There’s beauty in directing a film that inspires change, power in producing sound that pulls at someone’s heart strings, pride in creating animation that sparks joy.
If you are passionate about film and its potential to have impact, join the cinematic arts community as we pursue that shared passion through hands-on projects that develop creative skills.
The cinematic arts major teaches you to merge critical thinking, film theory, and imagination into production. Students choose from among three concentrations that prepare them for a wide variety of jobs, ranging from commercial filmmaking to recording rock bands, from crafting 3D animation and special effects to shooting documentaries in third-world countries.
Faith inspires us to be great filmmakers, to be directors, producers and editors who tell the truth and challenge the status quo. It guides us to create with integrity, humility and joy. And faith brings us together as a community, one where professors know you by name and take your passions and ambitions seriously.
George Fox cinematic arts students travel to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to screen films and learn about contemporary independent filmmaking from some of the world's top industry artists and experts. While at Sundance, students also participate in events such as the Windrider Forum, an event organized by Fuller Theological Seminary that integrates themes and questions of faith with film.
Learn to shape stories that inspire, inform and entertain through the art of visual storytelling, our culture’s most powerful medium. Students in the film and video production concentration learn to write, shoot, direct and edit their own films in a way that meets the artistic expectation audiences expect, but also pushes the boundaries of film towards the next big ideas.
Animation is everywhere. Industries that utilize animation range from film and TV to advertising, gaming, motion graphics, scientific visualization, and so much more. Students in the animation concentration get to use industry-standard software to bring their animated stories to life.
Everyone is familiar with great movie soundtracks like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club … the list goes on! Audio production encompasses not only music, but also the sound effects that enhance visual productions. As an audio production student, you will have access to our 5.1 surround sound recording studio that is fully stacked with some of the newest tech in our industry. Let’s make some music!
Campus Tour: Cinematic Arts Department | George Fox UniversityClose
Why Study Cinematic Arts at George Fox?
You will be surrounded by a community that shares your passion for storytelling and impact through film. These are people who won’t settle for less than their best, as students and as Jesus-followers, and who will push you to do the same.
You will learn from industry experts who have experience in the field. One of our professors worked with Lucasfilm Ltd in the 1980s, when she did sound design technician work on such films as Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Star Trek III.
There are so many different paths to pursue in the film industry, and that can feel overwhelming. Here, you’ll be exposed to different aspects of the industry, giving you the interdisciplinary knowledge of different areas of film to back up your specialty.
You get hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. This means your film, audio, and animation goes from good to great. And that means that your vision for your project is fulfilled!
Our students put knowledge into use through a series of intensive, hands-on projects. All our students complete at least one internship to help them channel their passion into a career.
Our small program means you get one-on-one access to professors consistently. You will never be lacking space to be heard and challenged in your faith and in your craft!
What will I Study?
You get to pick a focus, while also taking classes that round out your understanding of the many different aspects of the cinematic arts.
Our curriculum covers the broad spectrum of the cinematic arts industry ...
Cinematic camera movement and filming techniques (16 mm film technique as well as digital filming)
Lighting for the studio and on location
Sound recording for music and voice
Creating film sound effects and foley
Editing for television and feature film
Filming, writing and editing documentary nonfiction stories for news or streaming as full-length features
Writing an original script for a television series, short or feature film
Directing actors and creating the look of a film
Designing projects with virtual reality, augmented reality or emerging technology
Animation: Storyboarding, concept design, stop-motion animation, 2D & 3D animation and visual effects
An historical examination of the moving image, including television programming and film in the United States. Employs contextual and ethical methods for illuminating the relationship of these media artifacts to modern culture, both secular and religious.
Film is a truly an international medium, stretching across borders, decades, and cultures. Students will study international films in terms of the historical, cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped them.
An introduction to film as a narrative and visual medium, emphasizing the terms, methods and techniques of film analysis, as well as prominent critical theoretical approaches to understanding film.
Survey of the historical development of newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, and cinema. Analysis of the role(s) of mass media in shaping and altering opinion and values in contemporary culture.
