COLLEGE DIGITAL FILMMAKING EMPHASIS
The DIGITAL FILMMAKING track (COMM 228, 328, 428 & 488) is a college level, film training emphasis within Central Connecticut State University’s, Department of Communication. Focusing on story-telling techniques, artistic skills and media technologies, students in this sequence regularly conceive ideas, develop scripts and explore fictional /non-fictional characters through the independent film production process.
NARRATIVE FILMMAKING:
From originally scripted work and short-filmmaking, to real-life portraits, The Digital Filmmaking track provides hands-on instruction in cinematography, sound acquisition, non-linear editing and other areas of specialization within production. Combining these skills through a story-telling perspective, Film students regularly identify themes of interest, observe, investigate, capture and craft meaningful films.
OUTCOMES:
Both graduates and current students of the Film program work in the Entertainment Industry, gain acceptance within top-tier graduate film programs, compete in festivals, produce media campaigns and most importantly, develop the critical foundations to create compelling films for traditional and non-traditional distribution.
LATEST POSTS
United States Congressional Black Caucus Awards Scholarship to CCSU Film Student
Unapologetically, Filmmaking deals with human issues, characters and conditions. It is a complicated educational process, requiring technical, aesthetic and directorial instruction. With an industry-endorsed curriculum and unprecedented student-outcomes, last year, politics and university power-plays engaged in an all-out assault on film education, workforce collaboration and academic freedom. These actions illogically hurt our students, diminished […]
CCSU Film Students and Alumni Become Entrepreneurs in Isolation
The powerful skills covered in CCSU’s Film program can have profound and life-changing impacts. Those skills are most effective, when students overcome the obstacles impeding a production’s potential. So what happens in a time of social isolation and when the film industry shuts down? Our students innovate. AMBER MARTINEZ – CCSU 2020 FILM GRADUATE
CCSU Film Student captures McDonald’s…and then this happened!
CCSU Film student and 2020 graduate, Tyler Helmbrecht is on the brink of success…This is his story. TYLER: In the early winter of 2019, I wanted to create a short film centering on my work at McDonald’s. To be honest, I had never dedicated enough time to my filmmaking as sticking to one project was […]
The Women’s Film Festival in Philadelphia Selects CCSU Film Students
The heart of CCSU FILM’s achievement has always centered around the original ideas of our students While some ideas are controversial, others can be light-hearted and comedic. But more than dreaming ideas, our students regularly exercise, cast, explore, costume and rigorously develop the necessary skills to produce their ideas. The process is by no […]
CCSU Film Graduate is A Recipient of Spike Lee’s Production Fund.
Within film instruction, there are times of doubt…and the easiest thing to do is give up…but don’t@ When your ideas are realized, the possibilities are predictable and endless! We are pleased to announce that CCSU Film Graduate, Rashad Frett is a selected recipient of Spike Lee’s Production Fund. Frett, who graduated from CCSU’s […]
CCSU Film Student – An Official Selection In NYC
The Digital Filmmaking Program at Central Connecticut State University is pleased to present, Matt Kevorkian’s MIDNIGHTS AT THE DINER. This short film was developed in Kevorkian’s senior year at CCSU and was an Official Selection within the New Filmmakers, NY Film Festival, 2018. MIDNIGHTS AT THE DINER – Directed by Matt Kevorkian, Featuring Zach […]
5 CCSU Film Students To Be Broadcast On NESN
In the Fall of 2017, five Central Connecticut State University Film students produced several new works for NESN’s NEXT PRODUCER. This annual film competition and television show accepts student-productions from colleges and universities throughout the New England region. In an unprecedented outcome, the Film Emphasis within CCSU’s Department of Communication is pleased to announce that […]
Recent CCSU Film Student Published in The New York Times
While the majority of Film students at Central Connecticut State University focus on narrative and documentary filmmaking, there are other areas of production, which also lead to impressive outcomes. In Colleen Lennehan’s case, it was a New York Times publication – an honor given to selected photographers, who are screened by the paper’s Wedding Section. […]
5 CCSU GRADUATES PRODUCE WITH YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA
The prestigious Yale School of Drama consistently ranks within the top-three theatre schools in the country. Graduates include Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Newman, Angela Basset and many others. Conversely, Central Connecticut State University’s Film program is not officially ranked. While we accept students with various interests, it is no surprise why five of our […]
CCSU Film Student Is A Finalist for NESN’s NEXT PRODUCER
For Sintia Arelus, college was never about late-night hours in an editing lab….but last semester, changing that would transform everything. In the Fall of 2016, producers of New England Sports Network, (NESN) contacted CCSU in-search of college students, who might be interested in developing sports-related films for their NEXT PRODUCER competition. While normally, this would […]
