Become a filmmaker • Use the latest technology • Graduate industry-ready
Majors > Digital Cinema
Program Description
4-Year Plan
Facilities & Equipment
Student Films
Film is the universal cultural expression of our day. In JBU's digital cinema program you'll master the technology to create your artistic expression.
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Discover how JBU equips you with the skills to make your vision come to life
The program prepares students to work with digital as well as conventional photographic, video and motion picture applications. Courses include photography, editing, cinematography, film theory, film production, lighting, script writing and an internship.
Beginning the first semester, digital cinema students work with upperclassmen to create short films in various key roles informed by their progressive studies. This culminates in the production of a senior cinema project that becomes the centerpiece of a professional portfolio.
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Receive a foundation in traditional illustration techniques, graphic design fundamentals and practical mass media skills that will prepare you for the convergence of technology, art and electronic media. The program is demanding of students’ time, energy and talent with the end goal of industry-ready graduates prepared for a career in digital cinema.
For Bruner, pursuing a degree in digital cinema took him out of Arkansas and into an internship in Los Angeles with Warner Brothers Studios. “The experience was amazing and unlike any other challenge I’ve ever had,” he said. “Going from learning about film theory in the classroom to a large production crew really helped me understand the diversity in filmmaking. There is such a variety of personality, talents, visions, and areas of expertise that digital cinema students don’t really have a stereotype,” Michael said. “We learn a lot from each other even though we are all pursuing different things.”
Dustin Solomon has always loved movies and escapism. As owner of Mutiny FX, a film post-production and special effects studio, Solomon loves that with imagination and technology you can bring anything to life. He says one of his biggest takeaways from his JBU education was being adaptable and creative problem-solving. Solomon’s company most recently finished special effects and post-production work on Pirate’s Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson.“The depth of knowledge you want to get is limitless,” Solomon said. “It’s up to you how engaged you want to be. It was a great experience that I would definitely do over again if I had the opportunity.”
JBU's high-tech facilities and technology give you the tools you need to create something spectacular
Film gadgets are cool, and JBU Digital Cinema has many of them: BlackMagic Design 4.6K URSAMiniPro as well as Canon C300 and C100 MKII cameras, XEEN and Rokinon Prime Lenses, RedRockMicro Matte Boxes and Wireless Follow-Focus, SteadiCam Scout, DJI Ronin, EZ Jib, Dolly and Track, ARRI Tungsten, KinoFlo Fluorescent, Litepanel Astra LED lighting instruments, SoundDevices Mixers, Sennheiser Booms Mics and Wireless Lavs, and grip carts complete with stands, flags and rigging equipment.
Our three art buildings include two 3-story facilities featuring classrooms, a theater, two galleries, photo and cinema studios, MAC labs and a printmaking workshop. The Studio Project Barn includes additional large spaces for a state-of-the-art photo studio, drawing and painting classrooms, wood shop, ceramics studio and individual artist stations.
Summer Studies trips provide opportunities for students to visit world-famous art collections in Europe, make documentaries in Berlin, participate in adventure filmmaking classes in Alaska, and more.
Choose your favorite projects from the year and display them at JBU’s annual Student Works Show, and see your hard work on the big screen when we show senior cinema projects in the Berry Performing Arts Center at the end of each semester.
Through CCCU Best Semester programs, students can apply to study at the LA Film Studies Center for a semester. Students intern 20-40 hours a week while taking film courses and attending workshops of their choice.
Because of its capacity to merge visual, intellectual and aural experiences together, we depend on film to interpret events in our lives and the world.
You'll gain both foundational skills and the sensitivity to use these skills to make films that are both entertaining and purposeful.
We want to produce both technicians and storytellers.
With a bachelor's in digital cinema and master's degree in business, you'll learn how to professionally market your filmmaking skills and create a viable business model. After a thorough undergrad program of foundational cinema courses followed by in-depth work writing and developing your own screenplay and producing a short narrative film ready for film festivals and distribution, you begin your business education with foundational undergrad business courses plus 12 hours of graduate business courses while you are still in your undergrad program. That’s 12 hours of MBA coursework for free and completed by the time you earn your bachelor's!
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Mr. Kirk Demarais is a graduate of JBU and served as an adjunct professor in the Visual Arts department since 2006. He previously worked for DaySpring cards as a member of the Web and New Media team for ten years before establishing himself as a freelance designer, artist, and writer. Mr. Demarais's fascination with vintage toys, novelties, and 20th century pop culture has inspired two published works, "Life of the Party," a visual history book of the S.S. Adams Prank and Magic company (for whom he was employed as a package and catalog designer), and "Mail-Order Mysteries" which offers a rare look at mail-order products from vintage comic books. The latter appeared on annual best-of lists in USA Today and the Boston Globe, and placed on the Wall Street Journal Bestsellers list. His enthusiasm for retro-culture has also manifested in an award-winning short film called "Flip" as well as "Foot," an animated film he co-created which was distributed by the toy company FunKo. His pop-surrealist artwork is regularly shown and sold in Los Angeles and New York City galleries, and has received international attention, as well as support among the Hollywood community. Mr. Demarais's writing has been seen in The LA Times, BoingBoing.net, and magazines including Comic Art, Make, and Reminisce. His body of work has been featured or cited in Wired, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, Slashfilm, FastCompany, Print Magazine, Flavorwire, New York Post and many more.
From his early forays into 8mm neighborhood movies and numerous social commentary film projects for school, to his work in HiDef directing corporate and commercial videos for companies like Saatchi & Saatchi X, Procter & Gamble, and Wal-Mart, Mr. Steve Snediker has developed a reputation as a visual storyteller. He fields many of the skills required to be a one-man movie studio, yet he has also discovered the greater power of collaboration and building teams. Mr. Snediker has a B.S. in Communications (Broadcasting) from JBU and an M.F.A. in Digital Cinema from National University. Besides his award-winning narrative film “Carlisle’s Secret”, he has recently completed a documentary entitled “Amazin’Grace: Standing Room Only” and an experimental film entitled “LEVI: A Day – A Lifetime.”
Department Head of Visual ArtsProfessor of Visual Arts
Mr. S. Neal Holland began his career at John Brown University in 1998 as the first full-time instructor in Digital Media Art.
Mr. Holland has been a champion of non-traditional programs and study-abroad partnerships, and he continues to head a series of programs to promote off-campus study. His work with the start-up Fields and Frames promotes that desire and helps photography students get international experience while encouraging the responsibility for Christians to engage with social justice issues.
Mr. Holland has worked for clients like Coca-Cola, Reebok, Nike and GM. He spends his free time fly-fishing and attempting to capture elusive images that might change the world.
The cinematographer tells stories through the visual arts with creativity in organizing camera angles and shots.
Editors are a part of the post production of digital media art. Editors assemble the footage into a sequence that tells a story. Editors are employed to construct commercials, promotional videos, full-length movies and many other video projects in between.
A screenwriter constructs an entire screenplay on paper before a camera is even set up to capture it. This position requires a creative and strategic mind in order to communicate to the director what shots to arrange and how to creatively tell a story.
In the world of TV production, the opportunities range from being a news camera operator to writing a TV series script to working in the post-production of sports games. If you’re interested in a fast-paced work environment, TV production is full of opportunities to apply your skill set.
Animators are constantly constructing images for film, television, video games, and the internet for diverse clients and needs. Animators must be flexible, skilled, and creative in order to meet a variety of needs while maintaining originality in their work.
Countless businesses are anxious to get the word out about their products and services, and each one of those businesses is different. There are plenty of opportunities to develop brands and labels at advertising agencies for increases in consumer awareness and sale
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