Students work collaboratively to explore story and script essentials, the technical, creative, and aesthetic elements of the video production process. Course includes professional script formatting, basic lighting, sound, camera operation, composition, and design of visual elements, producing and directing basics through lecture, classroom and supervised laboratory experiences.
Concentrating on recording, editing, and mixing multitrack audio on a digital platform. The course will look at special recording techniques for (a) human voices in speaking, singing, and dramatic performance; (b) musical instruments; (c) dramatic sound effects. Students will complete projects in editing and mixing of multitrack sound programs.
Professional techniques and artistry of writing for the screen. Students create story premises, write scripts for short films, original and spec television series and feature films. This course examines plot structure, characterization, dialogue, action, genre, and the business aspects, including agents, script sales, and the Hollywood system. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound
An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 6 hours may apply to the cinematic arts major. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
This class helps prepare students for entry into the professional realm by developing networking and marketing strategies, and by preparing a professional reel of their best work, which will be critiqued by members of the local media industry. Prerequisite: senior status. Additional course fee required.
Concentrations (24-27 hours) - choose one
Animation (27 hours)
Students in the animation concentration study techniques for producing 2D, 3D and stop motion animation and visual effects using a combination of creativity, aesthetics, and computer software.
This course is an introduction to industry-standard graphic design applications such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. Additional course fee required.
Art majors given preference. This course is a study of materials, methods, and techniques used for drawing with pencil, ink, charcoal, and other drawing media. Additional course fee is required.
This is the study of pre-production and previsualization techniques used in animation. Topics include developing story, storyboarding, concept design, and editing animatics. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and ARTS 111 Drawing I or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional hand drawn techniques to stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
This is an introduction to 2D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Students will create character animations and short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CINE 212 Introduction to Animation or instructor’s permission.
This is an introduction to 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on modeling texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create original 3D artwork. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite.
Students explore different means of producing visual effects using digital computer imaging, blue-screens, compositing, and old-fashioned movie magic. Students will also learn how to create animated text sequences and video graphics. Additional course fee required.
This is an advanced course in 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on rigging and character animation. Students will create short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: CINE 212 Introduction to Animation and CINE 312 3D Computer Animation I
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming. Prerequisites: one of the following: CINE 310 Intermediate Directing, CINE 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CINE 333 Camera & Lighting, CINE 343 Sound Design, CINE 350 Editing Video, CINE 430 Producing & Directing Video, or instructor's permission. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student proposal and script. Additional course fee required.
Practice and Theory pertaining to drawing the human figure from live models. Translating the 3 dimensional figure to 2 dimensions will be the first priority, along with exploration and study in historical and contemporary figural interpretations. Both traditional and non-traditional mediums will be explored with the intent of gaining competence and confidence in the use of figural subject content in a variety of mediums. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 111 Drawing I, or instructor’s permission.
Upper division students will be given more latitude in the creative application of the concepts stated in Figure Drawing I. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTS 311 Figure Drawing I or instructor’s permission.
This course explores the various camera and lighting techniques used in film and digital video production. Students will focus on applying lighting techniques and camera movement to create specific visual effects. Students will apply the ideas discussed in the text and lectures to a series of in-class explorations, in addition to scenes filmed outside of class. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission. Additional course fee required.
An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 6 hours may apply to the cinematic arts major. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
This course continues the project started in Advanced Production Workshop I into postproduction, including editing, sound design, color correction, and DVD authoring. Prerequisite: CINE 481 Advanced Production Workshop I or instructor's permission.
Audio Production (24 hours)
Students in the audio production concentration focus on audio techniques for music recording and mixing; sound design for film, video and new media and production for radio.
This class explores the use of digital sound technology to record, edit, and mix audio for film and television. Students will use their audio skills to record sound both in the field and in the recording studio. Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
Students will learn to record music and vocal tracks in a digital multitrack studio environment. Students will produce music, advertising, and other audio projects in this hands-on studio course. Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
Theory and practice in editing the moving image. Analysis of Hollywood and avant-garde styles of editing is followed by practice exercises illustrating each concept. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission.
