Program Learning Resources and Facilities
Labs
Computer classrooms, workrooms and studios are available for students to work in when not being used for classes. Some of these areas require reserving through the booking system.
Equipment
Required: A good laptop (preferably a recent Mac Book Pro but you can also use a video media-capable PC) with 16GB RAM, minimum 512GB internal storage drive. The Apple website (apple.ca) sells new at educational prices or refurbished computers at a discount (refurbished still carry the full warranty but have been fixed after some flaw was detected). Apple prices for higher education are about 5-10% less. Refurbished are 10 – 20% less. You can also do this through an Apple retail store. Also, there are a few private resale vendors who buy off-lease and resell – such as macdoc.com. Note that PC laptops vary widely and that you will need a high end PC laptop especially for editing video. Here are your basic specs to look for when buying a PC laptop for video editing: Processor: Multi-core Intel i5/i7/i9 models (i7 is good). Preferably 4 or more processor cores. Graphics card: Depends on video editing software. For example, Premiere Pro and Davinci Resolve do well with both AMD and NVIDIA. (Minimum 2GB memory) Operating System: Windows 10 (64 bit edition). A final note about size – get the largest screen you can afford. 15” is good (1920X1080 HD resolution or better). It is super frustrating editing on a 12 or 13” screen OR buy an additional large screen to plug in at home. External USB 3.0 drive or external SSD drive for media. You will also need to make sure your computer has a camera so that you can participate in virtual classes.
https://www.apple.com/ca_edu_93120/shop
https://www.apple.com/ca_edu_93120/shop/refurbished
Required: A very fast 2TB (or larger) external hard drive capable for use as a video editing drive, formatted in the ExFAT format. Must be at least USB 3.0 drive.
Please note that these drives are NOT usually available at Best Buy. Hard drives can be purchased at CCBC (https://www.ccbc-club.com/), Riverdale Mac, the Apple store / apple.ca The best hard drives have external power supplies and connect with at least USB3 or higher. You can also build your own by buying the right components from a computer parts outlet such as Canada Computers.
Required: Good quality headphones (closed cup style).
Required: Reliable high speed internet connection
Recommended: A good quality digital photo camera such as a DSLR or mirrorless camera with at least a zoom lens, that also shoots HD or better video
Software
Required: Adobe CC and Microsoft Office (both have educational discounts available), also Davinci Resolve (free version).
https://www.adobe.com/ca/creativecloud/plans.html?promoid=NV3KR7S1&mv=other
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
Recommended: Additional software: Avid Media Composer First (free edition), ProTools First (free version), Apple Final Cut, Apple Motion (note both apple products available with student discount)
https://my.avid.com/get/media-composer-first
https://my.avid.com/get/pro-tools-first
https://www.apple.com/ca_edu_93120/shop/product/BMGE2Z/A/pro-apps-bundle-for-education
Note that Apple software only works on Apple computers at this time. All other software above works on both Apple and PC.
Students also have access to industry-leading software packages and bundles that can be found in rooms, labs, and podiums across our campuses. Computers at each campus will be loaded with the applications for use in your courses. To access these features, you must log in to the network using your student number. You can see a comprehensive list of software and software packages installed by room and by campus here.
In the Story Arts Centre campus, computer classrooms have limited capabilities that may affect your ability to complete complex assignments satisfactorily. In the Broadcasting area there are a number of dedicated editing workstations that can booked to do complex media work on campus. You will still need a hard drive to be able to save your work as the computers on campus do not allow for saving internally.
Digital Resources / Books
Required:
Writing for Television, Radio, and New Media, by Robert L. Hilliard.
Video Basics 8 by Herbert Zettl (ISBN – 9781337640459)
PhotoEd Guide to Photography ISBN 9780973876314
The Filmmaker’s Guide to Digital Imaging: for Cinematographers, Digital Imaging Technicians by Blain Brown
Additional texts will be identified in the first week of school
Most of these can be purchased as hard copy or electronic versions through the publishers. Amazon and other web retailers also sell them used. The school bookstore online site: http://www.bkstr.com/centennialeastyorkstore/home/en?cm_mmc=Redirect-_-VanityURL-_-eastyork.bkstr.com-_-17878
Library Collections
The following books from the library are recommended:
On Our Wavelength: Broadcasting History from a Canadian Perspective. By Kenn Scott and John Pellatt, Oblique House, Toronto. 2015 edition
Directing The Documentary by Michael Rabiger ISBN 9780240810898\
Producing for TV and New Media by Catherine Kellison
Broadcast Journalism, Techniques of Radio and Television News by Andrew Boyd ISBN 0240515714
Roll! Shooting TV News by Rich Underwood ISBN 978-0-240-80848-2
Documentary Filmmaking, A Contemporary Field Guide by John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez ISBN 978-0-19-537443-8
Introduction to Documentary by Bill Nichols ISBN 978-0-253-21469-0
Elephant Bucks: An Inside Guide To Writing TV Sitcoms, Sheldon Bull ISBN 9781932907278
Writing TV Drama Series, Pamela Douglas ISBN 97816159302586
The Art of Dramatic Writing, Lajos Egri ISBN 9780671213329
On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft, Stephen King ISBN 9781439156810
You’re Lucky You’re Funny, Phil Rosenthal ISBN 9780670037995
Making a Good Script Great, Linda Seger ISBN 9781935247012
The Technique of Film and Video Editing by Ken Dancyger (ISBN 978-0-240-80765-2)
Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need, Snyder B., Studio City, CA: M. Wiese Productions; 2005
Save the Cat! Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriter’s [Sic] to Get into– and Out of. Saline, Snyder B. Michigan?: Save the Cat! Press; 2009.
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter’s Guide to Every Story Ever Told, Snyder B. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions; 2007
The Art of Fiction: Notes On Craft For Young Writers, John Gardner ISBN 9780679734031
Why Does The Screenwriter Cross The Road? Joe Gilford ISBN 9781615932238
The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn’t Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film, Reed Martin ISBN-13: 9781429953719
Instructors may make course readings available online through the eReserves service in eCentennial or as physical items that can be borrowed from a campus library on short-term loan. If your instructor is using eReserves, you will see a module in the course content on eCentennial. The list may include links to library resources like databases, articles, and eBooks; book chapters; web links; and open educational resources. Check your course outline or contact your instructor for information about where your assigned course readings are located.
