Frequently Asked Questions

Walnut Street Bridge
Photo by Bobby Stone

Why Chattanooga?

Many may wonder why Chattanooga? Why not get this training instead in a big city such as New York, Chicago or Atlanta? One simple answer: COST. There is no better value for professional film and television training anywhere in the country. For as little as $880, TN resident students can receive a certificate in an advanced production skill category and be ready for the workforce. Out of state residents will pay $3323 but this is still a significant bargain when compared to for-profit training programs that charge $10,000-$20,000 for the exact same training!

Beyond cost, another compelling reason to come to Chattanooga for this training is that we are strategically located. What made this city the object of a tug-of-war during the Civil War is what makes it today so valuable – it is at a critical crossroads between many major transportation corridors and urban areas. Five major metropolitan areas are within a few hours drive: Nashville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham. Within a day’s drive are the major media markets of Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, St. Louis, New Orleans, Washington, DC, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami. Most persons working in film and television production are freelancers who temporarily re-locate depending upon where a film is shooting. By being based in such a centralized area, film and television professionals can call Chattanooga home but venture to where the work is in surrounding states and urban areas as needed.

Already, many well-established film and TV industry professionals have moved to Chattanooga for this very reason and one other: Chattanooga is a wonderful place to live with a high quality of life and a low cost of living. We enjoy a relatively mild year-round climate, are surrounded by breathtaking mountains and rivers which provide unlimited recreational opportunities, and we are consistently voted one of the best places to live in America.

 

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Who are typical students?

Aiming the 1200 PAR Our students are ANYONE with a profound interest in pursuing film and television production as a career. While normal matriculating undergraduate students comprise some of our enrollees, High school students, retirees, working professionals, career-changers, unemployed persons and other non-traditional students make up the majority of our student body. We are a program dedicated to the unique needs of busy and working persons, so we offer our training primarily on weeknights and weekends. Specifically, most classes are taught on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-9:30pm, supplemented by Saturday all day, hands-on workshops and field trips and the occasional Friday field trip.

 

 

 

 

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How do I apply?

There is no formal application process for this training, other than being enrolled as a student at Chattanooga State. Prospective students may enroll on-line at this link: http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/admissions/

Normal turn-around time of your application is less than two days. Once you are accepted as a student, you can than register for PFTT-250 Introduction to Film and Television Technology class on-line at this link: http://tigerweb.chattanoogastate.edu/cp/home/loginf

To register for additional classes will require instructor approval and is contingent upon successful completion of PFTT-250.

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When are classes taught?

The classes are taught during the normal Fall and Spring semesters at Chattanooga State. The on-line academic calendar for the college can be viewed at http://catalog.chattanoogastate.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=4

Students can begin their training during either the Fall or Spring semester. PFTT-250, the mandatory introductory class, its taught every semester as is PFTT-251, the production assistant internship course. PFTT-250 meets only four times, on Wed. nights, starting at the beginning of the semester. PFTT-251 begins one month into the semester, meets twice on Wed. night and then the rest of the semester, students are required to do on-the-job training as interns with local production companies and on local projects shooting in the region. Our dedicated Internship Coordinator works with students to place them in suitable internship environments which may be anything from a low budget feature film to a network reality television series to a local TV commercial. Many students will also their required 90 hours of training, in part, by working with one of 40 production entities in the immediate vicinity.

The Advanced Production Technology Practicum classes are also taught every semester starting at the mid-way point of the semester – usually late October for the Fall semester and mid-March for the Spring semester. The training consists of 7-8 Wed. night sessions, at least two all-day Saturday sessions and one Friday all-day session. The subject of the advanced training changes each semester and students are welcome to take as many of these classes as possible.

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Is the course credit transferable?

Our courses MAY be eligible for transfer credit to a four year college as either an elective or as part of a communications major. This is entirely dependent upon which institution you are transferring to and what they will or will not accept. Is it going to be unique for each individual student and it is up to the student to determine this by contacting the other institution and talking to an academic advisor.

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Can I audit the classes?

Students may elect to take our training classes without receiving academic credit but will be expected to participate and be as fully engaged as the other students. The only difference will be that audit students will not be tested. They will, however, be just as eligible to qualify for achieving a certificate at the end of their training. Students wishing to enroll in classes in this manner, will need to apply through Chattanooga State’s Department of Continuing Education at http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/continuinged/

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What specific skills training can I get?

Advanced training certificate tracks include:

  • Grip/Electric
  • Camera Assisting
  • Production Management
  • Location Management
  • Production Sound
  • Assistant Editing
  • Script Supervision

In addition to the professional training curriculum, there are also occasional “cross-training” seminars. Many craft specialties in film and television production are carry-overs from other professions such as the theater and fashion. For persons with professional experience in these areas, periodic, craft-specific cross-training seminars are offered in order to better equip students for the specific and unique demands of film and television shoots. The seminars are conducted by working professionals in the following areas:

  • Make-Up Artists Costumers
  • Hair Stylists
  • Set builders
  • Art Directors
  • Drivers
  • Set Dressers
  • Transportation coordinators
  • Props Persons
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I can get a certificate, so what?

Students successfully completing professional film and television training at Chattanooga State will receive certificates from the Chattanooga Film Commission in one or more specialty tracks. Successful completion of a training track includes both and academic component and an internship component. Students must have completed at least 4 hours of classroom training and at least five credits (120 hours) of internship to be certified in an advanced crew category such as set lighting, camera assisting or production management. Students seeking an even quicker entré into the business, may be certified as production assistants for as little as 1 credit of classroom training and 2 credits (90 hours) of internship.

While there is presently no national body recognizing professional film and television certification, it does still hold tremendous value for a student because it shows to potential employers that you have received very specific technical training that has traditionally only been taught on-the-job. By hiring Chattanooga State graduates, potential employers will have to invest less in your training. Most importantly, as a certificate holder, you will be automatically placed on the Chattanooga Film Commission’s job referral list. When productions shoot in the area, the first place they contact is the Film Commission when they are looking for crew members.

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Will I be guaranteed work when I complete the training?

In the film and TV business, as in life, there are no guarantees. Hard work, tenacity and talent will ultimately be the guiding forces behind a student’s success or failure in the highly competitive world of film and television production. However, we strongly believe you will find no better training anywhere for so little of a financial investment. In addition to low cost, state-of-the art training, our students also are automatically networked into Chattanooga’s rapidly growing production community and are well-positioned to pursue other opportunities in some of the nearby markets such as Nashville or Atlanta. Are program’s dedicated Internship Coordinator works with students from day one to arrange their internships in a variety of professional production settings. Most students will spend time with at least 3-4 different production companies on a variety of different projects. Our students have worked on everything from feature films to reality TV series, music videos, commercials, corporate videos and sporting events.

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I want to Direct, why should I take this training?

Maybe you shouldn’t, but it certainly won’t hurt you. The best filmmakers all have a deep and profound understanding and appreciation of the crafts specialists around them. This program will allow you, with minimal investment, to experience some of these crafts in a hands-on fashion. Many persons have come into our program with the intent of pursuing a writing and directing career but come away pleasantly surprised to learn how rewarding and creative working as a camera assistant or grip can be. One thing to keep in mind is that on an average feature film, there is only ONE director and there are dozens, if not hundreds of other people listed in the credits. Where are the better odds for making a living in this business?