CET Film Production at FAMU Study Abroad

CET Film Production at FAMU: At-A-Glance

Work with 16mm
or 35mm film
Electives in all aspects of film production
Produce a 7-10 minute film
English-taught courses
Czech language class
Direct-enroll classwork at FAMU
The Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
Previous slide
Next slide

Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring

Take on a busy and challenging semester mastering both the process of filmmaking and the medium of analog film itself (16mm or 35mm). Film Production students work in groups of three or four to see their short film through every stage—from pitching to filming, and even color grading in post-production—while working alongside professionals and under the guidance of experienced mentors at FAMU. You leave Prague with a project for your portfolio, a better sense of the ins and outs of the film industry, and the confidence and skills to take on your next future creative endeavor. 

Academics in Prague

Semester
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

You take two core courses in film production, one language class, and enroll in one to three FAMU International electives to meet the recommended 13 to 17 total credits. Your Czech language class is taught by CET, while the remainder of your curriculum is taught by experienced FAMU faculty active in their fields.

You take two courses taught exclusively for CET students by FAMU faculty. These courses include workshops and exercises (e.g. lighting workshop, mise-en-scene exercise, etc.). FAMU faculty offer mentorship as they guide you and your group through the process of creating your final film.

Many electives at FAMU are open to CET students. Take one to three electives to meet the total of 13 to 17 recommended credits. Courses and credits differ each term but past students have taken:

  • Soundtrack Aesthetics
  • Script Analysis
  • The Realm of Montage
  • Film Style and Form
  • Filming the Unfilmable
    Visual Theory 1
  • Essential Elements of Film Sound
    Short Film Practical Analysis
  • Cinemadance

    Explore more electives at FAMU International.
Note for browsing the course catalog at FAMU:
Terms: Winter is the FALL semester; Summer is the SPRING semester

You may also substitute one FAMU elective for a CET Prague elective.

You take 16 hours of intensive Czech in the first week, and have reduced class hours after that. Most students are Czech language beginners, but if you’ve taken Czech before, we have a class for you, too. This class is exclusively offered for CET students. 

students on camera monitor

Get real world experience in Prague

Study at FAMU. The program is based at FAMU, the Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, one of Europe’s foremost film academies. Your day-to-day reflects the fast pace, fluidity, and occasional unpredictability of industry life. 

Work with your group. Work in groups of three to four to develop a film from start to finish—pitch your ideas, refine your group’s script, and make plans for your final days of shooting*. Collaboration and cooperation are huge parts of filmmaking, and you have plenty of chances to build these skills.

Lighting workshop. Practice your technical skills during a three-day workshop at a FAMU studio. Learn the appropriate lighting for indoor, outdoor, evening, candlelight, and mood-eliciting shots. When you’re done, head to Barrandov film studios, the MGM of Prague, and conduct a telecine transfer of your footage. 

*Note: Because this is a start-to-finish film production program, time spent shooting on camera is limited to shooting days and the lighting workshop.

Housing and Meals

Previous slide
Next slide

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. Czech students live in your apartment building to help you acclimate to life in a new country. They also organize regular activities—or “Czechtivities” as they are lovingly called on site—so you can explore Czech culture or the city itself. You might go for a countryside hike, head to the opera, or explore a museum. Learn more about living with a local roommate. 

Eating in Prague. For meals, take advantage of the exceptional and affordable food scene in Prague. Try out Czech favorites like chlebíčky (open face sandwich with unique ingredients) and smažený sýr (fried cheese with potatoes and tartar sauce). Grab a treat at one of the city’s farmers markets. Ready for a home-cooked meal? Grab ingredients at the grocery store and have a night in with your roommates. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Prague.

students eating on streets of Prague

Life in Prague

A tram in Prague goes through the old city

Enjoy the perks of living in “the world’s greenest city” by reading in the park. Roam the streets and find your favorite view. Develop your script with your group at a cozy neighborhood café. See a world-class play at one of the city’s many beautiful theaters. Need a break from your busy semester? Get lost in the winding streets of the Jewish Quarter, museum hop from the National Gallery to the DOX Center for Contemporary Art, then unwind with a riverside stroll. Prague has a little something for everybody.

Experience Central Europe with CET

Around Prague. Take in a concert by the Czech Symphony in the Senate Gardens. Go paddle boating on the river. Climb the towers of Prague Castle. Spend an afternoon at the beautiful Pruhonicky Park. Visit NaFilM, Prague’s film museum. Each term offers different opportunities to get to know the city and your cohort.

Away from the city. Prague’s central location means easy access to the rest of Europe—but with so many CET-arranged excursions, you may not need to leave. All students visit UNESCO World Heritage site Český Krumlov during orientation. Explore Kutná Hora and its unique architecture or the medieval town of Jachymov. Spend a film-focused long weekend in Berlin, Germany. Get a backlot tour of Babelsburg Studio, visit a film museum, and engage with young German filmmakers. Later, attend a film festival. Fall students usually go to the Ostrava Kamera Oko International Film Festival in Ostrava while Spring students usually attend the One World Fest or Febio Fest in Prague.

