Training Oklahomans for A Future In Filmmaking

Meridian Technology Center provides affordable, practical and transferable training to support the state’s growing film industry.

It doesn’t matter where you are in Oklahoma, you can now train with us with our virtual or hybrid course offerings!

Sign up to be notified of upcoming courses here. 

Start with Class. End with Credits.

No matter where you are along your career path in the film industry, Meridian’s film industry training provides courses to help you achieve your goals. Classes are short, specialized and cost-effective. Participants will be set-ready upon the completion of each course.

With more than 30 course offerings, we’ve created categories to help organize our offerings. When you click on a course header you’ll connect to a page with full course description, course dates and times, information on the instructor and an enrollment link. If you have any questions about a course, please contact Cara Adney at 405.377.3333 or caraa@meridiantech.edu.

Film industry training take places at Meridian’s South Campus in Guthrie unless noted otherwise. Meridian’s South Campus is located at 3025 S. Division St., Guthrie, OK 73044.

KEY CONVERSATIONS

Key Conversations is a series that brings together aspiring filmmakers and Oklahoma’s most experienced industry professionals. Through personal anecdotes and experiences, professionals will inspire and motivate participants to pursue their passion for filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, creativity, and resilience in the face of challenges.

Each session of Key Conversations will highlight a department or a crew position that is needed to help Oklahoma build a stronger crew base to support the state’s growing film industry.

View Key Conversations dates, speaker bios and enroll.

FOUNDATIONS OF FILM

Courses in this area serve as essential steppingstones for individuals embarking on a career in the film, television, or commercial industries. Classes are designed to equip students with the foundation knowledge, terminology, and skills necessary to pursue additional training or a career in a specialized area.

  • Careers in the Film Industry
  • Walkie Communication in the Film and TV Industry
  • Film Industry Fundamentals: A Crash Course to Introduction to Working on a Film Crew

View full class descriptions for Foundations in Film courses and enroll.

CAREER GROWTH

Training and skills development is essential for individuals seeking to grow a successful career in the film industry. These courses are designed to help aspiring filmmakers develop the necessary skills to pursue careers as assistant directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and other roles within the filmmaking world.

  • 1st Assistant Director
  • 2nd Assistant Director
  • Producing a Film from A to Z
  • Screenwriting Intensive
  • Crafting Your Film Festival Submission Package
  • Making a Short Film: From Development to Distribution

View full class descriptions for Career Growth courses and enroll.

COSTUMING

The costuming department in the film industry is responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining costumes that reflect a film’s characters, setting, and overall tone. Costumers works closely with the director, production designer, and actors to ensure the costumes align with the script’s narrative and character development.

  • Introduction to Costume Design for Film
  • Costume Designing v. Personal Styling — Understanding the Difference
  • Script Breakdown & Character Development
  • Collaboration and Teambuilding for Costume Designers

View full class description for Costuming courses and enroll.

MAKEUP FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY

Throughout these courses, participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills through hands-on assignments in class, collaborate with fellow makeup artists, and receive feedback from industry professionals.

  • Color Theory and Foundation Matching for Film and TV
  • Camera-Ready Makeup for Film and TV
  • Introduction to Special Effects Makeup for Film and TV

View full class descriptions for Makeup for Film and TV courses and enroll. 

SELF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FILM INDUSTRY

Filmmakers and other freelance workers frequently face concerns around managing self-employment issues. These include tax implications, ensuring legal compliance, managing benefits, and maintaining consistent work quality. Courses in this section provide a deeper look at these primary concerns to help freelance workers better manage their finances.

  • Employment Paperwork for the Film and TV Industry
  • Getting to Work: Creating Employment Profiles for the Film Industry

View full class descriptions for the Self Employment in the Film Industry courses and enroll.

STORYTELLING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

This course series is designed to equip participants with the skills to craft compelling narratives on social media platforms. Through each course, students will learn the fundamentals of storytelling, audience engagement, and visual communication, tailored to the unique strengths of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. From ideation to execution, these courses cover essential elements, including content strategy, branding, and the technical aspects of multimedia creation. Participants will leave with hands-on experience in planning and producing captivating social media stories, fostering community, and adapting to evolving trends to build a memorable online presence.

  • Building a Brand on Social Media
  • Photography for Social Media: Tips and Tricks
  • Creating Engaging Short Form Videos
  • Storytelling Through Visuals: Crafting Compelling Narratives
  • The Art of the Interview: Filming and Editing Techniques
  • Lighting Techniques for Photography and Video
  • Mastering Natural Light for Photography and Video
  • Introduction to Video Editing Software

View full class descriptions for the Storytelling with Social Media courses and enroll.

Sign Up for Emails on Upcoming Classes

Location Matters

Conveniently located less than an hour from three of the state’s certified sound stages, Meridian’s district includes more than 900 square miles that cover parts of Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Payne counties. This landscape includes Guthrie’s iconic downtown; Stillwater, America’s friendliest college town; the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Pawnee Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians; miles of red dirt road and sunsets that will take your breath away.

Independent filmmakers and Hollywood studios have found what they’re looking for in the Meridian district. The only thing missing is a workforce to support their creative endeavors.

Until now.