Create full-length movies as a JPCatholic student!
John Paul the Great Catholic University's Feature Film Program is a revolutionary model of education that integrates feature film productions into our curriculum. This platform provides students the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to write, pitch, create, and distribute full-length movies.
O, Brawling Love!
Two rival acting students are forced to reconcile their differences and play lovers Romeo and Juliet in their final school play, vying for a life-changing prize.
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No Reception
RELEASING SPRING 2025
A posh city dweller gets lost in the wilderness with nothing but his hand sanitizer, and is soon caught up in a longstanding feud between two forest hermits.
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Pickle for Pickleball
IN PRE-PRODUCTION
An unlikely group of elderly women find themselves caught up in a high-stakes pickleball tournament.
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O, Brawling Love!
Two rival acting students are forced to reconcile their differences and play lovers Romeo and Juliet in their final school play, vying for a life-changing prize.
Learn More
No Reception
RELEASING WINTER 2025
A posh city dweller gets lost in the wilderness with nothing but his hand sanitizer, and is soon caught up in a longstanding feud between two forest hermits.
Learn More
Pickle for Pickleball
IN PRE-PRODUCTION
An unlikely group of elderly women find themselves caught up in a high-stakes pickleball tournament.
Learn More
IMDB Credits
Students participate on professional feature film projects before they even graduate, building a strong resumé for their career in the industry.
Hands-on, Real World Experience
The Feature Film Program is a pinnacle of JPCatholic’s hands-on approach to filmmaking. Students are entrusted with critical roles in every facet of the filmmaking process, developing their talents under the mentorship of experienced professionals.
Increased Impact
Producing and distributing feature films provides JPCatholic students the opportunity to reach wider audiences with masterfully produced stories that inspire truth, beauty, and goodness.
Fall Quarter
Story Development & Feature Film Pitch Night
JPCatholic students and alumni are invited to submit story ideas at any time to the Feature Film Program. In the fall, students can enroll in Feature Film Development to create a comprehensive outline for their story and receive creative development notes. This culminates in a pitch night where finalists present their script ideas to a faculty panel in front of a live audience.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Creative Development
Winter Quarter
The Feature Film is Greenlit
Finalists from the pitch event craft the first drafts of their screenplays. By the end of the quarter, one project is greenlit for production.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film First Draft
Spring Quarter
Pre-Production of Proof of Concept
Students collaborate to produce a proof of concept video that can be used to attract talent and distributors. While the proof of concept is in pre-production, the full screenplay undergoes further revisions to reach a polished script.
Classes integrated this quarter: Rewriting, Advanced Writing Seminar, Feature Film: Pre-Production I
Summer Break (June)
Production of Proof of Concept
Over the break in June, students produce a proof of concept such as scenes from the film and/or a trailer for the project.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Production
Summer Quarter
Post-Production of Proof of Concept
Students edit the footage together to produce a polished deliverable.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Post-Production I
Fall Quarter
Begin Pitching to Distributors
Students will use the proof of concept video to pitch the project to distributors, attract talent, and potentially received additional funding for the full version of the film.
Class integrated this quarter: Advanced Marketing & Distribution Strategies
Winter Quarter
Pre-Production Begins
Students whose applications have been accepted for key leadership roles will be enrolled in Feature Film Pre-Production I to begin the first stages of preparing for the full film. Key roles include Director of Photography, Producers, Art Department, Costume, Concept Art, Assistant Director, etc.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Pre-Production I
Spring Quarter
Pre-Production Continues
Students move forward with planning out the finer details of production, including scheduling and budgeting, casting, locations, set building, storyboarding, costumes, and props.
The number of students working on the project will increase, as each department recruits positions from among the student body.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Pre-Production II
Summer Break (June)
Production of Feature Film
It’s time to make a movie! The Feature Film production is a 6 unit experience, taking place over our June break in San Diego County and the surrounding area.
