Advanced Filmmaking is the next step after SOCAPA's Core Filmmaking intensive and is geared towards students with prior filmmaking or video experience. The program is competitive and requires applicants to submit at least one completed film or video project and a short film treatment (story idea) for review during our selection process.
Students applying to Advanced Filmmaking should already be familiar with writing, directing, and editing their own work, and be comfortable with dual-system sync-sound production and other fundamental skills taught in our Core Filmmaking program.
Students accepted into the Advanced Filmmaking intensive focus on making two longer, more polished films that they can use as part of their college applications and submit to film festivals. In addition to advanced classes in cinematography, sound, and digital editing, students attend writing and directing classes where they learn techniques for developing scripts and working with actors. Students receive extensive one-on-one advisements from our seasoned staff of instructor/filmmakers — all of whom have experience at festivals and with agents.
Film festivals and agents like short films to be just that—short. By focusing on tightly crafted, sub-ten-minute films, Advanced students learn to convey powerful stories through visual storytelling, composition, and performance. Two polished shorts demonstrate a broader range of style and are ideal for college applications and festival submissions.
Curriculum & Schedule
Sharpen your writing and directing while leveling up your cinematography, sound, and post-production craft.
Workshop-driven writing & directing
Scripts are workshopped in class as well as one-on-one, and students have time to make changes and improvements before going into production. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the director and their actors, and the performances the director is able to elicit from them. Students learn tools to communicate effectively and draw out truthful performances.
Advanced tools & on-set practice
Afternoons focus on advanced technical camera and sound classes. In Cinematography, students are introduced to lenses, jibs, sliders, and lighting setups. In Sound, students revisit handheld audio recorders, shotgun and lavalier microphones, and recording strategies for high-quality production audio, then apply these tools on set.
Shape performance and story on the page and on set.
Develop more complex scripts and direct actors with intention. Students refine their story ideas, explore visual storytelling, and practice working with performers to elicit nuanced, believable performances.
Movement, light, and clean, cinematic audio.
Push beyond the basics with lenses, camera movement, jibs, sliders, and more advanced lighting setups. Learn strategies for recording clean, cinematic production audio and integrating it seamlessly in the edit.
SOCAPA offers the immediate opportunity to learn the most recent advancements in digital technologies. In the Advanced Filmmaking intensives, students will be using state-of-the-art 4K video cameras. All students are encouraged to edit on Adobe Premiere digital editing systems (students with experience editing in other software may consult their film instructor for permission to use an alternative editing system), the current industry standard.
Advanced Filmmaking reinforces dual-system, sync-sound production, where image and sound are recorded separately by different crew members. Students hone their skills with professional audio recorders, production slates, and sync workflows used across the film industry.
Online Screenwriting · 6 Week
Warm up for Advanced Filmmaking by joining our live, online 6-week Screenwriting intensive. Draft and polish a short film script before you step on set, and meet future SOCAPA classmates from across the country.
Use the spring to develop pages instead of just ideas. Arrive at your summer filmmaking intensive ready to focus on directing, cinematography, and performance.
Connect with writers and filmmakers who may be on your campus this summer, and start building the creative relationships that power great films.
Online course is optional but highly recommended for Advanced Filmmaking students who want to focus production time on visuals and performance.
Film Projects
Advanced students craft two major projects inspired by legendary directors.
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of visual storytelling, often conveying information in a single silent shot that might take pages of dialogue for a lesser filmmaker to express. In this exercise, students are encouraged to take a strongly visual approach to telling their stories. Dialogue is used sparingly, if at all; instead, composition, camera movement, shot selection, blocking, lighting, color, and nonsynchronous sound carry the meaning.
Renowned as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Akira Kurosawa combined bold visual style with powerful performances. In this culmination project, Advanced students challenge themselves to elicit their strongest, most truthful performances from actors without losing sight of everything they have learned about visual storytelling and film craft.
Student Films
A few of our portfolio picks from the Advanced Filmmaking program.
2026 Summer Intensives
Run Advanced Filmmaking in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Burlington, Vermont.
Advanced Filmmaking
Filter by campus, age, and session length to find the right Advanced Filmmaking intensive.
Tell us a bit about your student and what you're looking for. Our team can help you decide if Advanced is the right fit, and recommend the best campus and dates.
Toll Free USA: (800) 718-ARTS
Email: info@socapa.org
