TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Sure, Los Angeles is the center of filmdom, but move there and you'll have to deal with traffic gridlock, prima donnas and monthly rent costs that would make many Bakersfield residents cringe.

Aspiring Spielbergs and Shyamalans can now hone their skills at California City Studios, Inc., which is working with Cerro Coso Community College to provide a beginner's course on filmmaking. Storyboarding, filming and editing are all part of the course, with the class working together on creating a short film that they will screen and critique.

On May 18, a class from Frontier High School visited the studio and participated in making a commercial, studio owner Russell Michael said. The students handled props, ran the cameras and some of them even acted.

"They did a darn good job of it too," Michael said.

Michael, who's had 20 years in the film business, bought land in California City in 2000 because he wanted to build bigger sets than what were available to him in the L.A. area. The studio is located off Highway 14 on Pesch Boulevard.

Michael approached administrators at Cerro Coso Community College to see if they'd be interested in a filmmaking class, and they decided to give it a shot. The first course will be held from June 7 to July 16, and if there's enough interest they'll continue to offer the course and possibly additional film courses, said Dr. James Fay, vice president of academic affairs.

"It's pretty much soup to nuts on learning filmmaking," Fay said.

There will only be a maximum of 10 students in the class, and the course costs $1,550, Fay said. With a price like that, he's sure only people who are really committed will sign up.

And for those who are ready to plunk down that much money, it will be a chance to see if they really want to pursue filmmaking as a career. Fay said some people might love it and continue down that path, while others may realize their talents lie elsewhere.

Valerie Karnes, dean of career technical education, said it was interesting visiting the studio. A zombie movie was being filmed one of the times she and Fay were there.

Karnes said she was impressed with the sets, particularly an area made up to look like the Old West.

"It's an exciting opportunity," she said of working with the studio.

For more information, go to www.cerrocoso.edu, select the "community services" tab and then click on "community education courses." The film class is listed at the top of the page, and clicking on it will provide an overview of the course and contact information.