South Plains College’s School of Cinematography told listeners during Fest Week that the program offers multiple certificates and an associate degree, integrates AI-assisted tools for postproduction, and is working to add a virtual-production LED volume to give students experience with contemporary film-set workflows.

“Yeah. We talk a little bit about AI,” said Andrew Taylor, an instructor in the School of Cinematography. Taylor said students learn both the potential and the limits of those tools: AI can accelerate tasks such as rotoscoping, but students are taught to be “careful” because some generative tools may use copyrighted source material.

Taylor described the program’s credentialing: three certificates (basic, advanced and enhanced) and an associate of applied science. He said students gain experience in live video (concert and church production) and cinema work (short films, music videos and postproduction), and that a semester-long capstone requires students to develop a short film from concept to finished product.

On technology, Taylor said the program is “working on building our virtual production studio” using an LED “volume” similar to those used on professional sets such as the production for The Mandalorian. He said the college aims to give students hands-on experience with current industry workflows, from camera operation and lighting to postproduction and compositing.

Taylor noted students already obtain industry-relevant jobs while enrolled; he cited a student who was preparing to serve as director of photography on a true-crime project in Dallas. He encouraged prospective students to contact program staff or arrange a campus tour to see equipment and coursework in person.

Less critical details: Taylor described continuing efforts to keep equipment and techniques current and to teach students to work independently or as the lead in a small production team. He said faculty address ethical and legal questions around AI-assisted composites in classwork.

Contacts and program information are available on the college website; Taylor and program coordinator Greg Crook (named in the interview) served as on-air points of contact.