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Track 2: Film Production
The UCLA Film & Television Summer Institute gives students from across the country and around the globe an unparalleled opportunity to study filmmaking at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world.
This intensive immersion filmmaking workshop is intended for beginning and intermediate filmmakers of all ages (19+). Students work together on short film projects as they are introduced to the aesthetics, techniques and practices of filmmaking. Students work closely with UCLA faculty to study directing, cinematography, editing, production and creative collaboration while using UCLA equipment and sound stages.
The UCLA Film & Television Summer Institute shapes the filmmakers of tomorrow right in the heart of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world.
Curriculum
This program carries 13 quarter units of UC credit. Students in this track are enrolled in the following classes:
- FTV 104 Film and Television Symposium (1)
- In this weekly seminar prominent guests from the industry share their experiences and answer student questions about their career and working in Hollywood today.
- FTV 122D Film Editing: Overview of History, Technique, and Practice (4)
- This course discusses the practical application of film editing techniques, how they have evolved and continue to evolve. It examines the history of editing, as well as current editing trends, terminology and workflow. Students work in Premiere.
- FTV 122E Digital Cinematography (4)
- With lectures, screenings and demonstrations, this course is a study of the principles of digital cinematography and discusses how tools and techniques affect visual storytelling process. Topics include formats, aspect ratios, cameras, lenses, special effects, internal menu picture manipulation, lighting, composition, coverage, high definition, digital exhibition, filtration, multiple-camera shooting.
- FTV 178 Film and Television Production Laboratory (4)
- For the first half of the course, students direct and edit their own short film exercises and help each other on set by rotating crew positions. For the final project, students pitch short film ideas and the two story ideas that are selected are green lit for a two-day production. Students who pitched the selected stories go on to serve as screenwriters. Students interested in directing present a director’s pitch and one director per project is selected. Students are assigned crew positions based on their interests and aptitude. The final project is filmed over two days on a sound stage or at select campus locations. The program provides digital cinema cameras and lighting equipment, access to facilities, and location permits for campus locations. The program culminates in a final screening of the films in a state-of-the-art theater the end of the program. Friends and family are welcome.
Symposium
In the exclusive Summer Institute Symposium, students from all tracks meet and listen to some of Hollywood’s most accomplished professionals. High-wattage guests have included Eric Heisserer (writer, Arrival); Steven Canals (creator and EP of Pose on FX); Jeff King (Executive Producer of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix); Agents from CAA, ICM, Paradigm, and UTA; Simon Kinberg (Writer/Producer, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Martian); Zak Penn (Writer, Ready Player One); and many others.
Hollywood & the Industry
As part of the Summer Institute, students tour a major Hollywood Studio. The Film and Television Summer Institute concludes with a closing night ceremony and a networking mixer for students and alumni of our program. Friends and family welcome!
Admission
This track is open to college students and aspiring filmmakers (ages 19+), including international students. Applicants are required to submit a creative writing sample that demonstrates creativity and a strong original voice.
All students will be required to successfully complete a safety training course before the first day of the program to ensure safe practices while using film equipment and sound stages. Students will be provided ample time to complete this training before the start of the program, and more information will be sent to students once enrolled.
Schedule
View the program layout for
Film Production - Session A (June 26 - August 4, 2023)
Film Production - Session C (August 7 - September 15, 2023)
Registration
Registration opens February 15, 2023. Please check back for more updates or visit the Summer Sessions website for more information.
Supply List
An External Hard Drive is required:
- 7200 RPM External Hard Drive or Solid State Drive (SSD) External Hard Drive w/ minimum 500GB Storage Capacity Connectivity/Interface: USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt 2 (USB 2.0 is supported, but not recommended, as it will be very slow for video editing)
- Examples of acceptable drives:
- Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 500GB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500B/AM)
- G-Technology 1TB G-DRIVE evRaWUSB 3.0 Hard Drive with Rugged Bumper
Memory Card
Also, please bring one SDXC memory card with the following specifications:- Minimum 64GB Storage Capacity
- Max Read Speed: 95 MB/s
- Minimum Write Speed: 60 MB/s
- Records Full HD, 3D, and 4K Video
- Built-in Write-Protect Switch
USB Flash Drive
- 4GB or 8GB USB Flash Drive
Housing
Housing is available in the UCLA Residence Halls. To apply for summer accommodations, once accepted into the program, please select from the following housing options and rates and submit an application directly to UCLA Housing. It is highly recommended that you apply for housing early, as applications are approved on a first-come-first served basis.
Grades and Transcripts
Program participants will earn units of credit on a letter-grading basis and will be recorded on an official University of California transcript. Please note that official transcripts are not automatically sent to students. To request a transcript, please contact the UCLA Registrar’s Office.
Financial Aid
Financial aid for Summer Sessions is available for qualified UC students. UCLA students can find more details about the UCLA financial aid application process by visiting the Financial Aid section of summer.ucla.edu. UC and visiting (non-UC) students should inquire about financial aid at their home institution.
Student Quotes
"The UCLA Film and Television Production Summer Institute was a life-changing experience that not only gave me hands on experience with equipment that most film students could only dream of having access to, but also exposed me to an entire group of motivated and wonderful people to share the fun with. I made some of my closest friends at UCLA that summer, and we continue to collaborate on film work today."
— Evelyn Davis, Film Production 2018
"The UCLA Film and Television Film Production Summer Institute was one of the best choices I ever made. It was an incredible stepping-stone to what I hope will be an amazing career. I would not have started a production company or worked as a DP if I had not taken this program. The institute gave me both the technical skills and creative freedom to express who I am as a filmmaker. I am now producing a short film every other week with a group of friends, including a couple of alumni of the Institute! Even though the program ended, we stayed in touch, and I consider some of them to be family. Re(Set), the collaborative short we filmed at the Institute, is still one of the first pieces I show to industry professionals when I'm asked for examples of my work!"
— Amy Li, Film Production 2017
— Chelsea Giles, Film Production 2018
"Before attending the UCLA Film and Television Film Production Summer Institute, I never thought I'd be a filmmaker. Once I arrived, I knew that was going to change. The instructors are extremely supportive and experienced in their fields, providing applicable real-world knowledge. I now have the skills it takes to enter this highly competitive industry and make movies!"
— Joseph Mueller, Film Production 2018
Contact Us
UCLA Summer Institutes
1332 Murphy Hall
Box 951418
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1418
Tel: (310) 825-4101
Fax: (310) 825-1528
E-mail: info@summer.ucla.edu