CCSU Film Student Puts A Dream On The Line
For many, acting on Broadway is a fleeting dream. However, for CCSU Filmmaker, Emily Santarsiero, the goal has become a lesson in adaptation, empowerment and tenacity. Santarsiero began Digital Film Production, (Comm 228) at Central Connecticut State University in 2014. Previously, she received her BFA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College and was on her […]
Using Photography to Teach Tolerance
In my 10 years of teaching at Central Connecticut State University, I have never observed a master-class quite like this. Commissioned by Dr. Mendez-Mendez within his digital photography section, the class included a full-day workshop of photographic and studio techniques with a twist – tolerance. Christopher Ammon, a participant on MTV’s THE REAL […]
CCSU Film Student’s 1st work inspires Apple / ITunes to Act
First-year Film Student, Matt Kevorkian is also an independent musician. After posting his work to ITunes, a solutionless dilemma occurred…until he took film. In his own words, this is Matt’s story I have been playing guitar since I was seven years old. After 14 years of hard training, my band, The Not Mikes released our […]
CCSU Film Alumnus Fights for the Lives of others through Filmmaking
CCSU Film Alumnus, Kara Brewer’s latest PSA on organ donation recently won an Award of Recognition through the Best Shorts Competition. Having gone through 2 organ donations herself, the subject is quite close to her heart. IN HER OWN WORDS. I’m here today because of a living organ donor and I’m forever grateful for them. I […]
CCSU Film Alumnus Accepted to NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts – MFA Film
First generation CCSU college graduate, CCSU Film alumnus and Hartford-based filmmaker, Rashad Frett ’09 gains acceptance to New York University’s MFA Film program at Tisch School of The Arts. The highly competitive and prestigious Kanbar Institute of Film and Television accepts only 7 percent of applicants. Frett will now advance his filmmaking under notable […]
The New York Times Shares recent CCSU Film Student’s work.
Central Connecticut State University Alumnus, Robby Silcox’s latest work gets shared by the New York Times. Silcox, a 2013 CCSU Film graduate collaborated, filmed and edited the below parody. Originally featured on the Huffington Post, the song received over 6500 views within the past few days. To view the article/film, click: HERE Within CCSU’s FILM emphasis, regardless of prior […]
2nd-Semester Film Students Engage in Social Change
Within Central Connecticut State University’s FILMMAKING EMPHASIS, subject matter is always up to our students. Be it scripted works of fiction or non-fictional events, student-interests are used to build skills, overcome obstacles and track objectives in a cumulative way. In these works, second-semester, CCSU FILM Students, David Rawolle and Jensun Yonjan document a passionate and […]
Studying Filmmaking – The Profound Power of Storytelling
Within the Digital Filmmaking emphasis at Central Connecticut State University, there are extraordinary media works in development. Many students, who create these films come to us with little or no filmmaking experience…And yet, with slow skill building, individualized mentorship, sustainable practice and unrelenting curiosity, the outcomes are consistently impressive. I am pleased to introduce, Digital Filmmaking student, Jensun Yonjan. […]
First Semester Film Student Wins in NYC Festival
We are pleased to announce Farrah Fontano, a first-semester CCSU Film Student, won first prize within the CHAIN NYC FILM FESTIVAL’s Documentary Short Competition. This is Farrah’s first film and was created within the Introduction to Filmmaking course (Comm 228). This same film also received an official selection by the Trinity Film Festival in March. DONT GET STUCK IN […]
College Students in Connecticut become Filmmakers
There are a growing number of filmmakers emerging from CCSU’s Digital Filmmaking emphasis. Having observed their work, drive and growth throughout this first semester, the outcomes are undeniable. In fact, through multiple midnight editing sessions, repeated film shoots and an inquisitive desire to create, a number of mature and compelling films have not only emerged, but also inspired […]
Disney Internship Program Recognizes CCSU Film Alumnus, Sarah Yacavone.
For her participation within the Jessica Project, Central Connecticut State University Filmmaking Alumnus, Sarah Yacavone received recognition for her “Extraordinary Service” in representing The Disney Company. ENGAGEMENT: Two months ago, the Digital Fim Program at Central Connecticut State University put out a call to congratulate Jessica Courtright on winning her incredible bout with cancer. Former CCSU Film student […]
From Those You Never Met
Jessica Courtright of Augusta, Georgia was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma over a year ago. 800 miles away in Connecticut, we heard about her story. What occurred thereafter became an incredible journey of engagement, hope and action. USE BACKGROUND: Parenting is no easy task. Ask Rebecca Courtright, whose daughter, Jessica was diagnosed with a rare form […]