Careers Behind the Camera with Amazon MGM Studios

From the soundstage to the screen, discover how computer science, creativity, and people work together to create the films and shows you love.

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STEM + Career-focused

Lights, Camera, Innovation!
Go behind the scenes with Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Future Engineer to discover how computer science, technology, and creative teams work together to build blockbuster movies and hit series! From massive digital worlds to viral social media trends, see how technology brings stories to life in ways you never imagined.

On this tour, students learn the answer to the following questions:

🎬 How do filmmakers use technology to plan epic scenes before the cameras even start rolling?

🎥 How do massive LED walls and video game software allow actors to step inside impossible digital worlds without ever leaving the studio?

📈 How do social media experts use math and data analytics to predict which movie trailers will go viral and find the perfect audience?

🤖 How is Artificial Intelligence acting as a “creative partner” to help artists brainstorm new characters and build worlds faster than ever?

In this tour, students explore the following careers: Visualization Supervisor, Hardware Engineer, Software Engineer, Post Production Supervisor, Social Media Marketing, Generative AI Visualization Supervisor

Aligned to Standards

The 40 minute, interactive tour is aligned to Common Core ELA, Common Core Math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards. The Teacher Toolkit includes a facilitation guide, worksheets, and other resources to support learning during the tour. Recommended for grades 4+.

Careers Behind the Camera Tour is aligned to the following standards:

CSTA Standards:

1B-IC-18: Discuss computing technologies that have changed the world, and express how those technologies influence, and are influenced by, cultural practices.
2-CS-02: Design projects that combine hardware and software components to collect and exchange data.
2-NI-04: Model the role of protocols in transmitting data across networks and the Internet.
2-DA-07: Represent data using multiple encoding schemes.
2-DA-08: Collect data using computational tools and transform the data to make it more useful and reliable.
2-AP-13: Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of complex programs.
2-IC-20: Compare tradeoffs associated with computing technologies that affect people’s everyday activities and career options.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The tour addresses these disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and engineering practices
MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem, accounting for relevant scientific principles.
MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process (e.g., choosing between traditional location filming and virtual production).
MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process.
Systems and System Models
Cause and Effect

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.1: Engage in collaborative discussions about how technology shapes culture and careers.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6-8.7: Integrate information presented in different media or formats.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5: Develop and strengthen writing by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3.C: Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.2: Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP6: Attend to precision in mathematical communication and calculation.

Play it on Kahoot!

The fun, game-like tour will be available for FREE on Kahoot! to all interested classrooms and families. Students can play against each other while learning about getting data from the stadium to devices, troubleshooting, and creating new features to enhance sports streams. No account required.

Teacher Toolkit

Our Teacher Toolkit provides educators with guides, worksheets, and other documents aligned to CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards, Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Use these materials to discover all the possibilities with computer science learning and careers of the future, and to set students up for success before, during, and after the tour.

FAQs

What will my class see on the tours?

On the tour, students will discover how computer science, artificial intelligence, and creative teams work together to produce blockbuster movies and hit series for millions of viewers. At the first stop, students explore Previsualization, learning how directors and animators use 3D animated “rough drafts” to plan complex scenes before filming begins. In the second stop, they step into Virtual Production to see how game engines and massive LED walls allow actors to perform inside digital worlds in real-time.

The third stop covers Post-Production, where students see how editors use precise math and timecode to sync sound and video perfectly. In the fourth stop, students learn how Social Media Marketers use data analytics and ratios to connect stories with the right audience. Finally, students explore Innovation, discovering how cloud computing and Generative AI act as “creative partners” to help filmmakers brainstorm ideas and collaborate globally.

To learn more, check out the teacher toolkit resources.

What CSTA standards is the tour aligned to?

The Amazon MGM Studios Tour is aligned to the following CSTA standards:

1B-IC-18: Discuss computing technologies that have changed the world, and express how those technologies influence, and are influenced by, cultural practices.
2-CS-02: Design projects that combine hardware and software components to collect and exchange data.
2-NI-04: Model the role of protocols in transmitting data across networks and the Internet.
2-DA-07: Represent data using multiple encoding schemes.
2-DA-08: Collect data using computational tools and transform the data to make it more useful and reliable.
2-AP-13: Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of complex programs.
2-IC-20: Compare tradeoffs associated with computing technologies that affect people’s everyday activities and career options.

What NGSS Standards is the tour aligned to?

The tour is aligned to the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices:

MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem, accounting for relevant scientific principles.
MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process (e.g., choosing between traditional location filming and virtual production).
MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process.
Systems and System Models
Cause and Effect

What Common Core Standards is the tour aligned to?

The tour is aligned to the following math and ELA Common Core standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6-8.1: Engage in collaborative discussions about how technology shapes culture and careers.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6-8.7: Integrate information presented in different media or formats.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5: Develop and strengthen writing by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3.C: Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.2: Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP6: Attend to precision in mathematical communication and calculation.

What vocabulary will be covered on the tour?

The following vocabulary will be introduced and explained in a real-life filmmaking context during the tour: Artificial Intelligence (AI) , System , Previsualization , Mood , Hardware , Software , Game Engine , Network Traffic , Timecode , Frame , Data Analytics , Ratio , Cloud Computing , and Generative AI.

See the Teacher Toolkit to learn more.

How long is the tour?

The Careers Behind the Camera with Amazon MGM Studios tour is designed to take 40 minutes or less (~1 class period).

What grade levels can attend?

We recommend the tour for any grade 4 and above. The tour includes content accessible to each grade and teachers can use the Teacher Toolkit to adjust learning how they see fit.

If you teach a grade below 4th, please preview the tour to determine fit with your students.

How much does this cost?

The tour, and all materials included in the accompanying Teacher Toolkit, are provided to teachers at no cost. You do not need a paid Kahoot! account to take the tour - sign up for a free teacher account on Kahoot! or utilize the solo play links on our website to play completely free.

What student data is collected?

We do not collect personal student information on either tour. If a teacher does have a Kahoot! account, they can assign the tour to their students to track their students’ progress, but individuals’ information is not shared with Amazon. During the tour, students will answer poll questions about their intent to pursue careers in STEM and their overall satisfaction with the tour. These questions are multiple choice and do not collect any Personally identifiable information (PII) from students.

Why can't I see the videos when I play the tour in Kahoot! ?

We apologize for the inconvenience. Videos are embedded directly into Kahoot!, and if blocked by a firewall, will appear as black screens or not play. Please reach out to Kahoot! for technical support.

Can individual students sign up by themselves, independent of a class?

Yes, absolutely. Students can also play the solo Kahoot! version of the tour on their own.

Who can I contact for questions?

Please reach out to afe-contact@amazon.com for any questions regarding content. For technical support, please reach out to Kahoot! directly.

Extension Resources

Play another tour!

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Prime Video Sports: Behind the Streams: From the stadium to devices, discover how computer science and people work together to bring sports to millions of fans around the world.