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming. Prerequisites: one of the following: CINE 310 Intermediate Directing, CINE 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CINE 333 Camera & Lighting, CINE 343 Sound Design, CINE 350 Editing Video, CINE 430 Producing & Directing Video, or instructor's permission. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student proposal and script. Additional course fee required.
Choose 12 hours of the following:
Up to 6 credits of CINE 475 can be applied to this requirement.
Working with professionals in the contemporary Christian music field, students will learn basic techniques of songwriting including lyrics and song structure. Students will write their own songs, which they will then produce and record.
Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
An internship experience designed to give students an opportunity to practice video and film techniques and principles in an off-campus, professional setting. Students choose from a variety of options - cable, broadcast, corporate, medical, or commercial production facilities - based on the student's goals and interests. Up to 6 hours may apply to the cinematic arts major. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: instructor's permission.
This course continues the project started in Advanced Production Workshop I into postproduction, including editing, sound design, color correction, and DVD authoring. Prerequisite: CINE 481 Advanced Production Workshop I or instructor's permission.
Introductory work with technological resources basic to work in the music field. Includes hands-on experience with MIDI and sequencing, music notation programs and desktop publishing, digital sound formats, audio recording, and basic Web authoring. Students will also explore basic self-promotion skills such as marketing and portfolio development.
OR
Up to 15 semester hours of coursework at the Contemporary Music Center Program in Nashville.
Film and Video Production (24 hours)
The study of the moving image incorporates cinema history, media criticism and elements of hands-on film production.
This course explores the various camera and lighting techniques used in film and digital video production. Students will focus on applying lighting techniques and camera movement to create specific visual effects. Students will apply the ideas discussed in the text and lectures to a series of in-class explorations, in addition to scenes filmed outside of class. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission. Additional course fee required.
Theory and practice in editing the moving image. Analysis of Hollywood and avant-garde styles of editing is followed by practice exercises illustrating each concept. Additional course fee required. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission.
In this intensive hands-on production course, students will draw on all their filmmaking skills to produce 10- to 30-minute shorts - narrative, documentary, or animated - for their portfolios and film festivals. This semester focuses on preproduction and production, including script breakdown, casting, and actual filming. Prerequisites: one of the following: CINE 310 Intermediate Directing, CINE 320 Dramatic Scriptwriting, CINE 333 Camera & Lighting, CINE 343 Sound Design, CINE 350 Editing Video, CINE 430 Producing & Directing Video, or instructor's permission. Admission to the class is a competitive process based on the student proposal and script. Additional course fee required.
This is the study of pre-production and previsualization techniques used in animation. Topics include developing story, storyboarding, concept design, and editing animatics. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and ARTS 111 Drawing I or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to the fundamentals of animation production, from traditional hand drawn techniques to stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop, students will produce short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
This is an introduction to 2D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Students will create character animations and short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite and CINE 212 Introduction to Animation or instructor’s permission.
Working with professionals in the contemporary Christian music field, students will learn basic techniques of songwriting including lyrics and song structure. Students will write their own songs, which they will then produce and record.
Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
Working with classmates as crew, students take turns directing scenes from Hollywood movies in this hands-on directing workshop. Beyond storyboarding and shot planning, this class focuses on working with actors, working with crew, and other skills required for balancing the technical and the artistic aspects of directing. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound or instructor's permission.
This is an introduction to 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on modeling texturing, lighting and rendering. Students will create original 3D artwork. Additional course fee is required.
Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Creative Suite.
This class explores the use of digital sound technology to record, edit, and mix audio for film and television. Students will use their audio skills to record sound both in the field and in the recording studio. Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
Students will learn to record music and vocal tracks in a digital multitrack studio environment. Students will produce music, advertising, and other audio projects in this hands-on studio course. Prerequisite: CINE 243 Introduction to Audio or instructor's permission.
