Yellowbrick, in collaboration with New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and Penske Media Corporation’s IndieWire and Rolling Stone, today announced the launch of Film and TV Industry Essentials, an online program that will cover multiple, interlacing roles and careers within the $100 billion Film & Television industry.

Program contributors represent a wide array of talent, specialties, and leadership from across the film and television community. Participants include Judd Apatow,  film director, producer, screenwriter, and founder of Apatow Productions; and Academy Award-winning director and NYU Tisch alumnus Ang Lee. Joining these two directing giants are Emmy-nominated Directors Sam Pollard (also with NYU Tisch) and Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; television writer/producers Yahlin Chen (The Handmaid’s Tale), Kevin Bray (Black-ish, Insecure); Rob Dubbin, former Late Show and Colbert Report writer and co-founder (with Stephen Colbert) of the remote script-writing platform, Scripto; NYU Tisch faculty David Irving, Caran Hartsfield, Alrick Brown, Harry Winer, Janet Grillo, Thomas Mangan; and many others. 

The program will help aspiring directors, producers, writers, and entertainment executives better understand their own aptitudes, demonstrate knowledge, and explore career paths. Upon finishing the program, learners will receive a completion certificate from NYU Tisch. 

“Film has the power to critique, inspire, interpret, and bring to life a range of critical perspectives. At NYU Tisch, we mentor young artists in the traditions and innovations of the rapidly-shifting media landscape; equipping them with the tools to hone their craft in visual storytelling, discover their individual voices, and develop conviction in the unique stories they have to tell,” said Dean Allyson Green, NYU Tisch School of the Arts. “This program will open up the knowledge and mentorship—provided by our outstanding faculty and alumni—that NYU Tisch is renowned for, in order to help aspiring filmmakers gain insight into the evolving film and television industry and discover how they can apply their unique talents.” 

Because of the course’s accessibility and Yellowbrick’s proven track record of attracting learners from diverse backgrounds, Film and TV Industry Essentials will likely draw in talent that may not have otherwise found routes into the industry.

“Given the complexity of this industry, even the most ardent Film and Television fans aren’t always aware of career paths they might be great for, and if they lack certain resources or connections they might never find out,” said Rob Kingyens, President and CEO of Yellowbrick. “We’re delighted to work with NYU Tisch School of the Arts – one of the world’s leading schools in this area – and Rolling Stone and IndieWire – leading media brands – to educate ambitious learners on what this industry has to offer them.”

The course will take learners through the rich histories of both Film and Television; exploring theories, genres, criticism, and cultural influences and impacts. From there, the program modules will delve into the development of productions – scripting, storyboarding, casting, visual story structure, and more – and then into all the vital elements of preproduction, production, and postproduction. 

Students will learn the roles and mechanics behind creative aspects like editing, sound, scoring, and visual effects; as well as business concepts such as film finance, studio management, talent representation, clearance and copyright, and more. Finally, learners will explore the intricate processes that put finished entertainment products in front of the public; examining film and television marketing, sales, publicity, alternative distribution, streaming, and more. 

“We’re excited to bring Rolling Stone’s dedication and expertise in entertainment to NYU in partnership with Yellowbrick and IndieWire with this online course,” said Gus Wenner, President and COO of Rolling Stone. “Giving our readers the opportunity to gain insight into the career fields they’re passionate about is another way Rolling Stone is providing fans with more of what they love.”

“IndieWire is proud to work with Yellowbrick, Rolling Stone, and NYU on this exciting new online course,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, Editor-In-Chief of IndieWire. “It’s a great way to show our passionate audience of film and TV fans how they can become a part of the industry they love.”

All course materials and instruction will be provided online, meaning students can fit the program assignments into their daily lives – offering the kind of flexibility needed right now during the pandemic. The course content itself is also optimized for the “new normal” of the entertainment industry, teaching techniques and strategies for handling projects remotely across the industry. 

The way the program content itself was shot and constructed is an example of this of-the-moment approach: Yellowbrick created a “contactless” recording experience to capture interviews. A first for Yellowbrick, the team developed this process using technology provided by OpenReel, a New York-based platform that enables footage to be directed and filmed remotely. 

Visit Yellowbrick.co/film to sign up now for an exclusive preview of the program. The first group of students will be admitted in September.