Study cinematography at one of the most prestigious film schools in the world

This program offers an introduction to the concepts and practices of lighting for film and television through discussion and intensive hands-on, laboratory experience. Through lectures, discussions, workshops and group exercises, students will form a basic understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions involved in lighting for film and television. This includes composition, framing, blocking, lens choice, camera movement/placement, exposure, lighting techniques/equipment, shot design, and set protocol. Letter grading.

Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting February 15^th. Applying at your earliest convenience, prior to June 13th, is highly recommended.

Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:

• An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. All previous high school grades (9th grade to present) must appear on the transcript for an application to be reviewed. Applications missing grades will be denied.
  • If your school transcript utilizes a different grading system, please submit your transcript as is. If available, please attach a translation/equivalency guide.
  • INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here.
    • If your school has a translation/equivalency guide, please also include it with your transcript. If you do not have a translation/equivalency guide, please still submit your most up-to-date transcript as is for staff to review.
• Value statement: At the time of registration, ALL applicants will be prompted to submit a few short sentences reflecting on their pursuit of participation in a UCLA Precollege Summer Institute. Please note that students are strongly discouraged from relying on ChatGpt/AI tools for their application responses and are encouraged to submit original and authentic answers.
• Responses to all of the following essay prompts:
  • Why you would like to participate in the program, and what do you expect to gain from the experience? (100 words or less)
  • What prior experience, if any, do you have in cinematography? Include both academic coursework and extracurricular activities. Previous experience in cinematography is not a requirement. (100 words or less)
  • Cinematography requires creative collaboration at every stage. Describe a specific example of a recent collaborative experience when you 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 a time you fostered an environment of inclusivity 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 Code of Conduct. Bullying, academic dishonesty, and disorderly behavior, among other violations, will not be tolerated. Describe a time that you witnessed bullying or disrespectful behavior among your classmates. How did you respond? What did you learn? Remember to be specific. (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? Remember to be specific. (250 – 300 words)

Applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks.

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 to which the response text can be copied.

The Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography is a residential program.

All precollege residential programs feature scheduled non-curricular evening and weekend activities that all students are expected to participate in. The nature of these scheduled activities is at the sole discretion of the individual academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about 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

For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.

Coursework

Film TV 75; 2 units

Grading Basis

Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.

In order to successfully complete the program, students must not have more than 1 excused or unexcused absence.

UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support

Qualified students attending grades 9th – 11th in Spring 2025 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. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions 2025 on June 23rd in order to participate in a Precollege Summer Institute and/or apply for Summer Scholars Support. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.