Alright then. Let's see, starting with Equipment
We have access to a variety of Digital Cameras from Basic PD150s (Term 1 Students), to JVCs, and Sony D-30 Betacams, as well as Cannon XL1's and XL1s. XL2s and HDV cameras are apperantly arriving soon.
On the Film Side, We have access to ARRI SR3 16mm Cameras as well as ARRI BL-3 35mm Cameras which all include complete kits, and a variety of prime and zoom lenses.
Other equipment also avaliable are several dollys, such as doorway dollys, and cricket dollys as well as large amounts of dolly track, each dolly with ground wheels, and speed wheels for track use.
Lighting Equipment consists of Tungsten lights ranging from small ARRI 150W, to 5Ks. Also avaliable are Daylight 5600 HMIs, up to 10K. There are also Kino Flos in singles, banks of 4, both 3200 and 5600 bulbs avaliable. Scrims are avaliable for all light sizes to tone down light intensity. Also avaliable are the use of Skypan lights.
Gripping equiptment consists of your basic grip stands, with standard arms to larger Sky highs. Related gripping equiptment also includes all sizes of Flags, Silks, and whites. There is also a large Green Screen avaliable as well.
In the School, there are 3 Studios, one equiped with a Professional Broadcast Control Room for training in Television Production, with indutstry standard equipment. The second studio features a large white sike for use, and the third is just a large empty studio for any use requested. Studios can be signed out by students during times that classes are not running, as well as signouts lasting a full weekend.
Each studio is equiped with a Lighting grid, as well as a Large power source of up to 250Volts. Power equipment consists of GFI Disconnects, 6 by 70s, and 3 by 20 Defs. Seaway and Joy cables are avaliable for use.
There is a large frieght elevator that has access to the studios, to bring in any off-site constructed sets, or any other materials, as well as take down large amounts of equipment signed out for location shoots.
As a student in the school, Film Stock can be purchased from either Kodak or Fuji at student discounted rates, which I'm sure is avaliable at any other film school.
The school is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so if I wanted to, and have in the past, could spend a night at the school working in an editing suite, un-interrupted. The school relies on student key card access to prevent students from other programs, as well as those not even in the school from gaining access to any program specific equipment.
Another big advantage with the school, which you would problably find at other Film School, is a good source of other programs students to pull from. With an Editing Specific Program, as well as an Audio Production, and Acting Program in the school, you'll be able to find serious students who are willing to work on your production.
One Project I'm working on now as the DoP, will have 2 Audio Students on our crew to perform On set Audio, as well as Post Audio on pro tools suites.
Film Program students have access to the Basic Pro Tools suites, as well as AVID Pro Editing suites and Final Cut Pro HD Stations.
The instructors at the school are highly experienced in the industry, especially the instructor for Film and Film Cameras who has been working in the industry for over 30 years, and has quite possibly the answer to any question I can come up with, so far.
Instructors in other portions of the program such as Audio Design, Editing, Screenwriting and Writing for television, still work in the Industry, and provide a pretty good insight into how to make a living.
One last great advantage to the school, is having access to the schools equipment room up to a year after finishing the program.
As for the schools tie to CBC, its nothing more then the school occupying space in the building, but CBC does grant students discounted prices on access to the CBC Prop house as well as access to Sets.
As for what I personally intend to do, once I complete the program, I have a high interest in working as a Director of Photography. I've jumped onto every Film Production I can in the program as a DoP to continue to advance my skills, as well as work as a Camera Op on several other shoots.
I doubt having a fancy sheet of paper from Ryerson or Sheridan makes a difference if I demonstrate in my reel, that I'm good at what I do. What I plan on doing right now, is to continue work on student short films, as well as independent shorts to start, and advance my skills, as well as continue to build a good reel. Where I'll go from there, I haven't decided.