Students explore different means of producing visual effects using digital computer imaging, blue-screens, compositing, and old-fashioned movie magic. Students will also learn how to create animated text sequences and video graphics. Additional course fee required.
The documentary filmmaker must juggle a multitude of skills while maintaining a relationship with their subject in an ethical manner. Students will explore the historical, critical, and ethical aspects of the documentary while studying the steps taken during preproduction. Prerequisite: CINE 230 Storytelling, Moving Images & Sound.
This course continues the documentary experience started in Documentary Production I. Students will apply their understanding of documentary filmmaking while exploring the aspects of production and post-production. Prerequisite: CINE 371 Documentary Production I.
This is an advanced course in 3D computer animation using industry standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on rigging and character animation. Students will create short animation projects. Additional course fee required.
Prerequisite: CINE 212 Introduction to Animation and CINE 312 3D Computer Animation I
An advanced course in video directing and producing. Students explore the preproduction, production, and postproduction of original short feature videos for the Fox Film Festival. Prerequisite: CINE 350 Editing Video. Additional course fee required.
OR
Up to 15 semester hours of course work at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center
Students work collaboratively to explore story and script essentials, the technical, creative, and aesthetic elements of the video production process. Course includes professional script formatting, basic lighting, sound, camera operation, composition, and design of visual elements, producing and directing basics through lecture, classroom and supervised laboratory experiences.
An historical examination of the moving image, including television programming and film in the United States. Employs contextual and ethical methods for illuminating the relationship of these media artifacts to modern culture, both secular and religious.
Survey of the historical development of newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, and cinema. Analysis of the role(s) of mass media in shaping and altering opinion and values in contemporary culture.
Note: A limit of 3 hours of each of the following may apply to the elective requirement: CINE 285/485 Selected Topics, CINE 475 Field Experience and/or CINE 295/495 Individualized Study.
Survey of the historical development of newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, and cinema. Analysis of the role(s) of mass media in shaping and altering opinion and values in contemporary culture.
A course designed to introduce and develop a clear concept of public relations as a communication profession. Topics to be covered include the function of public relations in both public and private enterprises; the process of planning and implementing a public relations communication campaign; techniques for communicating with various publics; and the laws and ethics governing the practice of public relations.
Methods of rhetorical criticism as applied to public communication of the past and present, including but not limited to speeches, broadcasts, films, and campaigns. Analysis of current trends in rhetorical criticism. Prerequisite: junior standing or above.
This course explores trends in media convergence, focusing as well on the ways reporters, editors, and designers create stories for the web. Particular emphasis will be on web-based story design, the coordination of text and art, and the creation of stories for a variety of new media outlets. Prerequisite: WRIT 111 Caring for Words, enrollment in the Honors Program, or instructor permission.
Note: A limit of 3 hours of each of the following may apply to the elective requirement: CINE 285/485 Selected Topics, CINE 475 Field Experience and/or CINE 295/495 Individualized Study.
Gaby Sipe
Class of 2019
My time as a cinematic arts major at George Fox was a truly enriching experience. My professors were extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, and made me feel prepared to work in the industry. The program is full of passion that intertwines with a desire to bring honor to God through our creation of art. We were encouraged to use the creativity that we were blessed with and share it with those around us.
What’s after George Fox
Employment of film and video editors and camera operators is projected to grow 18 percent through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beyond film studios, most businesses, churches and nonprofits use video and digital film to promote themselves in the marketplace. There are also numerous opportunities for freelancing and creating a small business in digital video/film.
Our cinematic arts students have gone on to do some game-changing work in the professional world.
Student and Faculty Filmmakers Win National Awards
In a competition with nearly 1,500 entries representing 174 colleges and universities from across the country, the odds of winning one of only 18 “Best of Festival” awards at the Broadcast Education Association’s annual convention are minimal.
Winning two? Miniscule at best. But that’s exactly what George Fox pulled off, as cinema and media communication professor Dawn Ford and student Emily Hamilton earned prizes in their respective categories.
