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 Film Production at FAMU Study Abroad
CET Film Production at FAMU: At-A-Glance
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Fall
- Arrival: 08/23/2023
- Departure: 12/21/2023
- Recommended Credits: 13-17
- Fee: $22,990
- Application Deadline: April 1
SPRING
- Arrival: 01/17/2024
- Departure: 05/16/2024
- Recommended Credits: 13-17
- Fee: $22,990
- Application Deadline: October 1
Fall
- Arrival: 08/23/2023
- Departure: 12/21/2023
- Recommended Credits: 13-17
- Fee: $22,990
- Application Deadline: April 1
SPring
- Arrival: 01/17/2024
- Departure: 05/16/2024
- Recommended Credits: 13-17
- Fee: $22,990
- Application Deadline: October 1
Take on a busy study abroad 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 an experienced mentor 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
- Pre-requisites: Various filmmaking pre-requisites. Learn more.
- Produce a 7- to 10-minute film
- Electives in all aspects of film production
- Focus on traditional filmmaking
- Host University: Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)
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.
- PR/FILM 410 Narrative Film: Pre-Production and Production (130 hours, 6 credits)
- PR/FILM 420 Narrative Film: Post-Production and Final Product (65 hours, 3 credits)
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
- Surrealism
- Visual Theory 1
- Filming the Unfilmable
- Practical Analysis: Directing
- Introduction to International Film/TV Producing
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
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 20 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.
- PR/LANG 101 Beginning Czech Language (3 credits)
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. Under the skillful guidance of a mentor, you 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
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- Apartment
- Off-campus housing
- Live with CET peers & local Czech students
- 2-6 people/apartment
- 2-3 people/room
- Fully equipped kitchen, living room, shared bathroom per 2-3 students, in-unit washer
- Wifi access, A/C, linens, basic furnishing, kitchenware
Living Like a Local
Local Roommates. CET-picked Czech students live in your apartment building to help you acclimate to life in a new country. They also organize a regular “Czech Table” so you can practice your language skills around the city. You might go for a countryside hike, try Czech desserts, 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.
Life in Prague
- Known locally as: Praha
- Population: 1.3 million
- Local Currency: Czech Koruna (Kč)
- Famous for: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, lower cost of living in Europe, great public transport, beautiful architecture
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
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.
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Student Resources
On-site Staff
Jiří Bukovinský
Director of Prague Programs
Kevin Johnson, Ph.D.
Academic Director of Prague Programs
Anna Tomenendalová
Program Coordinator
Quinn McGavin
Student Life 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
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:
- Round-trip Airfare: $1,000 - $1,500
- Meals: $2,000 - $2,500
- Personal Expenses: $1,300 - $1,500
- Visa Fees: $105 - $115
- Fees related to FAMU Electives: Varies
additional resources
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 preferred, but admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis; lower GPAs still encouraged to apply
film pre-requisites:
- • Previous experience in filmmaking, film theory, visual arts, or photography is highly recommended but not required
- • Students interested in working with 35mm film: Previous experience with 16mm is required.
- • Ability to work as part of a team
- 1. Submit your application by the deadline.
- 2. CET and the Faculty Advisory Committee review your application and portfolio.
- 3. CET issues admissions decisions approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the application deadline.
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 Faculty Advisory 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.
Use the link in your online account to send a recommendation request to one of your previous instructors.
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.
Have a question? Get in touch!
Joelle Leinbach
Student Services Coordinator
202.349.7322
[email protected]
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.