Empowering Filmmakers and Storytellers: An Overview of UCLA's Professional Programs
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) stands as a beacon for aspiring filmmakers, storytellers, and entertainment industry professionals. With a commitment to providing students with the essential tools and knowledge, UCLA TFT offers a range of professional programs designed to hone their craft and propel them toward success. These programs provide the grammar, structure, and vocabulary to learn their craft as practitioners and scholars. The hallowed halls, stimulating classrooms, challenging assignments, creative and analytic projects provide the scaffolding to experiment with and actualize raw ideas that will transform film and theater!
A Transformative Educational Experience
UCLA TFT strives to provide every student with a transformative experience. This commitment stems from the institution's own history of fostering groundbreaking work, such as Teshome Gabriel's focus on Third Cinema, which established UCLA TFT as a leader in the field. Similarly, Bob Nakamura's work bridging film, theater, and the civil rights movement through the Ethnocommunications program and the L.A. Rebellion exemplifies the school's dedication to social justice and artistic achievement.
The vision is to empower alumni, faculty, staff, and students with independence, innovation, and impact, fostering a community of inclusive excellence.
World-Renowned Professional Programs
Launched in 1994, the Professional Programs at UCLA TFT have experienced significant growth, offering industry professionals a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills and build connections with like-minded individuals. These graduate-level, competitive, yearlong, non-degree certificate programs are taught by leading experts and figures in the entertainment industry. The programs include:
- Screenwriting
- Producing
- Writing for Television
- Acting for the Camera
- Directing
Alumni of these programs have a proven track record of success, having collaborated with or sold their work to major studios, networks, and streaming services.
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Directing Program: A Deep Dive into the Craft
The Directing program at UCLA TFT offers an immersive experience designed to equip aspiring directors with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the industry. The program meets for 38 weeknights over a ten-week period, providing a comprehensive curriculum taught by over 30 guest lecturers, each an expert in their respective field.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum covers a wide range of essential topics, including:
- The Fundamentals of Storytelling: Envisioning Your Career, Articulation of Narrative POV, Story Structure for Film and Television.
- Working with Talent: Working with Actors, The Table Read, Intimacy Coordination.
- The Production Process: Development, Sales and Production for Film and TV, The Call Sheet-A Breakdown of the Crew from Creative to Crafty, Putting Your Independent Film, Together from Script to Financing.
- The Director's Toolkit: The Director of Photography, The Production Designer, Costume Design, Designing the shot (Static), Designing the shot (Fluid).
- Financial and Logistical Considerations: The Director and the Budget, Hostile Filming Environments.
- Genre-Specific Directing: The Horrors of Directing a Low Budget Horror Film, Directing a Horror Scene-Blood Will Always Go Wrong, Dramatizations and True Crime.
- Technical Aspects: Previs for Directors: Planning for the Shoot, Demystifying Visual Effects, In the Volume: Directing Motion Capture.
- Navigating the Industry: Agents, Managers, and Lawyers - What Representation Does, Guest Directing on an Episodic Drama Series, The Commercial Director.
- Post-Production: What Editing Is-The Creative Aspects, Working with an Editor up to Turning it Over to the Sound team, Scoring for Film and Television.
- Emerging Technologies: AI and the Director.
- Practical Skills: Get Your Movie Made with Pitch Decks, Look Books and Trailers, Shooting the One Hour Drama.
- Real-World Insights: Indie Case Study.
- Safety and Coordination: The Stunt Coordinator.
- The Assistant Director: The Assistant Director.
Application and Enrollment
Applicants interested in enrolling in UCLA's Professional Programs should be aware of the following requirements:
- Statement of Purpose: A one-page essay outlining the applicant's professional experience, goals, and reasons for pursuing the program.
- Undergraduate Transcript: Proof of an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, which can be demonstrated through an unofficial transcript, a picture of the degree certificate, or a DegreeVerify Certificate from the National Student Clearinghouse.
- Tuition Deposit: Upon acceptance, a $2000 tuition deposit is required. The full tuition balance is due a few weeks before the program's start date. Payments can only be made via credit or debit card through the UCLA tuition payment portal.
It is important to note that while these programs are graduate-level, they do not confer academic credit. Applicants who need to withdraw from a course must do so in writing, understanding that life circumstances may necessitate withdrawal beyond established deadlines.
When submitting any forms or transcripts, it is crucial to redact any sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, home addresses, or student ID numbers, to protect against potential security breaches.
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