This article looks at specific features of the Broadcasting and Film program at Centennial College that have allowed it to gain a great reputation in the industry. These features include a balance of theory and practice as well as an industry placement.

1. Broadcasting and Film Program Offers Training in Modern Facilities
Whether your interest lies in TV or radio broadcast program or film, Centennial College has one
program to meet your interest. The Broadcasting and Film offering aims to ensure that students
gain both the creative and technical skills they’ll need to be hired by web production companies,
production companies, feature and series film producers, radio and television stations, including
specialty channels; and corporate and commercial TV/Film production houses. And if what line
producer Stephen Montgomery had to say is any induction, the offering is succeeding in its aims:
“The students coming from Centennial, with whom I’ve worked and hired, are better prepared than
most entry level personnel. They understand the importance and role of communications through
broadcasting and film. Centennial gets students ready for the workplace.”
After 30 years of training some of Canada’s best writers, directors, producers, production
crewmembers and studio executives for the broadcasting and film industry, this program is well
respected and well known. Completed in three years, it helps students to gain the know-how to
prepare, manage and carry out the creative production and development process to realize their
unique creative vision. This is achieved in a few ways.
Lectures: To ensure that students have a sound theoretical foundation, they partake in lecture
courses. These courses are led by media professionals who have years of experience in the
industry and not only offer advice but also personal anecdotes that can enhance student learning.
Some of the lecture courses in the broadcasting schools include: Media: Theory, Workplace and
Issues; History of Broadcasting, Film Appreciation and Analysis, Broadcast Career Management,
College Communications and more.
Practical Application: While lectures are essential, many of the courses within the program
combine theory with practical application. The hands-on experience complements students’
education and becomes the key to having the edge over the competition. As such, students partake
in a very wide range of courses in which they have the chance for hands-on learning. These
courses include: Editing (hands-on learning of the roles in the industry, the direct editing of stories
and the processes involved); TV Studio (each lab class includes instruction and demonstration
followed by hands-on operation of equipment and systems in the production of simple television
program); Filmmaking (emphasis is on story-telling, production, and post production in the making
of individual and group films) and more.
Fully-Equipped Classrooms: The hands-on courses would be useless if they weren’t carried out
in state-of-the-art facilities that mimic real-world environments. Centennial College’s Centre for
Creative Communications, which houses the program, is fully equipped with digital HD broadcast
studios, equipment and systems that have extensive digital film abilities. There are also computer
labs with software that is relevant to the industry, on which students can practice at any time.
On-Campus and Off-Campus Practice: In addition to their courses, students participate in
student films and TV as well as the JOURNAL, a student-produced news magazine TV show that
airs live and online. They then apply all of their knowledge to 15 weeks in a full-time industry field
placement, which not only allows them to apply what they have learned but also to network with
industry professionals.
At the end of their film, and TV and radio broadcast training, students create an advanced body of
produced work for a professional portfolio.