibility - Diplomas separate the wheat from the chaff and will potentially make you considered more seriously if you graduated from film school.
8. Time for your projects - Film school gives you the collaborators, framework and the time and space to work on your film pursuits.

Equipment

The Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center features state of the art technology in order to equip students for technology and equipment that will be used in their field. Our equipment includes: