Launch your filmmaking career
Clemson is proud to be the official accrediting partner of Trilith Institute, the educational arm of Trilith Studios. Trilith is the largest film production facility by square footage in North America, and has been the shooting location for three of the ten highest-grossing films of all time: Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Through Clemson, students can be a part of two programs — Summer at Trilith or Semester at Trilith — that allow them to learn directly from working filmmakers in a professional setting. Together, we're dedicated to developing the next generation of storytellers.
Trilith Programs
The Semester at Trilith and Summer at Trilith programs include a combination of courses and workshops that offer hands-on learning experiences next to industry professionals.
NOTE: Students must have active medical insurance coverage in order to participate in order to participate in Trilith Institute Programs.
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Semester at Trilith
Program Overview
This 15-week program is designed to give students immersive, hands-on experience in film, media, storytelling, and related creative industries—paired with mentorship and direct exposure to professional practice. During the program, students will learn directly from industry professionals and will have opportunities to focus on areas of particular interest, including directing, editing, script supervision, art direction, cinematography, and sound, to name just a few.
- Location: Trilith Institute, Fayetteville, GA
- Eligibility: The program is open to all Clemson students as well as students enrolled at other universities. To participate, students must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Junior standing
- For More Information: please reach out at trilith@clemson.edu
Coursework
Students learn directly from industry professionals and earn 16 credits of Clemson coursework, which includes:
- Fundamentals of Filmmaking (4 credits)
- Elective courses, such as (6 credits)
- Film editing
- Acting for the Camera
- Screenwriting
- Film as Industry
- Practicum or Internship (6 credits)
Courses will be offered sequentially through the semester with students beginning with the Fundamentals course, proceeding to their electives and capping their experience with a hands-on practicum or internship.
- Registration:
- Students will receive Clemson grades and credit for courses taken through the program
- Students should consult their Academic Advisor to verify any pre-requisites of the courses offered and to determine how the course credit will fit into their curriculum and graduation requirements
- Students accepted into the program will be registered for the corresponding courses by the departmental registration coordinator. Please consult your program faculty leader for more information on the registration process.
Location & Housing
Students live and work near Trilith Studios, with optional student housing available nearby in Town at Trilith (learn more: https://www.trilith.com/explore).
- Local Healthcare Providers:
- Hospital: Piedmont Fayetteville Hospital (1.5 miles from Trilith)
- Health clinic on site at Trilith (urgent care): Piedmont Wellness
- Local Fitness Center: Piedmont Wellness Center
- Location: 200 Trilith Pkwy, Fayetteville, GA 30214
- Mental Health Resources: Students will have access to Clemson’s resources while on-site. Students seeking services should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 864-656-2451. Students can also follow this link to learn more about well-being resources available to all Clemson students.
Program Costs
- Program Costs are currently being estimated. For more informtion, please reach out to trilith@clemson.edu.
Dates & Deadlines
- Application deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026
- Deadline to commit after acceptance: Monday, March 16, 2026.
- Enrollment deposit amount: $300, due when students commit to the program after acceptance
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Summer at Trilith
Summer at Trilith is a three-week, 6-credit intensive experience focused on a specific aspect of the film industry. The first Summer at Trilith is planned for Summer 2027 with more information coming soon.
Proof of Concept: 2025 Maymester
In the summer of 2025, a group of Clemson students not only visited one of the biggest film production studios in the world, they also produced a movie there. And they did it in just two weeks.
Read MoreWhat our students say
“I think the most important thing I learned from the experience was the importance of connections. I had always been told that this industry was very connections-based, but I never really understood that. However, meeting all the people who helped us during our time at Trilith put this into perspective for me.”
Hannah Noe2025 Trilith Maymester student
“It was so incredible to work so closely with my peers — turned friends — in a finely-tuned, collaborative experience tailored specifically for us to be better filmmakers and more well-rounded people.”
Sharbel Feghali2025 Maymester student
