Second City Film School

The Second City Film School immerses students in a diverse, collaborative environment that encourages

There are two tracks available for The SCFS:

One Year Intensive – six daytime classes per week, eighteen-hour a week course load. Two Year Track – three classes per week, nights and/or weekends, nine-hour a week course load. Hybrid and Virtual learning options are available for the two-year track. COMEDY THEORY (Improv + Analysis)
These courses lay the foundation for your creative process. Studen

ts are immersed in the methods of The Second City, learning how to use improvisation as a tool for collaboration and content generation. Students screen comedic works from various media and eras to better inform their work as comedic storytellers. Using that material and the art of improvisation, students cultivate their own comedic voices and points of view to make discoveries about their own work. WRITING (Screenwriting + Storytelling)
The writing track teaches students how to mine their unique POV to create dynamic characters and stories. Inspired by The Second City tradition of agreement and building ideas together, students work in an ensemble to develop content that is reflective of the group mind, while also honing their individual comedic voices. And whether they’re creating in a writers’ room setting or on their own, SCFS students will be learning how to write stories that can be filmed. All students complete the program with a portfolio of written work including, but not limited to, a fully completed script. FILMMAKING (Production + Directing)
Students make films both in the studio and in the field during their time at The Second City Film School. Here again, students will utilize improvisation as a crucial storytelling tool in everything from punching up dialogue on the fly to working off the page to get the performance they want. They will learn how a director prepares, how to work with actors, and how to collaborate with the various roles on a film set. These production classes will put into practice the lessons on collaboration and storytelling from the other areas. All students complete the program with a portfolio of filmed and edited work including, but not limited to, a festival-ready short film or web series pilot. MASTER SEMINARS
Additionally, The Second City Film School hosts a series where working artists from the industry will lead discussions and hands-on workshops connecting students’ work in the program to the real world. The Second City has a wonderful extended family of successful comedy writers, directors, and producers who can speak to how The Second City method of improvisation has strengthened their work in many areas. They will also give students the inside scoop on working in the business.

Photos from Second City Film School's post

10/06/2023

Last week Second City Film Students got to speak with Emmy award winning producer, Marsha Posner . Marsha discussed her time on The Golden Girls and shared invaluable insights on how to navigate the entertainment industry as young creatives. Film School students left with a greater understanding of qualities they should seek in other collaborators, as well as what producers and directors look for in their team. We are so thankful for her wisdom on how to create iconic shows that stand the test of time! A huge thank you to Marsha and her husband, Wayne Williams, for sharing their time with us.

06/06/2023

Big congrats to SCFS teacher, John Mossman, for sweeping this film festival season! 🥳

Mossman's film, Good Guy with a Gun, will have a three day run at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Don't miss your chance to see one of our best. Congrats to John Mossman and his crew for this huge accomplishment! 👏🎬

05/15/2023

Wayne's World Wayne is still living at home. He has a world class collection of name tags from jobs he's tried, but he does have his own public access TV show. A local station decides to hire him and his sidekick, Garth, to do their show professionally and Wayne & Garth find that it is no longer the same. Wayne f...

03/09/2023

A huge shout out to Natasha Pearl Hansen for stopping by Second City’s Film School yesterday! 🥳

She gave our cohort advice on breaking through in a competitive comedy and entertainment landscape, info on LOCA, and wisdom on what it takes to be a woman in Hollywood!

Thank you 🥳🥰

01/20/2023

BIG SHOUT OUT TO SARAH BISHOP!!!!

Whoooohoooo~!!! Season 2 of the show that she does voice for one of the lead characters on - YOLO - is premiering on Adult Swim on Jan 22nd, with eps streaming on HBOMax the next day on Jan 23rd!!!

WE ARE SO PROUD🥳

12/09/2022

YOU'RE INVITED: 🎬🍿

The Second City Film School's Cobalt Cohort will screen their final films THIS THURSDAY, 12/15!

10AM, Music Box Theatre, no RSVP necessary. FREE🥳

Come celebrate the accomplishment of these final films with these (ALMOST) grads at the iconic Music Box Theatre 🥂

12/07/2022

SECOND CITY’S JOHN ONIEAL TAKES HOME THREE EMMYS 🥳🏆🏆🏆

John Onieal, an alum of The Second City Film School, was honored with three Emmy Awards from the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his work as a producer and writer on special projects for Chicago’s iconic WGN-TV.

We are so proud to call you one of ours! 🥳❤️

12/06/2022

Considering majoring in media? 🎥🎬

Check out The Second City's own Lyn Pusztai discussing the Second City Film School and making it in the industry!

This FREE panel is for high school students interested in pursuing passions in media. Attend this virtual event and learn more about the types of college and university programs for journalism, broadcast, film, documentaries, and TV!

Link in bio to rsvp!🍿

11/03/2022

The Second City Film School is thrilled to be a festival partner for the 28th Black Harvest Film Fest at the 11/4-20 (in person) & 11/21-27 (virtual)!

Enjoy 20 features, 25 shorts + 15 filmmaker appearances at the Midwest's largest Black Film Festival!

Link in bio for more information!
🎟️

11/02/2022

Considering The Second City Film School but have yet to submit an application? 🎥🎞️

This is your reminder! Applications for our Winter Session are due by THIS FRIDAY, 11/4 at midnight CST!

If you have been hesitating, now is the time! Launch your career today - click the link in our bio to apply.

10/14/2022

We’re thrilled to support the 58th , Chicago’s premier celebration of film, with events this weekend through the 10/23!

Don't miss the SC team TONIGHT at 4:30PM for the panel, "Disabling Comedy: Humor that Dares to Go There." Featuring Kelly Leonard, Jen Ellison, and Anne Libera, among others!

See the full lineup and get your tickets now by clicking the link in our bio!

10/12/2022

Our friends at the kick off 12 days of film tonight with the Opening Night Block Party! 📽🎬

If you aren't attending our Film School Open House, head out to Southport Ave. between Waveland and Grace for music, movie trivia, local foods, and more!

Get full details via the link in our bio🎞

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Location

Chicago

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Telephone

+13123373992

Website

https://www.secondcity.com/second-city-film-school/

Address

230 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL
60610