Previous slide
Next slide

Student Resources

"The process of making a short film, even the shortest of short films, is remarkably more time-consuming and arduous than what I imagined it would be prior to studying film. I had filmed things for class back at my home university, and I understood the vague idea of the filmmaking process, but this was my first 'real' experience in that field."

— Katherine Chang,
American University | Fall student

READ KATHERINE'S BLOG
"If you are a filmmaking student looking for a program to develop your knowledge and skills, this program would be a strong choice. The variety of classes and the opportunity to work with 16mm film have allowed me to learn so many new skills in such a short time. However, this program is quite different than your traditional study abroad. I would highly encourage any student to consider what they want to prioritize with their study abroad experience."

— Christian Kelly,
Elon University | Spring student
"Because we are getting an international perspective on film with students and professors from around the world, I am learning a lot from those around me. This made me feel more confident in my abilities because I’ve gained and perfected many of my skills."

— Anonymous student evaluation | Spring student
"I learned so much from the three days in the lighting workshop! I haven't had the chance before to use that level of equipment and have that degree of creative control in a studio of that quality. It was an excellent opportunity to understand how to use the camera, light a scene, and ultimately capture the types of shots and scenes you want to."

— Anna Kristofick,
Vassar College | Fall student
"You need to be willing to be flexible and make changes/adjust. Be ready for the constant process of pitching and re-pitching. Get to know your peers. Every step helps you toward the end goal of creating your project."

— Ann Gilmore,
American University | Spring student
"The hours are definitely intense, and you have pretty consistent classes from 9 AM to 5 or 6 PM each day, plus electives, so there are very few times per day to work on your work or be by yourself. I think it is a huge adjustment at the beginning, but as the semester goes on, you get more used to the workload."

— Anonymous student evaluation
"I learned how to work with people I don't generally mesh well with and still maintain professional relationships. I also learned so much about 16mm and 35mm film cameras and lenses when I was an operator and assistant camera. I learned from my mistakes and created something that I am happy with."

— Anaya Battle,
Muhlenberg College | Spring student
Previous slide
Next slide

On-site Staff

Jiri Bukovinsky

Jiří Bukovinský
Director of Prague Programs

Kevin Johnson, PhD
Academic Director of Prague Programs

Adriana Čotek
Program Coordinator

Program Fees

Fall/Spring

$22,990

What's Included

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

We arrange your housing in a fully-furnished apartment in a residential neighborhood of Prague. Walk or use your CET-provided public transportation pass to get to class. Your program fees go toward rent, utilities, furnishing, and other management costs.
 

A budget for your film project is included with your program fee. No crowd-sourcing necessary. 

You’re provided with an unlimited public transportation pass. Use the bus, metro, and tram to your heart’s content.

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way. 

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

The excursions, workshops, and activities that we arrange are included in your tuition. 

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You do the legwork, but we’ll make sure you have the documentation and information you need, when you need it.

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

You receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and FAMU at the end of the term. If your home institution requires a School of Record transcript, CET is able to provide one through the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Students pose in a park overlooking Prague
Program fee breakdown. Of the total program fee, $19,990 goes to tuition and fees, and $3,000 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local cost of living. Relative to the US and other countries in Europe, the cost of living in Prague is considerably more affordable. On average, food, toiletries, and housing goods are cheaper than in the US.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses: 

How to Apply

General pre-requisites:
  • •  Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation
  • •  Open to students from any US college or university
  • GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their applicatio

film pre-requisites:
  • •  16 mm Narrative Track: Previous experience in filmmaking, film theory, visual arts, or photography is highly recommended but not required. 
  • •  35 mm Narrative Track: Previous experience with 16mm is required.
  • •  Ability to work as part of a team
  1. 1. Submit your application by the deadline.
  2. 2. CET and the Portfolio Review Committee review your application and portfolio.
  3. 3. CET issues admissions decisions approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the application deadline.
  4.  
Please note: Regardless of where you are in the application process, your visa application materials must be submitted according to the deadlines in your online account. 

Complete the application through your online CET account. This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

All applicants for the CET at FAMU programs are required to submit a portfolio of visual work that will be reviewed by the Portfolio Review Committee and factored into the admission decision. Learn more about portfolio requirements and the admissions process. 

Upload a scan of your passport to your online CET account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet their requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request,  simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your online account.

Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Fall Semester:

April 1

Spring Semester:

October 1

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

ECTS Credit Conversion

CET recommends credits for FAMU elective courses according to the standard 2:1 ECTS conversion ratio that is used at most US colleges and universities. This means that if you enroll in a 3-credit course at FAMU, we will recommend that you earn 1.5 credits. That said, final credit allocations are always ultimately at the discretion of your home institution. Please check with your home institution about credit conversions before you leave the US.

CET Jordan: Academic Consultation Board

Over the years, we’ve built a strong network of locally-based faculty that we’re proud to call our peers. These faculty make up our Academic Consultation Board—a select group of local voices and thought leaders that help advise and shape components of the CET Jordan program. 

Board members support the program in many ways, including but not limited to:

Academic Consultation Board Members

Learn More about our Programs