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Ministry-approved title: Digital Video Production
Students in the Video Production program explore the nature of creative storytelling by writing, shooting and editing documentaries, short narratives and corporate videos. The program’s film production courses provide students with the technical and artistic foundation needed to succeed in careers in media.
To become technically proficient and critically informed, students tap into the power of video to capture compelling stories of our time and create fictional stories in fictional worlds. Through hands-on cinematography courses and projects, students develop a professional approach that blends creative vision with technical excellence. Students learn camera operation, composition, lighting, sound design, post-production and the entrepreneurial skills needed to operate a small video production business.
With industry-standard equipment, expert faculty and comprehensive video production courses, students graduate with the confidence and portfolio needed to thrive in the film production industry. The Video Production program helps students turn their passion for visual storytelling into rewarding careers.
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Begin your journey in video production with diverse career opportunities across multiple media sectors. Our film production courses prepare graduates to excel in roles from camera operator to producer, with the technical expertise and creative vision employers seek.
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The Video Production program prepares students for careers in film, video and television production by combining technical training with creative storytelling and hands-on learning. Students develop foundational skills in digital media production while gaining experience with industry-standard tools, techniques and workflows used across commercial, documentary and independent production environments.
Students are introduced to:
Students also learn how to:
The 48-Hour Storytelling Challenge invites MAD students from multiple disciplines—including video, audio, graphic design, painting, and more—to create an original story using their preferred medium within a 48-hour time period. Participants receive an information package with the theme and category options, which guides their creative process. Completed entries are showcased at a live College screening where judges select winners in each category, celebrating the broad range of talents across MAD. Registration is encouraged for all students—join the challenge and embrace this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and push the boundaries of storytelling across media and the arts.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
The video production industry offers a broad spectrum of career pathways for graduates with the right combination of technical skill, creative talent, and professional knowledge. From traditional broadcast media to emerging digital platforms, our cinematography courses and hands-on production training equip students to pursue various specialized roles across the entertainment and corporate sectors.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Upon successful completion of the video production program, graduates can transfer to the second year of Durham College’s Photography program and complete the diploma in one academic year (two semesters). Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College’s Advanced Filmmaking graduate certificate program.
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in the video production program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific camera requirements for the video production program, click here.
LAPTOP REQUIREMENTS
A Mac notebook computer is recommended. Please see the hardware requirements document for details.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS SOFTWARE PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROGRAM.
Creative Cloud brings together everything you need to create your greatest work. One simple membership gives you and your classmates access to the very latest versions of all the Adobe professional creative desktop applications like Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Premiere Pro® and more — plus new features and upgrades as soon as they’re available. And that’s just the beginning. With Creative Cloud™, everything you need to create intuitively and collaboratively is included.
Free downloadable software (please download and install prior to the start of classes). Caution: To avoid malware, only download from the official developer sites.
OTHER RECOMMENDED HARDWARE
NOTE: These requirements were accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change. Please be aware that hardware and software versions are subject to change and will be updated as needed. For further information and the FAQ click here.
Special pricing has been secured to give you the best possible value on your camera purchase. For details and participating locations, please review the Canon Student Advantage Program Pricing webpage.
Students are required to purchase a digital camera in order to complete the coursework and assignments in the Video Production program. Please see the below suggested cameras. The hardware, software and photographic equipment used in this program are needed to teach the advanced technology skills required in the workplace.
Media Equipment Loans in the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD) have an inventory of accessories available for students enrolled in this program, including:
Please note: the lenses will only fit Canon cameras, so this should be a consideration when choosing your camera. MAD does not stock any lenses other than Canon for student lending.
As students prepare for college, they can take advantage of a special membership program with Canon Canada that allows them to shop at any authorized dealer for the best price and receive discounts through the Canon Student Advantage Program. Membership provides students with discounts on eligible equipment at the time of purchase based on the dealer’s best pricing. For complete details, students can visit Canon Canada’s website. For example, members of the program receive an additional $75 discount on the Canon EOS R8 Body with the kit lens W/RF 24-50mm IS STM Lens. Pricing and discounts are subject to change.
There are three recommended models of mirrorless cameras that students may consider, each of which meets the academic requirements of the program.
For more information or questions regarding program technical requirements, please contact Oliver Fernandez, Photo and Video Support Specialist at Oliver.fernandez@durhamcollege.ca, or 905.721.2000, ext. 2671.
Please note: These requirements were accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change.
Through immersive film production courses and hands-on projects, the Video Production program provides students with valuable real-world experience. The Video Production program at Durham College has partnered with several not-for-profit community groups, including: Spinal Cord Injury – Ontario, Canadian Adaptive Snowsports, Ontario Neurotrauma, Time4Change (Youth Without Shelter), Oshawa Fire Services and many corporate clients. These collaborations support our cinematography courses, allowing students to apply classroom theory to professional-level productions while building meaningful industry connections. They enable students to work directly with clients in the real world, access real-time coaching and feedback from their professors, promote teamwork, and test those vital soft skills necessary to succeed.
Students in this program have access to Durham College’s Mixed-reality Capture Studio, a cutting-edge immersive production environment that supports experimentation with virtual production, real-time rendering, and digital storytelling workflows. Through hands-on projects, students have an opportunity to engage with industry-relevant tools and collaborative production processes that reflect current and emerging practices in media, design, and interactive content creation.
See the action behind the scenes at SCIO Ski and Snowboard Day below.
As part of their program, Video Production students work directly with real industry clients, including not-for-profit and community organizations, on a variety of projects. From developing creative concepts to delivering finished video productions, students engage in every aspect of client-driven projects, simulating the professional workflow they’ll encounter after graduation. Doing so provides students with access to real-time coaching and feedback from their professors. The experiences also promote teamwork and help students develop and test the vital soft skills necessary to succeed in their chosen field.
Check out behind-the-scenes action from several recent student-client collaborations in the Durham College student-produced videos below:
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