Film and Television Broadcasting Training Supports a Variety of Careers

Within the film and television broadcasting field are a number of subdivisions in which professionals find long-lasting careers. The industry involves everything from Hollywood films and documentaries to stories told through radio and television news. As broadcast production continues to grow and explode, now is a great time to enter the field. In order to do so, interested parties must obtain some sort of post-secondary credit. One option is to attend broadcasting schools like Centennial College, which ensures that its students receive well-rounded training in areas of the broadcast production field so that they may choose for themselves a niche.

Those who are interested in applying must complete an application process, which begins with having at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or being 19 years of age or older. Additional academic requirements include, compulsory English 12C or U, or a skills assessment, or equivalent. An admission session, writing test, English proficiency as well as a portfolio of work are also required. The portfolio should demonstrate a student’s skill and ability to tell a story using two of the following: videotape/ DVD, audiotape/ CD/ mini disc/ digital images/ photographic prints, scripted material in any format that was used.

One of the main focuses of the program is for students to develop a balance between the artistic and commercial aspects of the industry and become exposed to a variety of industry practices and players. Throughout the three years that students spend in the program, this is achieved via a curriculum largely focused on practical film producer training and television broadcasting training. One of the most valuable hands-on experiences occurs at Centennial College’s Wallace studios, which is an HDTV broadcasting studio. It is out of this studio that students participate in student-made films and TV programs, including the JOURNAL, a student-produced newsmagazine TV show that airs live and online. The other major practical component is a 15-week industry field placement. During this placement students apply practice to real life situations and gain new lessons from established broadcast production professionals. In order to qualify for placement, students of film producer training and television broadcast training must meet specific requirements.

In addition to their practical experiences, students participate in academic-based courses such as Tools and Processes for Communicators, History of Broadcasting, Film Appreciation and Analysis, radio broadcast & other management career courses.

For more than 30 years, the television and broadcast program has been training some of Canada’s best writers, directors, producers, production crewmembers and studio executives for the broadcasting and film industry. Upon graduation, students are hired by radio and television stations, including specialty channels; commercial sound and video production companies; corporate video houses; and feature and series film producers.