Pre-College Digital Filmmaking
An unparalleled opportunity to study filmmaking at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world.
Program Overview
The UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute shapes the filmmakers of tomorrow from the heart of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world.
Study at the world-renowned UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media this summer! The UCLA Film and Television Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute is designed for talented and highly motivated rising juniors and seniors, and spring 2023 high school graduates. This program is a three-week, intensive production workshop that offers an overview of the production process, from conceptualization to post-production. This includes story structure, the principles of cinematography, and editing. Students are immersed in the creativity and technique of cinematic storytelling and challenged to create entertaining narrative projects. Previous experience in digital filmmaking is not required.
Students use the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media’s latest editing software and digital cinema cameras.Students work collaboratively on projects that are filmed as daylight exteriors on location across the UCLA campus.
“Attending the UCLA Film and Television Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute was one of the best decisions I could have made. Working in the film industry has always been my biggest dream, and this program made me even more excited to have a career in this industry one day! The instructors were absolutely amazing, and I made friends that I still text with every day. Living at UCLA for two weeks was also super cool. It’s a once in a life time opportunity that no one should pass up!”
Curriculum
The program curriculum consists of a combination of lectures, practical camera exercises, guest speakers, and post production labs. This workshop carries 3 units of UCLA college credit. Program activities include film screenings, guest speakers, and a visit to a Hollywood Studio.
All films will be screened in a state-of-the-art theater during the certificate ceremony at the end of the workshop. Friends and family are welcome!
This is an intensive immersion experience for beginning filmmakers designed to form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in making a film. While previous experience in digital filmmaking is not required, it is important to note that this is a disciplined and rigorous program and requires a significant time commitment.
Grading Basis
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
Program Details
Pre-college students are immersed in the creativity and technique of cinematic storytelling through lectures and a hands-on overview of the production process. Three weeks.
On-Campus (Mandatory Housing)
Due to the intense nature of the Film and Television Summer Institute – Digital Filmmaking and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about whether (and when) your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program or contact the department in question directly: summer2@tft.ucla.edu
Schedule
June 25, 2023 – July 15, 2023
Students are engaged in activities and classes along with breaks throughout the day from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. There will be evening classes / workshops that occur where students will be required to be present.
NOTE: All course meeting times are in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). The program schedule is subject to change.
Grades and Transcript
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.
Requirements
To participate in the Film and Television Summer Institute – Digital Filmmaking, students must apply and receive acceptance into the program.
Applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 2-4 weeks. See Application Requirements below for more details. Early application is strongly encouraged as this is a highly applied to program.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete the following:
Responses to the following essay prompts:
- Why you would like to participate in the program, and what you expect to gain from the experience? (100 words or less)
- What prior experience, if any, do you have in digital filmmaking? Include both academic coursework and extracurricular activities.
- Previous experience in digital filmmaking is not a requirement. (100 words or less)
- Filmmaking requires creative collaboration at every stage. Describe an example of your collaboration experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. (250 – 300 words)
- Artistic creativity and expression can be a vulnerable process, especially when working with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Describe how you foster an environment of inclusiveness when working collaboratively. (200 – 250 words)
- As a program that carries UC college credit, students are expected to exhibit maturity inside and outside of the classroom and to abide by the UCLA Student Conduct Code. Bullying, academic dishonesty, and disorderly behavior, among other violations, will not be tolerated. If you were to witness bullying or disrespectful behavior among your classmates, how would you respond? (150 – 200 words)
- Is it better to be perfect and late, or good and on time? (100 words or less)
- This is a disciplined and rigorous program. Describe a time you took on an academic challenge. What were some of the obstacles you encountered and how did you overcome them? (250 – 300 words)
An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
NOTE: Students should compose their responses to the essay prompts before beginning the online registration process. There will be text fields on the online registration form of which the response text can be copied.
Program Eligibility
- 10th-12th grade in Spring 2023
Supply List
External Hard Drive
500gb (minimum) external hard drive to save your film work this summer. It should be: 7200 RPM HDD or Solid State Drive (SSD) with either a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connection. 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 ev RaW USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Rugged Bumper
USB Flash Drive
USB Flash Drive (4GB or 8GB) are recommended but not required.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2023 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute. Summer 2023 deadline to apply: March 15.
“As an international student seeking to study in the US, the program was a great opportunity to get some insight on what life at a US university was like. I met a ton of friends from all over the world who shared the same passions as me, and we even got to hold our own casting sessions! Although it was a rigorous and demanding two weeks, I learned a lot about the nuances of film production. Whether you’ve been filmmaking for your whole life or have never held a camera in your life, this program caters to everyone. I would definitely recommend this program to any high schoolers looking for something not only fun but also enriching to do over the summer.”
Important Dates and Deadlines
June 1, 2023
Application deadline
June 15, 2023
Enrollment Deadline
Sessions
June 25, 2023 – July 15, 2023