Students gain professional experience on a feature film set, preparing them to launch into their chosen career. Select alumni may be hired to participate in key mentorship roles, contributing valuable insights and expertise.
Underclassmen will have the opportunity to participate in smaller roles on set, getting exposed early on to a professional film environment.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Production
Summer Quarter
Picture Lock
Post-production students work throughout the summer to achieve picture lock on the film. A post-production professor will oversee the editing process by assigning segments of the film to students in the class, providing support and mentorship throughout the process.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Post-Production I
Fall Quarter
Final Post-Production
With picture lock achieved, the film enters the final stages of post-production, including sound design and mixing, musical score, color grading, and titles. Students who have demonstrated exceptional talent and proficiency as editors are selected to finalize and unify each segment of the film into a cohesive cut.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Post-Production II
Winter Quarter
Marketing & Distribution
The completed film will be distributed based on the strategy that was crafted in the development process.
Class integrated this quarter: Advanced Marketing and Distribution Strategies
Fall Quarter
Story Development & Feature Film Pitch Night
JPCatholic students and alumni are invited to submit story ideas at any time to the Feature Film Program. In the fall, students can enroll in Feature Film Development to create a comprehensive outline for their story and receive creative development notes. This culminates in a pitch night where finalists present their script ideas to a faculty panel in front of a live audience.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Creative Development
Winter Quarter
The Feature Film is Greenlit
Finalists from the pitch event craft the first drafts of their screenplays. By the end of the quarter, one project is greenlit for production.
Classes integrated this quarter: Feature Film First Draft
Spring Quarter
Pre-Production of Proof of Concept
Students collaborate to produce a proof of concept video that can be used to attract talent and distributors. While the proof of concept is in pre-production, the full screenplay undergoes further revisions to reach a polished script.
Classes integrated this quarter: Rewriting, Advanced Writing Seminar, Feature Film Pre-Production I
Summer Break (June)
Production of Proof of Concept
Over the break in June, students produce a proof of concept such as scenes from the film and/or a trailer for the project.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Production
Summer Quarter
Post-Production of Proof of Concept
Students edit the footage together to produce a polished deliverable.
Classes integrated this quarter: Feature Film Post-Production I
Fall Quarter
Begin Pitching to Distributors
Students will use the proof of concept video to pitch the project to distributors, attract talent, and potentially received additional funding for the full version of the film.
Class integrated this quarter: Advanced Marketing & Distribution Strategies
Winter Quarter
Pre-Production Begins
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Pre-Production I
Spring Quarter
Pre-Production Continues
Students move forward with planning out the finer details of production, including scheduling and budgeting, casting, locations, set building, storyboarding, costumes, and props.
The number of students working on the project will increase, as each department recruits positions from among the student body.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Pre-Production II
Summer Break (June)
Production of Feature Film
It’s time to make a movie! The Feature Film production is a 6 unit experience, taking place over our June break in San Diego County and the surrounding area.
Students gain professional experience on a feature film set, preparing them to launch into their chosen career. Select alumni may be hired to participate in key mentorship roles, contributing valuable insights and expertise.
Underclassmen will have the opportunity to participate in smaller roles on set, getting exposed early on to a professional film environment.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Production
Summer Quarter
Picture Lock
Post-production students work throughout the summer to achieve picture lock on the film. A post-production professor will oversee the editing process by assigning segments of the film to students in the class, providing support and mentorship throughout the process.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film Post Production I
Fall Quarter
Final Post-Production
With picture lock achieved, the film enters the final stages of post-production, including sound design and mixing, musical score, color grading, and titles. Students who have demonstrated exceptional talent and proficiency as editors are selected to finalize and unify each segment of the film into a cohesive cut.
Class integrated this quarter: Feature Film: Post-Production II
Winter Quarter
Marketing & Distribution
The completed film will be distributed based on the strategy that was crafted in the development process.
Class integrated this quarter: Advanced Marketing & Distribution Strategies
